Description
A new sarcophagus was built to confine radioactive leakage from the abandoned Chernobyl reactor complex. The New Safe Confinement (NSC) is an arched structure of concrete and steel measuring 150 m long, 257 m wide, and 109 m tall.
Using large wheeled transport systems, the structure was set in its final position to cover both the damaged Reactor No. 4 and the previous sarcophagus.
The NSC is designed to prevent further environmental contamination from radioactive material for the next 100 years. This international project was financed not only by the European Union but also by countries such as the United States and Japan.
ULMA Solution
BRIO multidirectional scaffolding was chosen as the ideal system for this project of international significance.
In the first phase, using more than 18.5 t of material, the BRIO system was used as a stairway reaching more than 50 m in height. The structure was anchored to the metal arch of the NSC and fixed in place at a height of 28 m to ensure stability. Counterweights were used at the base during assembly.
During the lifting process of the principal arch, BRIO scaffolding was used to form working platforms and accesses for the installation of mechanical systems and the sarcophagus cladding.
After the third lifting phase, the upper edge of the arch reached a height of 84.5 m. Specialised scaffolding structures were designed to install the cladding and the build the exterior walls made of trapezoidal metal sheets.
The MK system was used to form cantilever structures measuring 2.5 m in height and 8 m in extension, which allowed the roof to be built without a need for direct ground-level access.
All of the atypical scaffolding configurations were designed in strict accordance with the structural calculations defined by European Norms.
