The Advanced Photon Source
a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science User Facility

Shipping Samples and Equipment — An Introduction

Users are required to comply with U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Transportation, Argonne National Laboratory, and APS requirements for inbound and outbound shipping. Requirements differ depending on whether the materials are defined as non-hazardous or hazardous.

Seven Steps to Successful Shipping
  1. Communicate with your APS contact well in advance. Your beamline may have special shipping requirements.
  2. Consider whether you really need to ship it. With a user account, you can use the APS stockroom (see the separate shopping cart [cart is local access only]).
  3. Address your items specifically to APS. Use the format exactly as given below.
  4. For hazardous/infectious material, follow APS instructions exactly. With some exceptions, hazardous materials MUST go through Argonne Shipping/Receiving.
  5. Use FedEx if possible. Contractual arrangements are in place with Argonne to ensure correct and timely delivery.
  6. Use an import broker for shipments arriving from outside the United States (see Foreign Shipments below).
  7. When scheduling a nonhazardous return shipment with FedEx, speak directly to a person and specify exact building (LOM number).
Non-Hazardous Materials

Nonhazardous samples (including dry shippers without liquid), materials, and tools may be shipped to Argonne, or you may transport them yourself in a personal vehicle. It is recommended that nonhazardous samples not be transported via personal checked or carry-on luggage on a commercial airplane.  Shipped packages are delivered to a central drop-off location in each laboratory office module (LOM). Please contact your institution's safety office for assistance with proper shipping methods. Return shipment is your responsibility.

Address your package as follows:

  • Delivery Monday - Friday (except holidays)
    User's Name
    c/o APS Contact Person's Name
    CAT name (if applicable)
    APS Sector ___, Building ___ (e.g., "APS Sector 16, Building 434")
    9700 South Cass Avenue
    Argonne, IL 60439
     
  • Delivery Weekends and Holidays - NOTE:  Weekend and Holiday deliveries are suspended until further notice due to the closure of the Argonne Guest House as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic

The shipment must be sent to the Argonne Guest House, addressed to a person in your group who has a reservation there and strictly following the Non-hazardous Saturday FedEx Delivery Procedure:

         User's Name (user who has room reservation)
         c/o Argonne Guest House, Building 460
         9700 South Cass Avenue
         Argonne, Illinois 60439

Return shipping: The services of Argonne's shipping department are available to APS users. Shipping costs, however, must be charged to an APS user account, so you should ensure that an account has been established in advance. If you want your shipment to be insured, you must specifically note this request on your shipping order. If you need to make special arrangements to return your material, contact your host beamline for help.

SDS sheets must accompany each sample and exact quantities and hazard information must be provided on all shipments.

Hazardous Materials

In general, anything hazardous must be shipped and processed through Argonne's hazardous materials receiving area. Special provisions apply for small quantities and biohazards. Hazardous materials must not be shipped to the Guest House; the shipment will be rejected.

"Hazardous materials" are those identified as hazardous by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) or International Air Transport Association (IATA), such as liquid nitrogen, propane, freon, or ethane, and biological samples that are identified as hazardous by DOT or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

All hazardous substances must be packaged and labeled according to DOT regulations; otherwise, Argonne's receiving staff will refuse to accept the shipment:

  1. See the APS Safety and Training page for details on a variety of hazardous materials and special instructions from FedEx.
  2. Contact your institution's safety office for assistance with proper shipping methods.
  3. See the APS instructions for transporting hazardous materials. Follow these instructions exactly.

Address your package as follows:

  • Delivery Monday - Friday (except holidays)
    Recipient's Name
    c/o Building 46, Hazardous Materials Receiving
    APS/ANL
    Sector No. ______
    Argonne National Laboratory
    9700 South Cass Ave.
    Argonne, IL 60439

NOTE: Deliveries of hazardous materials will not be accepted at Argonne National Laboratory on Saturday or Sunday.

Dewars: Dewars are delivered to a central point at APS each morning and then distributed around the ring. You may meet the delivery driver at the central dropoff if you wish; ask your beamline contact for details.

Return shipping: The services of Argonne's shipping department are available to APS users. Shipping costs, however, must be charged to an APS user account, so you should ensure that an account has been established in advance. If you want your shipment to be insured, you must specifically note this request on your shipping order. If you need to make special arrangements to return your material, contact your host beamline for help. The APS User Safety Program is available to advise on return shipping of hazardous and biological materials.

Foreign Shipments

Users shipping materials to Argonne National Laboratory from outside the United States are responsible for their own shipments, including all aspects of the U.S. Customs clearing process.Users should hire a customs broker who will file the necessary customs papers and expedite packages through customs.

Argonne will not act as importer, exporter, consignee or broker for a User’s international shipments.Users are responsible for any licenses, import duties, taxes, bonds, fees or other charges associated with importation or exportation.

 

Please contact the APS User Safety Program if you have any questions or can not access the internal links.