What specific requirements apply to laundries in nuclear power plants? A technical article on the Texcare platform addresses this question, in which Sebastian Hatz, Sales Manager for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland at STAHL Laundry Machinery, shares his practical experience. In the interview, he explains why laundry technology in nuclear facilities is subject to significantly stricter regulatory requirements than in traditional industrial laundries.
According to Sebastian Hatz, a key issue is the energy supply for the equipment. While many laundries use gas or steam systems, these solutions are often not permitted in nuclear power plants or can only be implemented at great expense. Gas systems are considered a potential safety risk, and steam from the power plant’s cooling cycle may also be classified as radioactive. For this reason, laundry machines in this environment are usually electrically heated—a solution that allows for precise control and can be quickly shut down in the event of a malfunction.
In addition, Sebastian Hatz describes in an interview the specific requirements for handling work and protective clothing. Since textiles within the facility may be contaminated with radioactive particles, they are processed directly on site in specialized laundries. These laundries use closed systems in which water and air are treated and filtered under controlled conditions to ensure safe decontamination.
Strict guidelines also apply to the design of laundry processes. The laundry expert, for example, emphasizes the importance of separating black and white laundry, which ensures a clear physical separation between soiled and clean areas. Drying cabinets are often used for drying delicate protective clothing, as they handle the textiles gently and minimize the formation of lint or dust particles.
The interview illustrates how closely technology, safety, and process organization are intertwined in nuclear laundry facilities. Specialized machinery and clearly defined procedures are crucial for safely processing textiles while adhering to the high safety standards of a nuclear power plant.
For more information and the full interview with Sebastian Hatz, click here.