Ventilation ductwork specialist, Senior Hargreaves, is commencing work on a major contract at the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing site in Cumbria that will run into 2012. The Separation Area Ventilation (SAV) project involves the replacement of legacy ventilation systems, the re-routing of exhaust ductwork and the creation of new filters and a discharge stack.
'Senior Hargreaves has been involved in ventilation works at Sellafield for over 30 years. There are very few significant buildings on site built during that time to which we have not supplied ductwork. The nuclear industry has very exacting technical demands and we are pleased to meet these standards, deliver projects to schedule and have an exemplary health and safety record,' explained managing director Kevin White.

The project will permit the decommissioning of the stack associated with the primary separation and head end facility, a major landmark on the site dating from the 1940's. Before this can be done, a new stack with a large filter and fan house needs building and ventilation must be re-routed around the site. This will involve the fabrication of a network of 3000 metres of ductwork and its installation onto existing and new high level pipe bridges.

The six ducts feeding the stack will comprise up to 2500 individual pieces of bespoke ductwork. The flues within the stacks will also be made by Senior Hargreaves as will the filter banks and fan housings. To minimise long-term maintenance, all ductwork will be fabricated in stainless steel, requiring approximately 500 tonnes of material.

Within an overall scheme valued at £80 million, the Hargreaves component will be £16 million. Main contractors for the project are Doosan Babcock. Kier Construction, Balfour Beatty Engineering Services, Jacobs Engineering, Bierrum International and Shepley Engineers are also contributing specialist construction and engineering skills.

For more information about Senior Hargreaves, visit www.hargreaves-ductwork.co.uk