Safety Systems
The CANDU 6 reactors have safety systems and radioactive materials containment capability. The safety systems are designed to account not only for human error, but also for equipment failure and other potential events, such as earthquakes and tornadoes. In addition, in the unlikely event of an accident, CANDU 6 plants are designed with multiple containment barriers to safely contain any radioactive emissions within the reactor building.
The CANDU 6 nuclear power plants rely on the principles of defence-in-depth to assure public safety. There are four special systems that are independent of the process systems and of each other, both functionally and physically, which are not used in the day-to-day operation of the plant. The special safety systems activate automatically in case of an accident. Supporting these special safety systems are other systems that provide alternate sources of electrical power and cooling water.