UN 3327 — Radioactive material, Type A package, fissile, non-special form
Placard: Radioactive. ERG Guide 165. Training/quick-reference only — use current ERG + SOP/SOG for incident-specific actions.
UN 3327 At a Glance
UN 3327 (Radioactive material, Type A package, fissile, non-special form) is listed as DOT Class 7 Radioactive and is assigned to ERG Guide 165. Use this page to review placard data, common hazards, PPE notes, isolation context, first actions, and related UN numbers.
UN 3327 is a Class 7 radioactive material transport entry for fissile material in a Type A package, non-special form. Emergency response priorities include life safety, package integrity, radiation protection, contamination control and notification of the appropriate radiation-control authority. Because the material is fissile, criticality safety must also be considered if the package is severely damaged or its contents are released and reconfigured.
Hazard overview: The main hazards associated with UN 3327 are radiation exposure, radioactive contamination and potential criticality concerns involving fissile material. An intact package generally provides substantial containment, but a severe accident, fire or mechanical impact may compromise the package. The actual radiation and contamination hazard depends on the radionuclide, quantity, package condition and radiation type.
Response guidance: For a UN 3327 incident, establish incident command, identify the shipment, maintain a controlled area and notify the appropriate radiation-control authority. Use trained personnel with radiation survey instruments and dosimetry when available. Avoid unnecessary contact with damaged packages and control potentially contaminated people and equipment. If fissile material has been released or physically reconfigured, request specialized radiological and criticality-safety support.
Firefighter training notes: Training for UN 3327 should emphasize the difference between radiation exposure and radioactive contamination, the meaning of Type A packaging, the importance of time-distance-shielding principles, use of appropriate survey instruments and dosimetry, control of potentially contaminated people and equipment, and the additional criticality-safety considerations associated with fissile material.
Regulatory context: UN 3327 is regulated as a Class 7 radioactive material transport entry involving fissile material in a Type A package. Packaging, labeling, transport index, fissile controls, quantity limits, security, storage, emergency notification and reporting requirements vary by jurisdiction and transport mode. Verify current DOT, NRC, IAEA, ADR, IMDG, IATA and applicable state or local requirements using official regulatory sources and shipment documentation.
Storage & handling: UN 3327 packages should be handled and stored only in authorized areas according to applicable radioactive-material, fissile-material and package-control requirements. Protect packages from damage, unauthorized access, excessive heat and conditions that could compromise package integrity. Fissile material should remain under the controls specified by the authorized package and facility procedures.
UN 3327 Quick Details
Common Hazards of UN 3327
- UN 3327 is a Class 7 radioactive material transport entry involving fissile material in a Type A package.
- The primary emergency concerns are radiation exposure, radioactive contamination and preservation of package integrity.
- A damaged package may expose responders to external radiation and may release radioactive material, depending on the contents and degree of damage.
- Because the material is fissile, criticality safety must also be considered if package integrity is lost or the material is accumulated, dispersed or reconfigured.
- Radiation exposure cannot be reliably estimated from the UN number alone; package labels, transport index, survey measurements and shipping documents provide important incident information.
- Some radioactive materials may be difficult or impossible to detect with common radiation instruments, depending on the radiation emitted and the equipment being used.
- Fire, structural collapse or severe mechanical damage can compromise packaging and increase contamination or radiation hazards.
- Radioactive contamination may be transported from the incident area on people, equipment, clothing, vehicles or runoff if not controlled.
Chemical Identity & Physical Properties
UN 3327 describes a Type A transport package containing fissile radioactive material in non-special form. The actual contents can vary in radionuclide, quantity and physical state, so the generic UN description should not be used to infer a specific chemical or radiological composition.
| Also known as | Radioactive material, Type A package, fissileFissile radioactive material in Type A packageFissile Type A radioactive shipmentType AF radioactive package |
| Appearance | A transport package containing fissile radioactive material in non-special form. The radionuclide, physical state, quantity and internal packaging can vary substantially. The material may be solid, liquid or another physical form depending on the specific shipment and authorized package configuration. |
| Flash Point | Not applicable to the radioactive transport classification; if the contents are combustible or liquid, the product-specific SDS and shipping documents must be consulted. |
| Boiling Point | Not applicable to the transport classification; physical properties depend on the specific radioactive material and formulation. |
| Vapor Density | Not applicable to the transport classification; depends on the physical form and chemical composition of the contents. |
| Water Reactivity | No universal water-reactivity property can be assigned to UN 3327. Water behavior depends on the radionuclide compound, chemical form and package construction. Do not use water compatibility as a substitute for radiological-response guidance. |
Fireground Response Guidance — UN 3327
Extinguishing Media
PPE Requirements
PPE should be based on the identified contamination and atmospheric hazards rather than assigning a universal protection level. Dosimetry and appropriate radiation-survey instrumentation are important for trained responders. Respiratory protection may be required where airborne contamination is suspected. PPE does not shield responders from penetrating radiation, making time, distance and shielding the primary controls.
Isolation & Evacuation
First Actions for a UN 3327 Incident
- Establish incident command and identify the shipment from shipping papers, package markings, radioactive labels and transport documents.
- Prioritize rescue, life safety, fire control and immediate medical needs; radiation concerns should not unnecessarily delay life-saving actions.
- Keep unauthorized personnel away and establish an appropriate control area based on radiation surveys, package condition and incident conditions.
- Stay upwind and uphill when practical and avoid unnecessary contact with damaged packages or potentially contaminated material.
- Notify the appropriate radiation-control authority and emergency-response contacts listed on the shipping papers.
- Do not open, move, dismantle or handle a damaged radioactive package unless necessary for life safety and authorized by appropriately trained personnel.
- Use appropriate radiation survey instruments and personal dosimetry when available and operated by trained personnel.
- If radioactive contamination is suspected, control access and prevent unnecessary movement of potentially contaminated people, equipment and vehicles.
- Consider criticality safety when fissile material has been released, accumulated, submerged, compacted or otherwise physically reconfigured.
- Use the current ERG Guide 165, shipping papers, package labels, radiation-control authority guidance and local radiological-response procedures to determine isolation and protective actions.
📋 Copy & Share Field Card
UN 3327 — Radioactive material, Type A package, fiUse for: Quick radio or face-to-face size-up. Short, structured, field-ready.
Use for: Incident command briefing, staging area whiteboard, or pre-entry team brief.
Use for: Quick text to command or incoming units. Fits in a single SMS.