Question 226: (a) Under 10 CFR 20.1904, what is a
container? (b) How big can a container be? (c) Can a
room be considered a container? (d) Is a transportation
cask a container when it is not being transported? (e)
Are vehicles (e.g., trailer of a tractor-trailer)
containers?
Answer: (a) In the context of 10 CFR 20.1904, and in
accordance with Health Physics Position (HPPOS) 28, a
container is a receptacle in which radioactive material is
held or carried.
(b) There is no limit to the size of a container.
(c) Typically, a room is not considered a container; it is
considered an area, and should be posted as such.
(d) A transportation cask or package in certain
circumstances could be a container. If a container is in
transport and packaged and labeled in accordance with
Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, it is
exempt from the labelling requirements of 10 CFR 20.1904.
If, however, the container / cask / package is not in
transport, it is subject to the labelling requirements of
10 CFR 20.1904.
(e) Under certain circumstances, the trailer of a
tractor-trailer could be considered a container.
(Reference: 10 CFR 20.1904, HPPOS 28)