Contact: Colin Robertson

British Nuclear Group (BNG), part of the BNFL group, is a specialist in site management and nuclear clean-up. Their strategy and focus is to deliver accelerated nuclear clean-up programmes, safely and cost-effectively for their customers.

Halcrow has delivered services to BNG and BNFL for over 15 years, using its considerable experience in the analysis and design of nuclear facilities and nuclear decommissioning to deliver innovative and economic solutions to nuclear waste management.

After the closure of Hunterston A nuclear power station in 1990, Halcrow was commissioned to complete structural design, project management and quality assurance of a long term on-site storage solution for the stations intermediate level waste (ILW).

The initial stages of the project involved the concept design for the facility, which was undertaken in conjunction with the mechanical engineering alliance partner. The nature of the stored content of the facility placed significant requirements on the internal environment of the structure and constraints on in-service access to the facility. A further aspect of the design considered by Halcrow was the stability of the waste packages within the ILW Store - when stacked six and seven units high and subject to seismic loading. The main structure design was performed to American standards and specialist advice was used to ensure a code complaint, robust design. The detailing of the design was progressed in close consultation with the Contractor to ensure correlation between design and construction.

Currently, Halcrow is providing civil, structural and M&E service design for an intermediate level waste (ILW) store at Hinkley Point A nuclear power station. A key aspect to this project was a comprehensive program of value management and value engineering studies, undertaken by the project team and led by Halcrow. Through these value engineering exercises, promoted in conjunction with our client, the Hinkley Point A facility has been significantly streamlined, to allow substantial cost reductions to be gained; whilst still maintaining the full integrity and intent of the facility. Analysis and design techniques were enhanced by developing graphical interfaces to manipulate analysis and design output into a graphical format. This innovative design approach increased efficiency in design and delivered substantial savings.

Halcrow looks forward to continuing to support BNG in its continued decommissioning and site clearance programme and working with BNG to use innovation, combined with experience, to deliver an accelerated programme.