The picture behind our homepage shows the 3D modeling of a radiation field during the loading of Konrad containers. This representation enables quick recognition of the need for action in radiation protection and allows employees to visually understand the situation during instruction on the activity. At the same time, they are motivated to contribute their own experiences and comments.
About us
The iUS Institut für Umwelttechnologien und Strahlenschutz GmbH was founded in 2009 and is completely privately owned.
We are engineers and scientists from the fields of chemistry, mechanical engineering and environmental engineering.
Our core team is complemented by a team of freelancers who support us with specialized skills on a case-by-case basis.
Our company is based in Aschaffenburg in Lower Franconia in the immediate vicinity of the Frankfurt am Main metropolitan region.
What we do
We deal primarily, but not exclusively, with many aspects of the dismantling of complex facilities and environmental remediation. We have particular expertise in the dismantling of nuclear facilities and the associated radiation protection.
We prepare strategy and planning documents, concepts and reports relating to these topics. These include:
- Application documents for licenses
- Safety reports
- Radiation protection concepts and reports
- Release concepts and reports
- Waste reports
- Packaging concepts for radioactive waste
- Operating documents (operating manuals and operating instructions, standard operating procedures and other instructions)
- Test concepts and test instructions for various systems
We prepare the necessary calculation documents, e.g.
- Balancing of masses and activities
- Capitalization calculations
- Shielding calculations
- Dose estimates (individual and collective dose calculations, IWRS II calculations, calculations on the impact of event scenarios)
We support operators, service providers, authorities and international organizations in the following areas
- Licensing strategies
- Long-term strategies
- Knowledge management and change management
- Moderation and facilitation of workshops and technical discussions
- Project management, in particular agile project management
- Occupational safety and safety coordination
- Measurement and sampling strategies and the assessment of measurement results
- Training, instruction and education
We have special qualifications in the following areas, among others
- Radiation protection group 4.2
- Safety coordination in accordance with RAB 30 B and C
- Working in contaminated areas in accordance with TRGS 524 / BGR 128
- Fire protection (fire protection officer) and fire restoration in accordance with VdS 2357
- Hazardous substances including asbestos TRGS 519 and artificial mineral fibers TRGS 521
Motivation
We believe that the back-end of existing energy generation systems and the transformation of the economy towards a sustainable use of resources and low-carbon sustainable use of resources and low-carbon processes are important for the success of the energy transition and the transition as a whole. transition as a whole. It is not just about the construction of new plants, but also about the reclamation of land and materials materials, safe landfilling and final disposal and the transfer of facilities and legacies to an ecologically safe state. safe condition.
The dismantling of facilities and the restoration of ecologically safe conditions are budget tasks, i.e. they generally do not earn money, but have to be paid for from reserves, ongoing operations or taxpayers’ money. Efficiency and efficiency and cost-effectiveness are essential for economic and social acceptance.
In view of the upcoming tasks in these fields, we are of the opinion that the previous dismantling strategies in the cannot be sustained, but that we need to industrialize and standardize the dismantling process. need. Information and knowledge management is of central importance here, because a lot of data is needed on the individual plants, inventories of substances and materials are required. We consider the fusion of this data into a business intelligence that includes economic, ecological and social aspects, ecological and social aspects. The fragmentation of data, information and knowledge into silos, specialist areas and software packages does not do justice to the generalist task.
New, efficient processes for measuring technologies, cutting technologies, decontamination, waste treatment and logistics are needed and must be developed and tested.
We make the difference
We want to make a difference in projects. We want to contribute our thinking, but also listen, absorb and integrate. In our experience, the best approaches come from diverse teams with different experiences, approaches and perspectives on the generalist task.
Exemplar projects
Operating documentation of an interim storage facility - Vattenfall
For the interim storage facility (Lager für schwach- und mittelradioaktive Abfälle - LasmA) at the Brunsbüttel NPP site (KKB), we have elaborated parts of the operating documentation for our customer Vattenfall. This comprises i.a. the following documents:
- Several parts of the operations handbook (i.a. waste acceptance criteria, operation of the facility, operation of systems)
- Work procedures and radiation protection procedures
- Inspection handbook, inspection plans and lists
- Inspection procedures for many systems
- Argumentations and statements in the realm of the licensing process
In addition, iUS has prepared discussions with the regulatory body it’s the technical support organisation and took part in these discussions. The iUS internal project management of this project was based on a digitally enhanced agile methodology (scrum).
