Type A Packages: Requirements and Limits

Why Type A Packages Matter

Type A is the workhorse of radioactive material shipping. The overwhelming majority of RAM shipments — medical isotopes, industrial radiography sources, research materials, calibration sources — fall into the Type A range. If your activity is above the excepted package limits but below the A1 or A2 value for your radionuclide, you're in Type A territory.

Understanding Type A matters because it sits at the intersection of two worlds. Below it, excepted packages have minimal requirements. Above it, Type B packages require competent authority design approval, accident-condition testing, and significantly more documentation. Type A is the sweet spot — real packaging requirements but without the regulatory overhead of Type B.

I have seen shippers default to over-packaging material in Type B containers when a Type A would have been perfectly compliant. That's expensive and unnecessary. On the other side, I've seen shippers try to squeeze material into excepted packages when the activity clearly exceeds the limits. Getting the classification right saves both money and compliance headaches.

Who Needs to Know This

This applies to anyone who:

• Ships medical isotopes (Tc-99m, I-131, F-18, Lu-177, etc.)
• Ships industrial sealed sources (Ir-192, Co-60, Cs-137, Am-241)
• Ships research isotopes at activities above excepted package limits
• Selects or procures packaging for radioactive material shipments
• Needs to determine whether a shipment requires Type A or Type B packaging

When Does Type A Apply?

Type A packaging is required when the activity in a single package exceeds the excepted package limits (based on Table 4 multipliers of A1 or A2) but does not exceed:

• A1 for special form radioactive material
• A2 for normal form (non-special form) radioactive material

The A1 and A2 values are radionuclide-specific. They're listed in 49 CFR 173.435 and represent the maximum activity that the Type A package design is expected to contain safely under normal transport conditions.

The distinction between A1 and A2 is about the material form, not the package. A1 applies to special form material — sealed sources that won't disperse even under accident conditions. A2 applies to everything else (normal form). A1 is always greater than or equal to A2 because special form provides an inherent safety margin.

Type A Design Requirements

Type A packages must be designed to withstand normal conditions of transport as defined in 49 CFR 173.412. This includes:

General Requirements

• The package must be designed to be easily and safely handled and transported
• Must be securable to the conveyance during transport
• Lifting attachments must not fail under the weight of the loaded package
• Must be designed so that any features added for lifting cannot be used incorrectly
• External surface must be easy to decontaminate
• Outer covering must not collect and retain water unnecessarily

Performance Under Normal Conditions

The package must maintain containment and shielding after being subjected to tests simulating normal transport conditions. These tests (specified in 49 CFR 173.465 and 173.466) include:

• Water spray test — simulating rainfall
• Free drop test — drop from heights ranging from 0.3 m to 1.2 m depending on package weight
• Stacking test — compressive load equivalent to packages stacked on top
• Penetration test — a 6 kg bar dropped from 1 m onto the most vulnerable surface

These tests are not as severe as the Type B accident condition tests (9-meter drop, fire, immersion), which is why Type A packages have activity limits. The reasoning: if a Type A package is damaged in an accident, the consequences are manageable because the activity is below A1/A2.

Additional Requirements for Liquids

Type A packages containing liquids have additional requirements:

• Must have enough absorbent material to absorb twice the volume of the liquid contents
• The absorbent material must be suitably placed to contact the liquid in the event of leakage
• Must have a leak-tight containment system
• The containment system must be capable of withstanding an internal pressure that produces a pressure differential of not less than 95 kPa

Additional Requirements for Gases

Type A packages containing gases must prevent loss or dispersal of the contents and must maintain the integrity of the containment system under the reduction of ambient pressure to 60 kPa (simulating aircraft cargo hold pressure at altitude).

Type A UN Numbers

Type A packages use four different UN numbers based on material form and fissile status:

The vast majority of Type A shipments are UN2915 — non-special form, non-fissile material. This covers most medical isotopes, research materials, and many industrial sources. UN3332 (special form, non-fissile) is common for sealed industrial sources like Ir-192 and Co-60. The fissile UN numbers (UN3327 and UN3333) are less common and come with additional fissile requirements.

Where Type A Fits in the Classification Spectrum

Understanding Type A means understanding where it sits relative to the other package types:

The most common mistake I see is shippers who don't check whether their material also qualifies as LSA. When material qualifies for both Type A and LSA classification, the shipper has a choice — and the LSA vs Type A decision can affect packaging cost, documentation, and labeling requirements. Always check both paths.

