Surface-contaminated objects SCO

For transportation Surface-contaminated objects (SCOs) are of special interest SCO means a solid object which is not itself radioactive but which has radioactive material distributed on its surfaces. SCO is classified in one of two groups ... 

Less dangerous radioactive materials permit less stringent packages. Specifically, Industrial Package Types 7, 2, and 3 are in use for low-specific activity (LSA) materials and surface-contaminated objects (SCO) ... 

Radioactive materials are grouped according to their form and/or characteristics. These include Special Form Low Specific Activity (LSA) Surface Contaminated Object (SCO) Fissile Other Form. A radioactive material may meet the definition of one or more of the above. lATA 10.3.3... 

Offering Class 7 low specific activity (LSA) materials or surface contaminated objects (SCO) while failing to comply with applicable transport requirements (including, an external dose rate that exceeds an external radiation level of 10 mSv/h at 3 meters from the unshielded material). 173.427 7,500 to 12,500. 

A differentiation is made between two categories of surface contaminated objects (SCOs) in terms of their contamination level, and this defines the type of packaging to be used to transport these objects. The Regulations provide adequate flexibility for the unpackaged shipment of SCO-I objects or their shipment in an... 

RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL, SURFACE CONTAMINATED OBJECTS (SCO-I orSCO-II) non-fissile or fissile-excepted ... 

Surface contaminated objects are by definition objects which are themselves not radioactive but have radioactive materials distributed on their surfaces. The implication of this definition is that objects that are radioactive themselves (e.g. activated objects) and are also contaminated cannot be classified as SCOs. Such objects may, however, be regarded as LSA material insofar as the requirements specified in the LSA definition are complied with. See also para. 226.19. 

Durable coatings can also be applied to the outer surface of an SCO and serve to fix otherwise loose contamination for shipment in compliance with 49 CFR 173.427(b) or (c). A fixative coating may not qualify as a packaging in and of itself but can be used to address loose contamination issues on large objects in conjunction with other measures. Figure 17.7 shows four large power plant components that were coated for shipment. 

SCO-II A solid object on which either the fixed or non-fixed contamination on the surface exceeds the applicable limited specified for SCO-I in 10.3.6.1.1 and on which (a) the non-fixed contamination on the accessible surface averaged over 300 cm (or the area of the surface if less than 300 cm ) does not exceed 400 Bq/cm (10 nCi/cm ) for beta and gamma emitters and low toxicity alpha emitters, or 40 Bq/cm (1 nCi/cm ) for all other alpha emitters (b) the fixed contamination on the accessible surface averaged over 300 cm (or the area of the surface if less than 300 cm ) does not exceed 800 kBq/cm (20 pCi/cm ) for beta and gamma emitters and low toxicity alpha emitters, or 80 kBq/cm (2 pCi/cm ) for all other alpha emitters and (c) the non-fixed contamination plus the fixed contamination on the accessible surface averaged over 300 cm (or the area of the surface if less than 300 cm ) does not exceed 800 kBq/cm (20 pCi/cm )... 

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