H-21 TRU-Waste Facility

DOE-HDBK-3010-94

Appendix B

4 .0 H -2 1 T R U -W A S T E F A C IL IT Y

4.1 F A C I LI TY D E S C R I PT I ON

4.1.1 O verview

The H-21 TRU-Waste Facility is used to store and ship transuranic waste generated as a

result of operations in the H-Plant Area. The building consists of four areas; the storage

bay, the loading dock, the real-time radiography (RTR) room and employee office space.

The storage bay provides short-term storage of 55-gallon transuranic waste drums. It has a

capacity of 320 waste drums, with an additional capacity for up to 12 rejected drums

awaiting return. Limited space away from drum storage is also provided for short-term

storage of several large waste crates. The maximum inventory of radioactivity allowed in the

H-21 facility is 10,000 grams of weapons-grade plutonium. A single drum of TRU waste

may contain up to 200 grams of weapons-grade plutonium. Material handling equipment

used in this facility consists of common industrial stock items, such as electrical forklifts,

barrel huggers, and slings. The layout of the H-21 facility is presented in Figure B.21.

4.1.2 F acility S tru ctu re

The H-21 facility is a 4,000 ft2 Butler style building. It is a single story, metal frame, metal

panel building with reinforced concrete footings, foundation an floors. The building frame is

constructed of welded plate and wide flange columns and beams. The roof and walls consist

of ribbed interlocking steel panels that provide shelter from normal atmospheric phenomena.

4.1.3 F acility S u p p ort S ystem s

4.1.3.1 H V A C S ystem

Heating and ventilation is provided by a ceiling mounted heater and blower system supplied

by a single intake duct on the roof. Air is introduced into the office area, from which it

flows through the storage bay to the loading bay. Exhaust is through one-way outlets in both

the storage bay and the loading bay, as well as through gaps in the loading bay door

openings. A single air conditioning unit is located outside and adjacent to the facility,

providing cool air to the building.

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