Demolition of the Plutonium Criticality Laboratory

The plutonium criticality laboratory at Dounreay was once considered too contaminated to ever be demolished. But in spite of the nay sayers, a team of decommissioning experts have cleaned it up and knocked it down.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Dounreay
• nuclear
• decommissioning
• radioactive
• demolition
• Caithness
• reactor
• plutonium

[tomstickland]

What happens to the air being pushed out of the protected zone by the incoming air from the suits? Is it filtered?

[DounreayTV]

@tomstickland - Exhaust air from the suits is very small volume, but yes, the whole enclosed area was subjected to negative pressure with all discharges then being HEPA filtered. This is routinely carried out.

[tomstickland]

Isn't it quite risky trying to demolish things when wearing plastic anti-contamination suits?

[DounreayTV]

@tomstickland - it certainly is more challenging! Basically, its a straightforward industrial demolition job complicated by the fact that the building is radioactively contaminated and the workforce must be protected from that by heavy, hot and cumbersome air-fed suits. So extra care must be taken not to injure yourself or puncture the suits. Its not something I would enjoy doing, so I have great respect for those who work in those conditions. Regards, Sue

[amphilex]

charlie firmly catalogued in the 'fucking knob' section of my data base........

[themanfromwem]

Good video, but i think Charlie is talking out of his ar*e, double-speak or what !?

[themanfromwem]

Good video, but i think Charlie is talking out of hid ae*e, double-speak or what !?

[thebigconsultant]

Oh, but well done though. Good job

[thebigconsultant]

Hmmm. That sponge jet looks a lot like a household hoover!!

[DidntKnowWhatToPut1]

Congratulations to all who worked on this