Infrastructure improvements in Y-12’s Building 9995 include equipment upgrades for the site’s Plant Lab. The upgrades allow technicians to more safely and efficiently handle hazardous chemicals. (Photo courtesy Y-12 National Security Complex)

The Y-12 National Security Complex has completed significant infrastructure upgrades to the plant’s Analytical Chemistry facility to improve mission capability and reliability. The year-long effort was completed on schedule and budget, a press release said.

Built in 1957, Building 9995 provides comprehensive analytical services in support of core missions, environmental compliance, and overall worker health and safety at the Oak Ridge facility, the press release said.

The infrastructure upgrades at 9995 included improvements to critical heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, electrical system upgrades, and replacement of obsolete radiochemistry hoods. These improvements have greatly improved Building 9995’s work environment by reducing risk to operations and enabling the facility to continue to meet the extensive analytical chemistry needs for Y-12, the press release said.

The 9995 infrastructure upgrade was made possible through a $5 million investment allocated by National Nuclear Security Administration Uranium Program Manager Tim Driscoll and matched by $5 million through Consolidated Nuclear Security. Once funding was received, all the planning, procurement, and installation activities for the various improvements were planned and executed expeditiously, the release said. [Read more…]