Laboratory Facilities (Including Hot Laboratories)

DOE-HDBK-1132-99

1.2.7

Laboratory Facilities (Including Hot Laboratories). The following provisions

are typical for a laboratory facility confinement system. The actual confinement

system requirements for a specific laboratory facility should be determined on a

case-by-case basis.

If radioiodine may be present, consideration should be given to the installation

of radioiodine absorber units in the exhaust ventilation/off-gas system to reduce

the radioiodine concentration in the effluent.

Primary Confinement System.

In hot laboratories, primary confinement usually consists of items such

as a hot cell, glovebox, process piping, tank, fume hood, etc.; the volume

enclosed is normally contaminated.

The primary confinement volume and isolation systems, as appropriate,

should be compartmentalized to isolate high-risk areas and to minimize

the potential effects of accidents.

The primary confinement system(s) should operate under process

conditions that prevent or minimize the potential for explosive chemical

reactions and should use ALARA design principles to minimize

exposures.

Design features for primary confinement for laboratory facilities and

processes are facility-specific and should therefore incorporate the

following features as appropriate:

Introduction and removal stations should provide for safe

introduction and removal of material and maintenance equipment

to and from the primary confinement.

Separate ventilation system or off-gas treatment system with

appropriate air-cleaning capability (e.g., HEPA filtration,

radioiodine absorbers, scrubbers) should be considered. The

use of an inert gas atmosphere within the primary confinement is

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