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Decommissioning, Dismantling, and Clearance of Nuclear Facilities

Reaktorbaustelle Rückbau

Safety Assessments and Clearance Procedures

Following the operational phase, the process of decommissioning and dismantling begins. TÜV NORD supports licensing and regulatory authorities – and internationally also operators – with in-depth safety assessments, qualified measurement techniques, and legally robust documentation. The objective is a compliant and legally secure dismantling process that meets all regulatory requirements – protecting people and the environment, and enabling radiological clearance in accordance with applicable legislation.

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Where Operation Ends, Responsible Decommissioning Begins

The end of commercial operation marks the beginning of a new and critical phase – one that demands the utmost care, in-depth technical expertise, and strict adherence to legal and regulatory requirements.

TÜV NORD contributes decades of experience to every stage of the process – from decommissioning planning and regulatory clearance to the radiological assessment of individual materials. This fosters trust among regulatory authorities, plant operators, and the public alike.

EXPERTISE ACROSS THE ENTIRE NUCLEAR LIFE CYCLE

Our Services

On behalf of regulatory authorities, we support all safety-relevant issues throughout the entire life cycle of nuclear facilities – with expert assessments, evaluations, and inspections.

  • Evaluation of decommissioning strategies and dismantling sequences
  • Review of dismantling, material clearance, and waste management concepts (AtG, StrlSchV)
  • Preparation of safety-related expert opinions for regulatory procedures

  • Validation of clearance measurement procedures (DIN 25457, ISO 11929)
  • Evaluation of ALARA strategies and radiation protection measures
  • Use of qualified measurement techniques: in-situ gamma spectrometry, laboratory analysis, drone-based surveys
  • On-site inspections, verification measurements, and traceable clearance documentation

  • Evaluation of decontamination strategies and material recycling options
  • Assessment of packaging, sorting, and interim storage of radioactive waste
  • Support for reuse of cleared materials (e.g. in the construction industry)

  • Verification of dismantling processes and documentation chains
  • Support during final status surveys and official clearance procedures
  • QA/QC checks in accordance with ISO 9001, ISO/IEC 17025, and project-specific requirements
Naturaufnahme einer saftig grünen Wiese mit Traktorspuren und Bäumen

Annual Symposium “Decommissioning and Dismantling of Nuclear Facilities”

The annual TÜV NORD Symposium on “Decommissioning and Dismantling of Nuclear Facilities” provides a platform for exchange between regulatory authorities, plant operators, and technical institutions – focusing on current developments, practical experience, and legal frameworks.

More about the symposium
CLEARANCE OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS

A Regulatory Milestone in the Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities

Radiological clearance enables the release of materials, components, and surfaces from the scope of the Radiation Protection Ordinance (§§ 31–42 StrlSchV). TÜV NORD supports regulatory authorities with validated measurement procedures, conducts on-site inspections, and reviews the completeness and accuracy of required clearance documentation.

Our Services

  • Evaluation of clearance concepts and nuclide vectors
  • Validation of measurement technologies used (e.g. in-situ gamma spectrometry)
  • Metrological verification and documentation of results
  • Support for official clearance decisions

Clearance contributes significantly to the circular economy: up to 97% of materials can be demonstrably recycled or conventionally disposed of – in line with ISO 14001 and ISO 26000.

RECOGNIZED. EXPERIENCED. TÜV NORD.

Expert Organization for Nuclear Safety within the TÜV NORD GROUP

For more than 60 years, TÜV NORD has been a recognized and independent expert organization in the field of nuclear safety – both nationally and internationally. Our specialists support licensing and regulatory processes in the nuclear sector with technically sound, legally robust assessments and expert reports throughout the entire nuclear life cycle.

Our evaluation and inspection services are based on the German Atomic Energy Act (AtG), the Radiation Protection Act (StrlSchG), and the Radiation Protection Ordinance (StrlSchV), as well as on the requirements of the IAEA and national supervisory authorities. In addition, we align with the WENRA Safety Reference Levels to support the harmonization of European regulatory standards.

Certified quality management in accordance with ISO 9001 and accredited inspection and testing bodies in line with DIN EN ISO/IEC 17020 and DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 ensure the reliability and consistency of our services. In doing so, we foster trust, transparency, and acceptance – for operators, regulators, and international project partners alike.

Your enquiry to us

Please don’t hesitate to contact us by email – we will get back to you as soon as possible.

TÜV NORD EnSys GmbH & Co. KG

tnensys@tuev-nord.de
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