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Project Overview

Client: EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Ltd

Location: Heysham 1

Market Sector: Generating

From Legacy Limitations to Long-Term Assurance

EDF Energy needed to replace ageing effluent sampling systems at Heysham 1. The existing cubicles, essential to demonstrating environmental compliance, no longer met evolving standards. AMS Nuclear was brought in to design and deliver new sampling cubicles that would not only meet regulatory expectations but also improve reliability and maintainability for the long term.

Our team brought more than just engineering capability. We brought experience – not just in delivering compliant systems, but in documenting them with rigour and clarity. From day one, we approached the project with long-term operability in mind: engineering that’s easy to maintain, designed for integration and fully traceable.

This was more than a hardware upgrade, it was a challenge to design a solution that would be fully compliant, site-specific and built to last.

Meeting Environmental Standards with Ageing Infrastructure

Under the station’s Environmental Permit EPR S3535DY, Heysham 1 must monitor and report airborne radioactive emissions using Best Available Techniques (BAT). The existing stack sampling cubicles, responsible for measuring particulate and iodine nuclides, were outdated and no longer aligned with modern standards like BS ISO 2889:2010 and the Environment Agency’s M11 guidance.

Replacing them wasn’t straightforward. Each cubicle served a different extract system, and space constraints, existing interfaces and compliance requirements created a complex engineering challenge.

Five Fully Compliant Cubicles Designed for Operational Ease

We took full responsibility for designing and delivering five bespoke cubicles: Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel and Juliet, each tailored to its specific extract point. Our scope included detailed engineering design, manufacture, quality assurance, documentation and commissioning support.

  • Built for Compliance: Systems were engineered to meet or exceed BAT expectations and comply with BS ISO 2889:2010, M11 guidance and BS 7671:2008 + A3:2015 electrical standards.
  • QA and Safety Classified: Each cubicle was delivered under QA Grade 2, Safety Category 2 and Seismic Category 2 classifications.
  • Robust Documentation: We provided a complete Life Time Record (LTR) package, supporting traceability and future maintenance.

Designing these systems wasn't just about meeting the spec, it was about giving the client long-term confidence that their sampling integrity is protected for the lifecycle of the plant.

Lead Design Engineer, AMS Nuclear

Structured, Assured and On Track

We aligned our delivery with EDF’s internal governance and assurance processes:

  • Design: All detailed designs, drawings and interface documentation were submitted for review and approval before manufacture.
  • Manufacture & Inspection: Each unit underwent non-destructive examination (NDE) and functional testing prior to delivery.
  • Site Support: While EDF led the installation, our team supported commissioning and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) to ensure smooth integration.

Why AMS Nuclear Was Uniquely Suited for This Challenge

  • Deep experience with fleet-wide EDF sampling systems
  • Proven track record in regulatory compliance projects
  • SQEP-led delivery with full material traceability
  • Flexibility to adapt to site-specific requirements and legacy interfaces

Five Cubicles. One Integrated Outcome.

  • Echo: R1 Contaminated Vent
  • Foxtrot: R2 Contaminated Vent
  • Golf: Gas Circulator Maintenance
  • Hotel: Fuel Handling Block
  • Juliet: Additional Fuel Storage

Compliance Secured and Confidence Restored

  • Regulatory Compliance Achieved
    Fully aligned with BAT, BS ISO 2889:2010 and M11 guidance
  • Zero Site Disruption
    Delivered in parallel with existing operations
  • Improved Reliability
    Modern components and design reduce failure risk and future maintenance needs
  • Lifecycle-Ready
    Robust documentation and standardisation support long-term maintenance and upgrades

The systems we delivered at Heysham 1 have become a reference point, both for how we solve problems and how we document them.

Project Manager, AMS Nuclear

AMS Nuclear Certifications

ISO 9001:2015
ISO 14001:2015
ISO 45001:2018
Cyber Essentials