Improving Fire Protection at DOE’s Defense Nuclear Facilities
Multiple Sites, Hanford Site, Pantex Plant
Fires are a major hazard for defense nuclear facilities because they can release radioactive materials into the environment and expose workers and the public.
Analyzing Clogging in Firewater System at the Hanford Site
Our Work
At the Hanford Site’s Central Waste Complex, DOE’s contractor found fire sprinkler system pipes to be partially clogged with corrosion products. This issue was further complicated by the discovery that a significant number of required inspections had been missed. The DNFSB’s resident inspectors conducted an independent analysis of this condition.
Our Safety Impact
The DNFSB’s involvement ultimately motivated the Hanford Site contractor to perform a broader review. This review determined that periodic pipe inspections had lapsed for nearly all fire protection systems at the Hanford Site and resulted in Hanford Site personnel implementing new system surveillance tests.
Identifying Vulnerabilities with Construction of Fire Suppression Systems
Our Work
The DNFSB identified the use of cast-iron components in piping for fire suppression systems at multiple DOE facilities, including at the Pantex Plant. Cast iron is a brittle material that can easily fracture during an earthquake, rendering the system unable to extinguish a fire and resulting in a potential release of radioactive material. Cast iron is also vulnerable to corrosion, which can impair the reliability of these safety systems.
Our Safety Impact
DOE acknowledged the safety issue raised by the DNFSB and alerted all its sites about this problem in an Operating Experience document. The DNFSB has subsequently convinced DOE and its contractors to make changes to construction specifications at facilities such as the Solid Waste Operations Complex at the Hanford Site and the Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility.
Discontinuing Use of Wooden Pallets for Waste Storage
Our Work
The DNFSB reviewed DOE’s use of wooden pallets to stack and secure nuclear waste drums at the Hanford Site Central Waste Complex. Wooden pallets can collapse during a fire, allowing a stack of waste drums to topple and spread radioactive materials. The DNFSB found that DOE’s use of wooden pallets was not consistent with modern fire protection standards and that DOE did not have formal plans to replace existing wooden pallets.
Our Safety Impact
Based on concerns raised by the DNFSB resident inspectors and other experts in DOE, management at the Central Waste Complex began accelerating efforts for removing wooden pallets and switching to metal pallets. Subsequently, Central Waste Complex personnel have initiated efforts to unstack wooden pallets, which avoids the toppling issues.
Last Updated: March 23, 2026