CLIENT: Wood Canada Limited (Wood PLC)
PROJECT OVERVIEW:
PRI Engineering provided independent construction quality-assurance services for the clay liner test pads at Canada’s Near Surface Disposal Facility (NSDF) at Chalk River, on behalf of Wood Canada Limited for Canadian Nuclear Laboratories. Working on an active nuclear site under a formal Inspection and Test Plan, PRI carried out daily inspection and materials testing — compaction, moisture content, Shelby-tube sampling and hydraulic-conductivity testing — and documented conformance, nonconformances and laboratory results to validate the engineered low-permeability clay liner.
CHALLENGE:
The clay liner test pads had to demonstrate the very low permeability required to contain low-level radioactive waste, verified to strict ASTM and project standards. All work was performed on an active nuclear site under stringent radiation-safety and HSE protocols and a formal Inspection and Test Plan with controlled documentation and nonconformance procedures.
APPROACH:
PRI deployed qualified geotechnical and materials-testing personnel to inspect trial-pad construction daily, performing compaction, moisture-content and hydraulic-conductivity testing to ASTM D6391 and related standards. Results were recorded on Wood’s controlled QC forms, nonconformances were managed through NCR/CAR logs, and laboratory testing and a CNL peer review reinforced the field program.
OUTCOME:
PRI confirmed that the inspected elements — engineered fills, compaction and the drainage / liner works — were in general conformance with the design drawings and specifications. A complete package of daily QA reports, laboratory results and a review letter was delivered, supporting validation of the clay liner design for the NSDF.