AECL’s customers utilize our world-class engineering and laboratory facilities to design, test and manufacture solutions for operating challenges.

Our specialized facilities include:

Hot Cells
Hot cells, also known as shielded facilities, are heavily shielded (concrete, lead) structures that provide for the remote manipulation, handling, measurement and analysis of irradiated materials. AECL’s hot cells at the Chalk River Laboratories in Ontario are used for a number of activities, including R&D on new fuels, reactor components, and materials; isotope production; support of the existing CANDU fleet, and commercial services to North American utilities. The existing shielded facilities are licensed by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) as part of the licence for our Chalk River site.

Surface Science/Metallography Laboratory
The Surface Science Laboratory at Chalk River provides state-of-the-art microscopic techniques for detailed analyses of surfaces and surface chemistries. Specially designed to meet our needs (particularly to handle radioactive samples), it is a unique national resource. Linked to the hot cells (for sample preparation), the Surface Science Laboratory is used in component development for analysis of irradiated fuel and pressure tube samples. It also supports operating stations in issues related to examination of steam generator tubes and feeder pipes.