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Capenhurst completes biggest demolition in UK nuclear history
Capenhurst’s nuclear clean-up team has completed the UK nuclear industry’s biggest demolition project as the site nears the completion of its decommissioning programme.
The site, which is managed and operated by Sellafield Ltd on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, housed the UK’s first uranium enrichment plant and is scheduled to become the first UK nuclear site to complete its clean-up programme in 2009.
It is part of this enrichment plant, which ceased operations in 1982, that has been demolished clearing 32,000m2 – equivalent to four football pitches – of valuable space for potential reuse. In addition, 94% of the clean materials from the building have been recycled.
Phil Malem, head of site at Capenhurst, said: “Our nuclear clean-up work is done on the basis that as much material as possible is recycled. This reduces the impact we have on the environment, reduces the costs associated with disposing of materials and actually generates revenue from selling materials on to the recycling market – this money then funds more clean-up work.”
Ian Thomas, who is deputy head of site and responsible for building disposals at Capenhurst, said: “Useable space is one of the most valuable commodities on any nuclear licensed site and creating it isn’t just a case of knocking down buildings. About 80% of the work is in the preparations and 20% in the physical demolition.
“Our world-class safety performance dictates the way we work and with substantial plant, equipment and structures to clear, this has involved the physical monitoring of every available surface.
“Decontamination processes have removed and captured materials that prevent reuse of the component. Only when this is completed are we able to commence the physical removal of equipment and where possible, it is transferred to nuclear decommissioning sites for reuse to save costs.
“The physical demolition stage only commences when we have satisfied ourselves all the radiological, structural and conventional safety elements have been addressed and our stakeholders are satisfied we can complete the bringing down of these large structures utilising, wherever possible, conventional demolition techniques”.
This demolition project has enabled Capenhurst to demonstrate how much material can be cleaned and returned to the metals market for reuse through the application of simple decontamination techniques to minimise impacts to the environment.
We are very proud of our achievements at Capenhurst and believe we demonstrate to UK PLC how the industry is completing its decommissioning journey.”
When it was built in 1952, the plant became the driving force for uranium enrichment across the world and had the longest single-span roof in Europe at nearly 1.2km in length. Some of the building has been refurbished and remains in use as a storage facility for uranic materials, however, the space created by the area that has been demolished represents one of the biggest areas of reclaimed nuclear licensed land in the UK.
Once options for its reuse have been fully explored, they will be discussed with local stakeholders as part of Sellafield Ltd’s commitment to engaging with the community on matters relating to its operations.
Facts: How to dismantle an atomic building
• Convert one part of the building into a sorting and recycling centre
• Redistribute reusable plant and equipment to other Nuclear Sites for reuse where possible,
• Remove redundant machinery and cut it up to make it as small as possible
• Categorise wastes into packages of decontaminated material for safe disposal; recycle cleaned material e.g. metals, oils, plastics
• Remove remaining recycling and cutting equipment; empty building
• Monitor all surfaces for contamination – remove and capture any contamination
• Ensure structural integrity of neighbouring buildings – remove by hand attachments to neighbouring structures
• Use excavators to demolish remaining structures
• Recycle as much waste as possible to minimise what goes to landfill
