Developing the Historical Technical Basis for the International Atomic Energy Agency Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material: Material Classification, Package Classification, Package Test Requirements and Criticality Safety

International-level efforts began at the IAEA in 2010 to develop a comprehensive and detailed technical basis document (TecBasDoc) to support the current IAEA Transport Regulations (SSR-6,2012) and future revisions thereto. A working draft of the TecBasDoc has resulted from efforts by IAEA staff and a large number of international transport experts. The draft, which currently exceeds 300 pages in length, is being developed using, to the greatest extent possible, historical documents dating as far back as the 1950s, as reference material. The ultimate intent of this effort is to capture, for all stakeholders in the international transport community (individuals, Member States, and international organizations), whether currently involved in the development or implementation of the transport safety regulations, new to transport, or the future generation of stakeholders involved in transport, the scientific and technical heritage of several decades of development in transport safety. It will thus preserve the knowledge and experience upon which the transport regulations are based for future reference. The latest effort, in December 2012, involved two consultants to the IAEA working to adapt the draft to reflect guidance from the IAEA’s Transport Safety Standards Committee (TRANSSC) and delving into the IAEA’s archives searching out many long-sought, older supporting documents. Efforts are underway to make this extensive historical document base as complete as possible and available electronically to the transport community. The current structure of the technical part of the TecBasDoc is: (a) General History, (b) The Fundamental Safety Principles, (c) Safety Objectives and Principles for Transp rt, (d) General Safety Requirements, (e) Radiation Protection, (f)Controls for Transport, (g) Classification of Materials, (h) Classification of Packages, (i) Package Design and Testing, (j) Prevention of Criticality, and (k) Approval and Statutory Requirements. These are accompanied by a number of supporting appendices and annexes. This paper will summarize the status and examples of key discoveries and typical findings that have been incorporated into the draft document. The many experts who have contributed to the current draft are appropriately acknowledged.