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What is a Containment Building?

In the realm of nuclear energy, the unassuming containment building emerges as a crucial guardian, silently upholding the safety and security of power stations. It is the housing for the beating heart of the power station, its reactor. As well as housing any other equipment and plant that has the potential to release fission products (pressuriser, coolant pumps, steam generator etc.). Generally crafted from concrete and steel, this robust structure plays a pivotal role in confining radioactive material during operational states and accident conditions and protecting against external natural and human-induced events. The containment building also provides radiation shielding. Ultimately, it is the final barrier in the safety and defence of the nuclear reactor.
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Containment Building
Concrete and Steel
In the journey toward cleaner energy, the containment building remains a symbol of responsible and secure nuclear power generation, ensuring the protection of the public and the environment.
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Below you can find references to the information and images used on this page.
Content References
Image References
- Containment Building Schematic – Courtesy of Nuclear-Power.com
- Reactor Containment Building Construction, US DOE – Public Domain
- Steel Scaffoldings, Pixabay – Licence CC0
- Cement Flowing at Construction Site, Life of Pix – Licence CC0
- Nuclear Plant in Lingen, Germany – Free to use
- Chooz Nuclear Power Plant – Raimond Spekking – CC BY-SA 4.0