Marking, Labeling, and Documentation

Type A packages have the full set of RAM shipping requirements:

Marking

• “TYPE A” specification mark on the package
• UN number and proper shipping name
• Shipper and consignee names and addresses
• Gross weight if over 50 kg
• Country of origin code and manufacturer identification

Labeling

• Category label (I-White, II-Yellow, or III-Yellow) based on TI and surface dose rate
• Contents (radionuclide symbol) and activity written on the label
• Two sets of labels on opposite sides
• FISSILE CSI label if the material is fissile (UN3327 or UN3333)

Documentation

• Shipping paper (ground) or DGD (air) — always required for Type A
• Special Form certificate if the material is special form
• Fissile package design approval certificate if the material is fissile (UN3327/UN3333)

Common Type A Shipping Scenarios

In my experience, these are the most common Type A shipments:

• Medical isotopes: Tc-99m generators, I-131 therapy doses, F-18 for PET scans, Lu-177 for targeted therapy. These ship daily from radiopharmacies to hospitals in Type A packages, often by ground courier or air freight
• Industrial sealed sources: Ir-192 for radiography, Co-60 for level gauges, Cs-137 for density gauges. These are typically special form (UN3332) in welded stainless steel capsules
• Research isotopes: Small quantities of various isotopes shipped to universities and laboratories. Activity is above excepted limits but well below A2
• Calibration sources: Higher-activity check sources and calibration standards that exceed the excepted package limits

The common thread is that these are routine shipments with well-understood hazards. The Type A package design handles normal transport bumps and drops, and the activity is low enough that even a worst-case accident wouldn't produce catastrophic consequences. That's why no government approval is needed for the package design — the inherent safety margin of the A1/A2 activity limit does the heavy lifting.

How RadShip.com Helps

RadShip.com makes Type A classification straightforward:

• RAMcalc — Determines whether your activity falls in the excepted, Type A, or Type B range by comparing against the correct A1/A2 values from the verified database
• Handles sum-of-fractions calculations for mixtures automatically
• Identifies the correct UN number based on special form vs. normal form and fissile status
• Checks whether LSA classification is also available, so you can compare options
• Generates shipping documentation with all required entries pre-populated

My recommendation: always run the classification through the tool even if you “know” it's Type A. I have seen experienced shippers make unit conversion errors that pushed a shipment from Type A into Type B territory. A 10-second classification check catches that before it becomes a compliance problem.

Try it free for 7 days.

Common Questions

What is a Type A package?

A package designed for normal transport conditions that can hold radioactive material up to A1 (special form) or A2 (normal form) activity limits. It must pass tests for drop, stacking, water spray, and penetration. No competent authority design approval is required — the shipper self-certifies.

What are the activity limits for a Type A package?

A1 for special form, A2 for normal form. These values are radionuclide-specific and listed in 49 CFR 173.435. For mixtures, the sum-of-fractions rule applies: the sum of (activity / A-value) for each nuclide must not exceed 1.0.

Does a Type A package need competent authority approval?

No. This is one of the key advantages of Type A. The shipper ensures the design meets 49 CFR 173.412 requirements, but no NRC or DOT review is required. Type B packages, by contrast, require NRC design approval under 10 CFR Part 71.

What is the difference between Type A and Type B packages?

Design severity and activity limits. Type A is tested for normal conditions (drop, stacking, rain). Type B is tested for accident conditions (9-meter drop, 800°C fire for 30 minutes, immersion). Type A is limited to A1/A2 activity. Type B can exceed those limits. Type B requires government approval; Type A does not.

Can material that qualifies for Type A also qualify for LSA?

Sometimes, yes. If the material has a low enough specific activity (activity per unit mass), it may qualify as LSA even though its total activity exceeds excepted limits. When both options apply, the shipper can choose which classification to use. See our LSA vs Type A guide for help deciding.

Summary: Your Type A Package Checklist

Before shipping in a Type A package, verify:

• ☐ Activity does not exceed A1 (special form) or A2 (normal form) for each radionuclide
• ☐ For mixtures: sum of fractions (activity/A-value) does not exceed 1.0
• ☐ Package design meets 49 CFR 173.412 requirements (self-certified)
• ☐ Package is marked with “TYPE A”, UN number, PSN, shipper/consignee info
• ☐ Correct category label applied based on TI and surface dose rate
• ☐ Shipping paper (ground) or DGD (air) is prepared
• ☐ Special Form certificate accompanies shipment (if special form material)
• ☐ For liquids: absorbent material is present (2× volume of liquid contents)
• ☐ Correct UN number selected (UN2915, UN3332, UN3327, or UN3333)
• ☐ Check whether LSA classification is also available as an alternative

Regulatory References

DOT Requirements:

• 49 CFR 173.412 — Additional design requirements for Type A packages
• 49 CFR 173.415 — Authorized Type A packages
• 49 CFR 173.435 — Table of A1 and A2 values
• 49 CFR 173.465 — Type A packaging tests
• 49 CFR 173.433 — Requirements for determining A1 and A2 values

NRC (Type B comparison):

• 10 CFR Part 71 — NRC Type B package design approval requirements

Related RadShip Guides:

• A1 and A2 Values Explained
• Package Types Explained (Excepted, IP, Type A, Type B)
• Special Form vs Normal Form
• LSA vs Type A: When You Have a Choice
• Excepted Packages
• UN Numbers for RAM
• NRC vs DOT Jurisdiction