Actavo supported the decommissioning of void and lid cells and boiler houses, alongside the removal of asbestos containing materials (ACMs).
Scope of works
To clear the void and lid cells of equipment and ensure they are structurally sound before the ‘Care and Maintenance’ (C&M) phase.
The 5 phases involved were:
- Removal of asbestos contaminated/radioactive water
- Concrete testing to establish the integrity of cell walls
- Identify areas for concrete repair
- Complete concrete repairs
- Removal of waste, including monitoring and labelling from the void and lid cells
De-planting of four boiler houses: assess the condition of the equipment and its ancillaries, together with the length of pipework, cabling and ductwork, the number of valves and the volume of gantries and access steelwork for each boiler house.
Services delivered
Provided access and asbestos removal services. Survey and project management, planning and safety management.
Key successes
- A daily project planning meeting was held to share information, pool knowledge, focus on key topics and create a combined delivery approach.
- Actavo engaged a specialist company to undertake core sampling of the concrete. Further work identified areas of structural weakness. Actavo appointed IDC, a specialist company, to undertake the repairs.
- In addition, Actavo provided all access to the cells and the rescue and extraction teams.
- As each task, work phase or boiler house was completed, a careful review identified learning that would improve the next activity. These reviews included early identification of work, planning, risk assessment, work methods and combining partner skills. Through this process a steady simplification and acceleration of tasks was achieved.
- Actavo won the NDA Estate Supply Chain Award in 2013 for “Best Example of Supply Chain Collaboration Led by a Large Company” in connection with the de-planting of the four boiler houses at Bradwell Power Station, as part of the decommissioning of the overall facility.
Solutions to challenges
Concrete spalling & contamination
Pre-work inspections revealed that, in addition to the known work, the area held contaminated water and the original concrete wall castings had significantly broken down and showed major areas of concrete spalling. Removal of the contaminated and the loose concrete had to be completed before de-planting could continue.
Removal & repair
Enquiries by Magnox for concrete management and repair failed to provide any acceptable solutions. With a growing threat to the C&M programme, Actavo proposed to undertake the removal and repair work by combining its asbestos removal expertise and project management skills to create a safe and effective removal method. After detailed discussions and development of a project approach Magnox accepted.
Difficult conditions
All work was undertaken in difficult conditions. The void and lid cells are 60 feet below ground level, are classified as a confined space with both asbestos and radiation, to Level C3 contamination.
Asbestos removal training
All scaffold teams undertook formal asbestos medical examinations and were provided with training in asbestos awareness, decontamination procedures and safe use of respiratory protective equipment.
Asbestos removal personnel were trained in the use of mobile access towers (in line with Prefabricated Access Suppliers’ and Manufacturers’ Association – PASMA guidelines). Additional training to the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS) Part 1 was provided for a small number of asbestos removal operatives, enabling greater integration within the
scaffold teams.
Benefits to client
Efficiency
The investment in training provided highly valuable experience and knowledge. Training in the use of mobile access towers was provided to partner teams to increase the overall efficiency of the team at all stages of the work. Other tasks undertaken by Actavo to increase team productivity included rigging, forklift truck driving and banksmen duties.
Expertise
The projects were complex but Actavo’s experience and expertise meant it could design strategies for Magnox to allow completion safely and on time.
Innovation
Actavo’s experience and innovation meant it could deal with the logistical challenges involved in management of waste and removal of equipment in void cells and boiler houses, each with its own very different environment.