Materials testing at the hot cell laboratory of the Institute for Safety Research

The hot cell laboratories for handling and testing of irradiated specimens were firstly introduced in the annual report 1997. The following equipments are installed in the 'Shielded Containment' of the materials testing laboratory. Irradiated specimens must be tested and handled remotely, i.e. automatically by manipulators. Any direct action by hand is impossible as routine and only very restricted in case of uncommon events. Therefore, the handling, testing and measuring systems must work practicably, correctly and reliably. To prove this, a comprehensive test programme was accomplished before starting testing of irradiated specimens. In detail, the programme had to show that: - All systems work satisfactorily under the hot cell conditions, - the testing procedures fulfill the recommendations of the test specifications according to the standards, and - the results measured are accurate. (orig.)