Coated lead shielding protects nuclear plant workers

Washington Public Power Supply System developed a coated lead shielding program at its Washington Nuclear Project Unit 2 (WNP-2) nuclear power station that has proven to be a cost-effective way to reduce workers' radiation exposure while improving plant operations. This program uses permanent shields of tongue-in-groove coated lead for straight pipe runs and coated molded shields for valves Ts and elbows to replace lead wool blankets. The new shielding materials are easy to install, create a more-effective shield, are more compact and make a neater, better-looking installation. The objective of the Shielding Program at WNP-2, a 1,150 MW boiling water reactor that went into operation in 1984, is to minimize total radiation exposure. WNP-2 has significantly reduced radiation exposure in the drywell as a result of the use of the stainless-clad lead shielding.