Rehabilitation of Building 53 at VNIINM

Abstract

A complex of decontamination and dismantling work on removing radiation contaminated equipment and special utility lines in the previously mothballed building 53 at VNIINM has been implemented. The 33.1 m long air pathway between building 53 and building B, contaminated by α-emitters to 120 particles/(cm²·min), has been dismantled. Thirty-three pieces of large-size equipment were dismantled. Fifteen pieces of equipment were decontaminated. Special utility lines of the building were completely dismantled: ~140 m special drain lines and ~320 m special ventilation. Approximately 180 m of piping has been decontaminated. Low-waste decontamination procedures made it possible to reduce the amount of radwaste produced during rehabilitation work by more than 1.5 times (to 27 m³). A radiation survey established that the procedure has unlimited application in the enterprise’s business activities taking into consideration the location on the industrial site at VNIINM.