Containment Tent For Energy Solutions & SPRU

Earlier this year, Lancs Industries had the opportunity to design, manufacture, and assemble a specialized containment tent for EnergySolutions. This innovative containment tent was critical to operations at the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, specifically for the Separations Process Research Unit (SPRU) cleanup project. The large-scale containment tent, measuring an impressive 18 feet in width, 50 feet in length, and standing 18 feet tall, was engineered to meet the rigorous requirements of this significant environmental remediation effort.

The containment tent was constructed as part of a consent order agreed upon by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This agreement mandated the creation of enclosures and ventilation systems essential for worker safety and environmental protection. Only once these protective structures were in place could the remediation teams proceed with the treatment and disposal of hazardous tank sludge and the eventual demolition of two facilities on the site. Operating within these specially designed enclosures, equipped with advanced ventilation systems, offered critical protection from exposure to hazardous materials for both workers and the surrounding environment.

The two buildings designated for demolition, H2 and G2, have a deep-rooted history in the SPRU’s operations. Established in the 1940s, these facilities played a crucial role in research activities related to the chemical process of extracting plutonium from irradiated materials—a mission that contributed significantly to atomic energy research at the time. Despite the shutdown of the facilities in 1953, hazardous materials remained in the infrastructure, including residual sludge in tanks, the two buildings themselves, and the intricate network of interconnecting pipe tunnels. While most equipment was flushed, drained, and bulk waste removed during decommissioning, these remnants of hazardous materials posed ongoing risks to health and safety. The tent and ventilation systems, provided by Lancs Industries, were essential in safely addressing and managing these risks.

The SPRU cleanup project is part of a broader movement within the DOE to remediate legacy contamination at sites used for research and production during the early years of nuclear development. Containment tents are indispensable in these high-risk environments, as they provide a physical barrier and controlled workspaces for handling hazardous substances. By confining contaminants within a robust, sealed enclosure, the containment tent allowed the cleanup team to proceed with a higher degree of safety and efficiency, preventing the potential spread of radioactive or chemical contamination into the surrounding environment.

The ventilation system built into the tent played a key role in ensuring worker safety. Hazardous materials, such as radioactive particles or chemical residues, can become airborne during the treatment and demolition processes, posing respiratory risks for personnel and environmental contamination concerns. A powerful, well-designed ventilation system mitigates these risks by creating a negative pressure environment within the tent, effectively containing any airborne particles or fumes generated during the work. This added layer of protection was a vital consideration for the DOE and EPA, who both emphasize worker safety and environmental stewardship in their cleanup efforts.

Since its founding in 1974, Lancs Industries has developed extensive expertise in the design and production of specialized containment tents and ventilation systems for high-stakes environments. Over  five decades, the company has worked with hundreds of clients to deliver containment solutions tailored to a wide variety of complex project needs. Lancs Industries has the unique capacity to create tents ranging from single-chamber designs with basic access to highly complex, multi-tiered, and multi-chamber enclosures. These tents are adaptable and versatile, engineered to span areas that can reach thousands of square feet, depending on the specific demands of each project. The company’s experience in producing expandable, collapsible, and customizable structures has enabled it to provide solutions for diverse operational environments, from hazardous materials remediation to biosecurity labs and beyond.

Each containment tent Lancs Industries builds is carefully designed with the unique demands of the client and project in mind. Whether it’s a tent for a one-time use at a specific location or a modular, reusable system, Lancs Industries takes pride in engineering solutions that meet the most stringent safety and environmental standards. The company’s tents are designed not only to contain contaminants but also to optimize workflow efficiency, allowing teams to complete their work without unnecessary impediments while remaining protected from exposure to hazardous materials.

Lancs Industries work on the SPRU cleanup project represents the company’s commitment to contributing to the safe handling of hazardous materials through well-engineered containment solutions. Projects like these highlight the important role that advanced containment technology plays in supporting environmental remediation efforts, particularly at sites with historic contamination linked to early atomic research. By collaborating closely with regulatory bodies like the DOE and EPA, Lancs Industries helps ensure that hazardous cleanup projects are completed safely and in compliance with environmental standards, protecting workers and surrounding communities from potential exposure to dangerous substances.

Looking forward, Lancs Industries is committed to continuing its work with partners across various industries to provide containment solutions for a safer future. Through a dedication to innovation, quality, and safety, the company will keep pushing the boundaries of containment technology, striving to meet the evolving needs of high-stakes industries that rely on safe, controlled environments. Whether it’s nuclear facility remediation, biosecurity applications, or industrial cleanup, Lancs Industries advanced containment tents and ventilation systems will remain at the forefront of projects that require the utmost in safety, adaptability, and environmental protection.