Industrial Packages (IP-1, IP-2, IP-3)

Why Industrial Package Types Matter

Industrial packages exist for a specific purpose: transporting large quantities of material with low activity concentration. The material isn't dangerous because of high activity per package — it's dangerous because of volume. Natural uranium ore, contaminated soil, decommissioning waste, activated reactor components — these are bulk materials where the hazard is proportional to the quantity, not the concentration.

Getting the IP type right matters because using the wrong one is a compliance violation even if the material is safely contained. I have seen a facility ship LSA-II waste in a standard drum that qualified as IP-1 when the regulation required IP-2. The waste arrived safely — nothing leaked, no one was exposed — but the shipper received a violation notice because the packaging hadn't been tested to the IP-2 standard.

The flip side is also true: over-specifying the IP type wastes money. If your material qualifies for IP-1 under exclusive use, there's no reason to purchase or certify IP-3 packaging.

Who Needs to Know This

This applies to anyone who:

• Ships LSA or SCO material (natural uranium, contaminated equipment, radioactive waste)
• Selects or procures industrial packages for RAM shipments
• Manages decommissioning or waste transport campaigns
• Needs to understand how exclusive use changes IP requirements
• Ships LSA/SCO by air and needs to select the correct IP type

The Three Industrial Package Types

IP-1: General Requirements Only

IP-1 is the least demanding industrial package type. It must meet the general packaging requirements of 49 CFR 173.410, which include:

• Package must be designed to be easily and safely handled
• External surface must be easy to decontaminate
• Must prevent accumulation and retention of water
• Must be capable of withstanding the effects of acceleration, vibration, and resonance that occur in normal transport

IP-1 does not need to pass the drop, stacking, water spray, or penetration tests. In practice, a strong, well-built drum or container can qualify as IP-1. A standard freight container can also serve as an IP-1 package.

IP-2: Normal Transport Condition Tests

IP-2 must meet the IP-1 general requirements plus pass tests for normal conditions of transport. The specific tests are the drop test and stacking test from 49 CFR 173.411.

An ISO freight container meeting the ISO 1496-1 standard satisfies the IP-2 requirements automatically. This is a practical advantage for bulk LSA shipments — if you use a standard ISO container, you already have IP-2 qualification without additional testing.

IP-3: Type A Equivalent

IP-3 must meet the full Type A package test standards: water spray, free drop, stacking, and penetration tests per 49 CFR 173.412 and 173.465–466. In effect, an IP-3 package is built and tested to the same standard as a Type A package.

This makes IP-3 the most robust (and expensive) industrial package option. It's required when the material poses a higher risk within the LSA/SCO framework — specifically for LSA-III solids that need to maintain their matrix integrity during transport.

Which IP Type Do You Need?

The required IP type depends on the LSA or SCO category and whether the shipment is under exclusive use. Per 49 CFR 173.427:

Key patterns to notice:

• LSA-I solids are the most flexible — IP-1 even without exclusive use
• Liquids and gases generally require one level higher than solids of the same category
• Exclusive use drops the requirement by one level for LSA-I liquids, LSA-II liquids/gases, and LSA-III
• SCO-I matches LSA-I solids (IP-1 either way); SCO-II matches LSA-II solids (IP-2 either way)

The most common mistake I see is shippers assuming that exclusive use automatically means IP-1. That's only true for LSA-I and SCO-I. LSA-II material requires at least IP-2 even under exclusive use. If you're shipping LSA-II liquid waste in an exclusive-use vehicle, you still need IP-2 drums — not just any container with an exclusive-use placard.

How Exclusive Use Changes the Requirements

Exclusive use means that a single consignor has sole use of the conveyance, and the loading, unloading, and handling are directed by the consignor or consignee. Under exclusive use:

• LSA-I and SCO-I can use IP-1 (instead of IP-2)
• Certain LSA-I materials can ship unpackaged (ground transport only — air transport always requires IP)
• Higher dose rates are permitted on the package surface (up to 10 mSv/h vs. 2 mSv/h for non-exclusive)
• Transport Index limits per vehicle are relaxed

Exclusive use is common for large LSA shipments — a dedicated truck carrying contaminated soil from a remediation site, for example. It's less common for smaller shipments where the cost of a dedicated vehicle outweighs the packaging savings.

