sekundärcontainment

Sekundärcontainment, or secondary containment, is a safety concept used to prevent the spread of hazardous materials from a primary containment to the environment. It refers to an additional barrier designed to contain leaks or spills from tanks, piping, or reactor vessels, thereby limiting exposure to soil, water, air, and people.

In chemical process safety, secondary containment includes features such as diked basins, double-walled equipment, catchment pans, and dedicated drainage with sump monitoring. The aim is to capture leaks at source and provide time for detection, recovery, and remediation. Design considerations include worst-case spill volumes, material compatibility, weather exposure, and regulatory requirements.

In nuclear safety, secondary containment refers to an outer structure or system surrounding the primary containment that limits releases of radioactive material in the event of an incident. It may include reinforced enclosures, air-handling systems with filtration, venting through filters, and sump systems to collect leaked fluids. The objective is to reduce radiological releases during design-basis and beyond-design-basis events, while supporting isolation and emergency response.

Implementation is guided by national and international standards and regulations, such as IAEA guidelines and national safety commissions. Regular testing, maintenance, and inspections verify leak-tightness, drainage integrity, and functional monitoring. Secondary containment complements, but does not replace, robust design, operation, and preparedness.