CAPABILITIES AND FEATURES OF THE CLASS 100 CLEAN ROOM LABORATORY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLE ANALYSES BY THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY

On October 14, 1994, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) formally broke ground for construction of its Class 100 Clean Room Laboratory for environmental sample management and analyses at the Seibersdorf Analytical Laboratory (SAL). Since that date, activities have progressed from design through construction and initial start-up operations. With assistance from United States Government and other member states, IAEA’s clean laboratory construction was concluded in December 1995, with formal inauguration of the facility performed on December 15, 1995, by IAEA Director General Hans Blix and U.S. Ambassador John Ritch, III. As built, the Class 100 laboratory at SAL will provide IAEA with an independent capability for screening environmental samples and measuring the isotopic composition of trace uranium and plutonium in environmental samples to verify operations as declared and to detect undeclared activities. This paper describes the IAEA’s Clean Room Laboratory, its capabilities and design features, as well as its unique capabilities that are critical for successful environmental sample analyses.