49 C.F.R. § 176.708
Segregation distances.
Cite as 49 C.F.R. § 176.708 (2026)
(a) Table IV lists minimum separation distances between radioactive materials and spaces regularly occupied by crew members or passengers, or between radioactive materials and undeveloped photographic film. It expresses the separation distances as a function of the sum of the TIs of all packages in a single consignment, in the case of 0 or 3 feet of intervening cargo of unit density for persons, and 0, 3, or 6 feet of intervening cargo of unit density for undeveloped film. Cargo of unit density is stowed cargo with a density of 1 long ton (2240 lbs.) per 36 cubic feet. Separation distances may be interpolated from the table where appropriate.
(b) Table IV is to be used to determine the separation distance for undeveloped film.
(c) Category YELLOW-II or YELLOW-III packages or overpacks must not be transported in spaces occupied by passengers, except those exclusively reserved for couriers specially authorized to accompany such packages or overpacks.
(d) The separation distances for crew members and passengers may be determined by one of two methods:
(1) By using Table IV to determine the minimum distances between the radioactive material packages and regularly occupied spaces or living quarters; or
(2) For one or more consignments of Class 7 (radioactive) material to be loaded on board a vessel under the exclusive use conditions described in § 176.704(f), by demonstration through direct measurement, made and documented by a suitably qualified person, that for the indicated exposure times the dose rate in regularly occupied spaces or living quarters is less than—
(i) For the crew: 7.0 µSv/h (0.70 mrem/h) up to 700 hours in a year, or 1.8 µSv/h (0.18 mrem/h) up to 2750 hours in a year; and
(ii) For the passengers: 1.8 µSv/h (0.18 mrem/h) up to 550 hours in a year, taking into account any relocation of cargo during the voyage.
(e) Any departure from the segregation provisions should be approved by the competent authority of the flag state of the ship and, when requested, by the competent authority at each port of call.
(f) Table IV is as follows:
Table IV
Sum of transport indexes of the packages
Minimum distance in feet from living accommodation or regularly occupied working space
Minimum distance in feet from undeveloped film and plates
1 day voyage
2 day voyage
4 day voyage
10 day voyage
20 day voyage
30 day voyage
40 day voyage
50 day voyage
Cargo thickness in feet (unit density)
Nil
3
Nil
3
6
Nil
3
6
Nil
3
6
Nil
3
6
Nil
3
6
Nil
3
6
Nil
3
6
Nil
3
6
0.1 to 0.5
5
X
6
X
X
8
X
X
11
X
X
17
4
X
25
6
X
30
7
X
35
8
X
39
9
X
0.6 to 1
6
X
8
X
X
11
X
X
16
4
X
25
6
X
35
8
X
42
10
X
50
12
X
55
13
X
1.1 to 2
9
X
11
X
X
16
4
X
22
5
X
35
8
X
50
12
X
61
14
X
70
17
X
78
19
X
2.1 to 3
10
X
14
X
X
19
5
X
27
6
X
42
10
X
61
14
X
74
18
X
86
20
X
96
23
X
3.1 to 5
13
X
17
4
X
25
6
X
35
8
X
55
13
X
78
19
X
96
23
X
110
26
X
124
29
7
5.1 to 10
19
4
25
6
X
35
8
X
50
12
X
78
19
X
110
26
X
135
33
8
155
37
9
175
42
10
10.1 to 20
26
6
35
8
X
50
12
X
69
17
X
110
26
X
155
37
9
190
46
11
220
53
13
250
59
14
20.1 to 30
32
8
43
10
X
61
14
X
85
20
X
135
32
8
190
45
11
235
56
13
270
65
16
305
72
17
30.1 to 50
42
10
55
13
X
78
19
X
110
26
X
175
42
10
245
58
14
300
73
17
350
84
20
390
94
22
50.1 to 100
59
14
78
19
X
110
26
X
155
37
9
245
59
14
350
82
20
430
105
24
515
118
28
550
130
32
100.1 to 150
72
17
96
23
X
135
32
8
190
46
11
300
72
17
425
100
24
525
125
30
600
145
35
(
7
)
165
39
150.1 to 200
84
20
110
26
X
155
37
9
200
53
13
350
84
20
490
115
28
600
140
35
(
7
)
165
40
(
7
)
190
45
200.1 to 300
105
24
135
32
X
190
46
11
270
64
15
425
105
25
600
145
35
(
7
)
180
42
(
7
)
205
49
(
7
)
230
55
300.1 to 400
120
28
160
37
9
220
53
13
310
75
18
500
120
28
(
7
)
165
40
(
7
)
205
49
(
7
)
235
57
(
7
)
265
63
Note:
(1) X—indicates that thickness of screening cargo is sufficient without any additional segregation distance.
(2) By using 6 feet of intervening unit density cargo for persons and 10 feet for film and plates, no distance shielding is necessary for any length of voyage specified.
(3) Using 1 steel bulkhead or steel deck—multiply segregation distance by 0.8. Using 2 steel bulkheads or steel decks—multiply segregation distance by 0.64.
(4) “Cargo of Unit Density” means cargo stowed at a density of 1 ton (long) per 36 cubic feet; where the density is less than this the depth of cargo specified must be increased in proportion.
(5) “Minimum distance” means the least in any direction whether vertical or horizontal from the outer surface of the nearest package.
(6) The figures below the double line of the table shall be used in those cases where the appropriate provisions of this class permit the sum of the transport indices to exceed 200.
(7) Not to be carried unless screening by other cargo and bulkheads can be arranged in accordance with the other columns.
[Amdt. 176-15, 48 FR 10245, Mar. 10, 1983, as amended by Amdt. 176-37, 60 FR 50334, Sept. 28, 1995; 69 FR 3695, Jan. 26, 2004]
- Cross-references to the CFR
- 176.704