The UK engineering standards for gloveboxes and containment
design are set to improve safety, sustainability, and efficiency.
They were produced by a cross sector team of experts from the
civil and defence sides of the nuclear industry, led by the UK
Alpha Resilience & Capability (ARC) Programme.
The standards were formally agreed by the UK's major nuclear
operators at a signing ceremony in June and are in the process of
being adopted.
Engineering standards are the criteria and specifications used to
guide engineering projects and processes.
This is the first time such an approach has been implemented to
cover the lifecycle of gloveboxes and containment design.
Kierra Desay, UK ARC's programme manager said:
Developing and agreeing these standards is a huge achievement for
everyone involved.
These standards will enhance the quality, safety, reliability,
efficiency, and interoperability of engineering practices.
They will help our supply chain to understand exactly what we
need so they can help us improve the technology, safety, and
sustainability of gloveboxes.
I'd like to thank everyone involved for their contributions and
of course the operators for ultimately adopting the standards.
Gloveboxes are integral to many operations in the nuclear
industry. They allow hazardous materials to be handled in a
contained environment.
Thousands of new gloveboxes are needed to support current and
future missions in the civil and defence sectors of the UK
nuclear industry, at places like Sellafield and AWE.
The UK ARC programme is a partnership between government, nuclear
operating companies, and the wider nuclear industry. It works to
ensure the UK has the skills it needs to complete current and
future missions related to special nuclear materials.
Partners include the Department for Energy & Net Zero, the
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, the Office for Nuclear
Regulation, Sellafield Ltd, Dounreay Sites Restoration Ltd,
Atomic Weapons Establishment, National Nuclear Laboratory, and
Nuclear Skills Strategy Group.
