Production Support Lab

DOE-HDBK-3010-94

Appendix B

3 .0 H -7 P R O D U C T IO N S U P P O R T L A B

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

3.1.1 O verview

The H-7 Production Support Lab was built as a research lab in 1962 and modified to adjoin

with and support H Plant operations. It provides analytical support to the plutonium

recovery facility (H-1). Its main purposes are (1) to analyze process samples to verify

flowsheet expectations and (2) to analyze finished product material to verify product

specifications are met. All operations are on a laboratory as opposed to a process scale.

3.1.2 F acility S tru ctu re

The H-7 lab is a single-story concrete structure. The foundations of the building are

horizontal reinforced concrete footings varying from 2 to 5 feet square and approximately

1-foot thick. The ground floor is a 6-inch-thick reinforced concrete slab. The main support

columns are 18-inch-diameter reinforced concrete cylinders tied to both the floor slab and the

exterior walls.

The exterior walls are 8-inch-thick reinforced concrete block walls. Several main dividing

walls in the interior of the building are non-reinforced concrete block, with the other process

interior walls being double gypsum board over metal studs. The interior walls in office

space are single gypsum board over metal studs.

Precast concrete beams resting on the main columns support the roof, which is composed of

2-hour fire-rated prestressed, precast concrete twin-tee panels covered with a 3-inch-thick

lightweight concrete topping. All roof surfaces are covered with metal decking overlayed by

a rigid buildup four-ply incombustible insulation, covered by coal-tar pitch and gravel. The

roof is flat with downspouts to facilitate drainage.

3.1.3 C on fin em en t S ystem s

The principal sources of confinement are gloveboxes and hoods, airlocks, the HVAC

systems, and the facility structure itself. This section will concentrate on the first three

items.

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