Radiation shielding and protection in PHWRs: design, approach and operational aspects

Adequate shielding of active systems or equipment/piping in a reactor is one of the most vital requirements for the safety of personnel who have to approach the reactor areas for the operation or maintenance functions. The success of the shielding provisions incorporated during the initial conceptual and design stages of the nuclear facility would become manifest during operation, in the form of low radiation field levels as well as low collective doses at the plant. To ensure that all the highly active equipment systems have been adequately isolated and shielded, the design dose rates in the different areas of the reactor have been indicated and also stipulated by regulatory body. (author). 4 refs