Code requirements for concrete repository and processing facilities

The design and construction of facilities and structures for the processing and safe long-term storage of low-and high-level radioactive wastes will likely employ structural concrete. At the present time, there are no design codes, standards or guidelines for repositories, waste containers, or processing facilities. Modifications to current American Concrete Institute (ACI) 349 Code requirements to accommodate the special safety and longevity features of repositories and similar structures will be issued shortly. The goal of this ACI Committee activity has been to incorporate the phenomena, performance requirements, waste, and environmental factors unique to repositories into the Code. To support near-term repository and structure design activities, preliminary guidelines are presented in this paper. As previously noted, the proposed changes to the existing ACI 349 Code are oriented toward the promotion of longevity, safety, and enhanced performance. Obviously, there remains a need for establishing the long-term performance characteristics of concrete to be used in radioactive waste containment. Until better understanding and confidence in long-term performance is gained, the use of concrete structures for subsurface barriers must be carefully controlled