LasmA went into operation in September 2024 and was handed over to the state owned operator BGZ.
High dose rate waste sorting station - PreussenElektra
Together with and led by our partner EQUANS we have developed a sorting station for high dose rate waste (mainly remainders from the water purification process). iUS has contributed to the basic design and the shielding concept of the facility, has elaborated reports for the technical description, the radiation protection, the qualification as well as incident assessment and interventions.
During manufacturing, iUS has followed the process, conducted on-site inspections and elaborated deviation reports and inspection plans (PTP, FAT, SAT & compliance testing). iUS has conducted the hazard assessments for the facility and elaborated the operational manual for the sorting station. For the operation in six different NPPs, iUS is conducting currently the radiation protection concept elaboration and the necessary calculations.
The sorting station is currently prepared for its first mission in one of the NPPs.
Decommissioning of waste treatment facility - GNS Duisburg
For our customer GNS we have supported their retraction from the Duisburg waste treatment plant. iUS has elaborated budget plans, mass estimations, licensing planning and carried out decommissioning oversight and safety coordination. In addtion to the preparation of and participation in discussions with the authorities, iUS have supported GNS in clearance concepts, their conduction and documentation. As conventional hazarads arose during the decommissioning process, iUS have used their chemical and toxicological expertise to conduct trainings for personnel and elaborated the necessary safety plans and procedures. The project was finalised within the timeframe iUS has estimated in the licensing planning. This was possible by a very close cooperation between the operations management of GNS and the decommissioning support from iUS as well as the involved supply chain. Elements of the agile project management method scrum were successfully implemented into a hybrid PM approach.
The facility was handed back to the landlord as a conventional facility in 2020.
Radiation safety concepts - Uniper/Atkinsrealis/RWE
For the decommissioning of the NPP Lingen (one of the first commercial NPPs in Germany, decommissioned after a 40 years safe enclosure period) iUS has elaborated radiation safety concepts for the dismantling of the steam generators and the dry cutting process. The alpha contaminated site poses some special challenges, especailly to avoid inhalation of alpha bearing particles. The concepts were elaborated in close cooperation with the customers and aligned with the operating organisation.
Currently iUS is elaborating a detailed radiation safety concept for the wet segmentation of the core internals and their subsequent dry packaging. This is based on the general radiation safety concept iUS had elaborated before.
Process analysis has been carried out to optimize radiation safety and to identifiy relevant steps. The estimation of individual and collective doses have been carried out be applying 3D radiation modelling with VRDose and simulation of the underlying processes.
Listing of further projects conducted
| Von | Bis | Kunde | Beschreibung |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2025 | Atkinsrealis, Hamburg | Radiation safety concept for a alpha-contaminated site (RPV internals wet segmentation) |
| 2024 | 2025 | PreussenElektra GmbH, Essenbach | Radiation safety reports for several NPPs for the operation of an unshielded drum measurement device |
| 2023 | 2024 | PreussenElektra GmbH, Grohnde | Inspection concept for waste containers |
| 2020 | 2025 | Equans, Brüssel | Basic design, radiation safety, safety report, intervention concept and inspection plans for high dose rate waste sorting station |
| 2021 | 2024 | Vattenfall, Brunsbüttel | Licensing and operation documents for an interim waste storage facility |
| 2021 | 2024 | Equans, Brüssel | Packaging planing for NPP core internals, safety aspects |
| 2021 | 2021 | Atkins Energy Germany, Hamburg | Risk analysis for the packaging concept of an NPP dry cutting campaign |
| 2021 | 2022 | Kraftwerk Mehrum, Mehrum | Strategic consulting with regard to decommissioning planning |
| 2020 | 2021 | Atkins Energy Germany, Hamburg | Radiation safety concept for dry cutting and packing in an alpha contaminated site |
| 2020 | 2023 | Europäische Union | Research project PLEIADES - standardisation of 3D-Modelling in decommissioning - iUS major part was elaboration of the underlying ontology |
| 2020 | 2020 | GNS, Essen | Investigation on quality issues, near misses root cause investigations and training of AvOs |
