Low-Quality Secondary Containment Systems

DOE-HDBK-1132-99

designed to remove free tritium from the glovebox gases are not capable of

removing tritium that has plated-out on the interior surfaces of the glovebox or

any of the equipment that is inside the glovebox. Thus, when the box is

opened to room air for maintenance purposes, a " uff"type of tritium release

will occur, such as that described previously under the heading of " utgassing

Expectations." The chemical form of the tritium release will be as HTO.

Low-Quality Secondary Containment Systems . In some situations, tritium

facilities are equipped with low-quality containment systems, such as full-scale

buildings, or one or more rooms inside a building. (See Figure 10.) As a

general rule, containment systems will only be installed as part of a conversion

project, a retrofit project, or an add-on project, where the building or room in

question was not initially intended for tritium handling.

FIGURE 10. Low-quality secondary containment.

I-118