Using Freight Containers as Industrial Packages

Standard freight containers can serve as industrial packages:

• Any freight container can serve as IP-1 — it inherently meets the general requirements
• ISO containers meeting ISO 1496-1 can serve as IP-2 — the ISO standard's structural requirements satisfy the IP-2 test criteria
• ISO containers meeting IP-3 test requirements can serve as IP-3 — but this requires specific testing or certification

This is a major practical advantage for bulk LSA shipments. Instead of purchasing specialty radioactive material packaging, you can use a standard ISO freight container that already qualifies as IP-2 by virtue of its ISO certification. I have seen decommissioning projects save significant money by using certified ISO containers as IP-2 packages for LSA-II waste.

Marking Industrial Packages

Industrial packages must be marked with their type specification (IATA DGR §10.7.1.3.3 for air, 49 CFR for ground):

• IP-1: Marked “TYPE IP-1”
• IP-2: Marked “TYPE IP-2” plus country of origin code and manufacturer identification
• IP-3: Marked “TYPE IP-3” plus country of origin code and manufacturer identification

Plus the standard radioactive material markings: UN number, proper shipping name, shipper/consignee information, and gross weight if over 50 kg.

How RadShip.com Helps

RadShip.com determines the correct industrial package type for your shipment:

• RAMcalc — Classifies your material as LSA-I, LSA-II, LSA-III, SCO-I, or SCO-II and identifies the required IP type based on exclusive use status
• Shows when Type A is an alternative to industrial packaging — sometimes a Type A package is simpler for smaller quantities
• Checks activity limits and per-aircraft restrictions if you're shipping by air

My approach when selecting IP types: start with the material category (LSA-I, II, III or SCO-I, II), then ask whether exclusive use is planned, then read across to the required IP type. It's a two-variable lookup that RAMcalc does automatically.

Try it free for 7 days.

Common Questions

What is an industrial package?

A packaging for LSA material and SCO. There are three types (IP-1, IP-2, IP-3) with increasing design standards. They are used for UN2912 (LSA) and UN2913 (SCO) shipments where the activity concentration is low but the total quantity may be large.

What is the difference between IP-1, IP-2, and IP-3?

Design testing requirements. IP-1 meets general packaging requirements only. IP-2 adds drop and stacking tests. IP-3 meets the full Type A test suite (drop, stacking, water spray, penetration). Higher numbers mean more rigorous testing.

When can I use IP-1?

Only for LSA-I and SCO-I under exclusive use. Without exclusive use, those materials require at least IP-2. All other LSA and SCO categories require IP-2 or IP-3 regardless of exclusive use.

Can a standard freight container qualify as an industrial package?

Yes. Any freight container qualifies as IP-1. An ISO container meeting ISO 1496-1 qualifies as IP-2. This makes standard ISO containers practical for bulk LSA shipments.

What UN numbers use industrial packages?

UN2912 (LSA) and UN2913 (SCO). Both are non-fissile or fissile-excepted only. There are no fissile versions of these UN numbers — fissile material that doesn't qualify for a fissile exemption cannot be shipped as LSA or SCO.

Summary: Your Industrial Package Checklist

Before shipping in an industrial package, verify:

• ☐ Material is correctly classified as LSA-I, LSA-II, LSA-III, SCO-I, or SCO-II
• ☐ Correct IP type selected based on material category and exclusive use status
• ☐ Package meets the design requirements for its IP type
• ☐ Package marked with “TYPE IP-1”, “TYPE IP-2”, or “TYPE IP-3” as appropriate
• ☐ IP-2 and IP-3: country of origin code and manufacturer ID on the package
• ☐ UN number, proper shipping name, and shipper/consignee info marked on package
• ☐ Category label applied based on TI and surface dose rate
• ☐ Shipping paper (ground) or DGD (air) prepared
• ☐ If exclusive use: vehicle properly secured and controlled
• ☐ If shipping by air: activity within Table 10.9.A per-aircraft limits
• ☐ Old type marks removed if reusing a package from a different classification

Regulatory References

DOT Requirements:

• 49 CFR 173.410 — General design requirements applicable to all packages
• 49 CFR 173.411 — Industrial package standards
• 49 CFR 173.427 — Transport requirements for LSA material and SCO (includes IP type table)
• 49 CFR 173.403 — Definitions (LSA, SCO, exclusive use, industrial package)

Related RadShip Guides:

• UN2912/2913: LSA and SCO
• LSA vs Type A: When You Have a Choice
• Package Types Explained
• Type A Packages: Requirements and Limits
• LSA and SCO by Air