| 2020 | 2020 | Europäische Union - ELINDER | Conception and conduction of one-week training course on digitalisation in decommissioning - together with IFE, Halden. |
| 2019 | 2020 | Technubel N.V., Dessel | Safety coordination and work safety support for the segmentation of steam generators KWB, root cause analysis investigation for accidents and near misses |
| 2021 | 2022 | Tecnubel GmbH, Karlsruhe | Safety coordination and work safety consultancy during remote controlled segmentation of biological shield at MZFR |
| 2019 | 2021 | Tractebel, Bad Vilbel | External radiation safety officer |
| 2018 | 2019 | IAEA, Wien | Trainer in “Workshop on the Role of IT in Knowledge Management for Decommissioning”, Halden, Norwegen,05.-09.11.2018 und Miami, Florida, 09.-13.09.2019 |
| 2018 | 2019 | KTE Karlsruhe | Concept for ageing management at KTE site |
| 2018 | 2019 | Uniper Anlagenservice, Gelsenkirchen | Radiation safety concept for removal of steam generators at KWL site (alpha contaminated) |
| 2017 | 2019 | NTE Nachrichtentechnik und Elektronik GmbH, Frankfurt | External radiation safety officer |
| 2016 | 2020 | GNS Gesellschaft für Nuklear-Service, Essen | Budget-, basic and licensing planning for the decommissioning of the GNS Duisburg site. Safety coordination, oversight, hazardous materials management |
| 2016 | 2018 | BMUB, Bonn | Development and implementation of a knowledge management platform for the federal oversight in decommissioning |
| 2016 | 2016 | PreussenElektra GmbH, Stadtland | One day training conception and deployment for the management of clearance and conventional waste |
| 2016 | 2017 | Gemeinde Schwieberdingen | Expert statement on the disposal of cleared material on a landfill site |
| 2015 | 2017 | GE Power AG, Mannheim | Business development/Management consulting for the development of a decommissioning branch, knowledge management planning, technical tender support for various core internals segmentation projects. |
| 2014 | 2015 | sat Kerntechnik GmbH, Worms | Project management and technical support for the tender together with Bouygues Construction Services Nucleaires for the management of the waste treatment site at JRC Ispra. |
| 2014 | 2014 | IAEA, Wien | Consultancy Services transfer of IDN Wiki from Sharepoint to Mediawiki, Conception and workshop for ontology |
| 2014 | 2014 | Vattenfall, Brunsbüttel | Waste management conception for post-operational phase of KKB NPP |
| 2014 | 2014 | Nukem Technologies Engineering Services GmbH | Technical support in several projects for waste management and interim storage of used nuclear fuel, classification of rooms and vessels, radiation and shielding calculations, safety argumentation |
| 2013 | 2015 | Helmholtz-Zentrum, München | Clearance of a research facility inside the Asse II mine, project management, elaboration of concepts and reports, documentation |
| 2011 | 2019 | Gerson Lehrman Group, USA | Several consultancy projects with regard to markets, players opportunities and technical support around nuclear decommissioning projects.. |
| 2009 | 2013 | BMU, Bonn | Support for the German government with regard to Germany’s involvement in CSF and IIDSFs, briefing of politicans (i.a. G7 sherpas)), technical review of documents, data collection and analysis, inspections |
| 2011 | 2013 | RANDEC/JNES, Japan | Several reports, excursions and expert meetings to describe European decommissioning projects |
| 2011 | 2011 | Asse GmbH, Remlingen | Delivery and commissioning of a process management solution, pilot workshop for onboarding the team |
| 2011 | 2011 | Unnamed company | Several expert statements with regard to mould identification and removal out of transport units, sampling and analysis reports |
| 2011 | 2011 | Cassidian Electronics GmbH, Ulm | Several expert statements with regard to mould identification and removal out of CBRN-safe vehicles, sampling and analysis reports |
| 2010 | 2012 | Gesellschaft für Anlagen- und Reaktorsicherheit, Köln | Support to GRS for the assessment of WENRA activities, development of action plans, conduction of workshops |
| 2010 | 2010 | sat Kerntechnik GmbH, Worms | Project management and technical support for the tender together with Bouygues Construction Services Nucleaires for the management of the waste treatment site at JRC Ispra. |
| 2009 | 2010 | EC-JRC, Ispra | Elaboration of licensing documents for the removal of underground storage tanks in the JRC Ispra facility |
| 2009 | 2010 | Gesellschaft für Anlagen- und Reaktorsicherheit, Köln | Benchmark workshops for the WENRA harmonisation of safety reference levels for decommissioning of nuclear facilities. |