Institution news
Q: Please provide us with a brief overview of your current role and involvement in nuclear ventilation:
Bernard Swinnerton (BS): I work in the Engineering directorate for the Sellafield site where I supply design and engineering support for the nuclear ventilation discipline.
Q: What is the number one challenge facing engineers working in nuclear ventilation in today’s current market?
BS: Providing engineering solutions that are safe and fit for purpose in meeting extended design lives for plant located in aggressive coastal environments, which can stand up to the extensive scrutiny from the vast array of stakeholders and regulators; but can still meet the ever increasing requirement for cost reduction.
Q: What is the most exciting development in this field at the moment, either within your organisation or in the industry in general?
BS: The development of high strength glass fibre media HEPA filters in the UK nuclear industry to follow best International practice.
Q: Where do you see the future of nuclear ventilation and containment going over the next 5 – 10 years?
BS: Increased requirement for the design of ventilation systems using more energy-efficient solutions. Hopefully an increase in funding for continued development and improvement of nuclear ventilation plant items on the back of the considerable investment that will be required through Nuclear New-Build.
Q: What interesting topics are you covering in your presentation this year?
BS: The forward plan for developing and improving the UK Industry National Standards for the Nuclear Ventilation discipline.
Q: What other topics are you most looking forward to discussing at this year’s conference?
BS: The cross-industry sharing of good practice from BSRIA’s presentation on the ventilation of healthcare isolation rooms. The recent performance testing of vortex amplifiers. The manufacture of; and future improvements in HEPA filter media.
Q: Why is it important for engineers to join the Nuclear Ventilation 2019 conference?
BS: Engineers cannot work in a bubble; and it is essential that we all keep up with best practice. This is the only UK event attended by both industry subject matter experts and end users that covers such a broad range of current issues facing the nuclear ventilation discipline.
Nuclear Ventilation 2019 takes place on 26-27 November 2019 in Manchester. Taking place every two years, this is the only event of its kind in the UK to stay abreast of the latest developments, standards, codes and projects in nuclear ventilation – for operational plants, decommissioning and containment.
Learn from regulators, site owners and contractors, including:
- the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR)
- Dounreay Site Restoration Limited (DSRL)
- National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL)
- Magnox
- Sellafield
- EDF Energy
and other thought leaders in the nuclear industry.
For full details and to book your place, please visit www.imeche.org/nuclearventilation.