ITER Creation Safety File Expertise Results

Abstract

In March 2010, the ITER operator delivered the facility safety file to the French “Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire” (ASN) as part of its request for the creation decree, legally necessary before building works can begin on the site. The French “Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire” (IRSN), in support to the ASN, recently completed its expertise of the safety measures proposed for ITER, on the basis of this file and of additional technical documents from the operator. This paper presents the IRSN’s main conclusions. In particular, they focus on the radioactive materials involved, the safety and radiation protection demonstration (suitability of risk management measures…), foreseeable accidents, building and safety important component design and, finally, wastes and effluents to be produced. This assessment was just the first legally-required step in on-going safety monitoring of the ITER project, which will include other complete regulatory re-evaluations.