Skip to main content
Find a Lawyer

Code of Federal Regulations Title 49. Transportation § 49.173.420 Uranium hexafluoride (fissile, fissile excepted and non-fissile)

Current as of January 02, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(a) In addition to any other applicable requirements of this subchapter, quantities greater than 0.1 kg of fissile, fissile excepted or non-fissile uranium hexafluoride must be offered for transportation as follows:

(1) Before initial filling and during periodic inspection and test, packagings must be cleaned in accordance with American National Standard N14.1 (IBR, see § 171.7 of this subchapter).

(2) Packagings must be designed, fabricated, inspected, tested and marked in accordance with—

(i) American National Standard N14.1 in effect at the time the packaging was manufactured;  or

(ii) [Reserved by 79 FR 40612]

(iii) Section VIII of the ASME Code (IBR, see § 171.7 of this subchapter), provided the packaging—

(A) Was manufactured on or before June 30, 1987;

(B) Conforms to the edition of the ASME Code in effect at the time the packaging was manufactured;

(C) Is used within its original design limitations;  and

(D) Has shell and head thicknesses that have not decreased below the minimum value specified in the following table:

Packaging model

Minimum thickness;
millimeters (inches)

1S, 2S․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

1.58 (0.062)

5A, 5B, 8A․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

3.17 (0.125)

12A, 12B․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

4.76 (0.187)

30B․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

7.93 (0.312)

48A, F, X, and Y․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

12.70 (0.500)

48T, O, OM, OM Allied, HX, H, and G․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․

6.35 (0.250)

(3) Each package shall be designed so that it will:

(i) Withstand a hydraulic test at an internal pressure of at least 1.4 MPa (200 psig) without leakage;

(ii) Withstand the test specified in § 173.465(c) without loss or dispersal of the uranium hexafluoride;  and

(iii) Withstand the test specified in 10 CFR 71.73(c)(4) without rupture of the containment system.

(4) Uranium hexafluoride must be in solid form.

(5) The volume of solid uranium hexafluoride, except solid depleted uranium hexafluoride, at 20° C (68° F) may not exceed 61% of the certified volumetric capacity of the packaging. The volume of solid depleted uranium hexafluoride at 20° C (68° F) may not exceed 62% of the certified volumetric capacity of the packaging.

(6) The pressure in the package at 20 °C (68 °F) must be less than 101.3 kPa (14.7 psia).

(b) Each packaging for uranium hexafluoride must be periodically inspected, tested, marked and otherwise conform with the American National Standard N14.1.

(c) Each repair to a packaging for uranium hexafluoride must be performed in accordance with the American National Standard N14.1.

(d) Uranium hexafluoride not exceeding the limits specified in the limited quantity package limits column of table 4 in § 173.425 may be classified as UN 3507, Uranium hexafluoride, radioactive material, excepted package, less than 0.1 kg (0.22 pounds) per package, non-fissile or fissile-excepted, provided that:

(1) The mass of uranium hexafluoride in the package is less than 0.1 kg (0.22 pounds);  and

(2) The conditions of §§ 173.24, 173.24a, and 173.421(a) and (d) are met.

(e) For a package containing 0.1 kg or more of UF6, the proper shipping name and UN number “Radioactive material, uranium hexafluoride, UN 2978” must be used for the transportation of non-fissile or fissile-excepted uranium hexafluoride and the proper shipping name and UN number “Radioactive material, uranium hexafluoride, fissile, UN 2977” must be used for the transport of fissile uranium hexafluoride.

Previous Part of Code Next Part of Code
Back to Chapter List

Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Code of Federal Regulations Title 49. Transportation § 49.173.420 Uranium hexafluoride (fissile, fissile excepted and non-fissile) - last updated January 02, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/cfr/title-49-transportation/cfr-sect-49-173-420/

FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.

Was this helpful?

Welcome to FindLaw's Cases & Codes

A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.

Go to Learn About the Law

Latest Blog Posts

For Legal Professionals

Learn About The Law

Get help with your legal needs

FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.

Go to Learn About the Law

Need to Find an Attorney?

Search our directory by legal issue

Enter information in one or both fields (Required)

Copied to clipboard