'Significant' fire risks at nuclear plant site

'Significant' fire risks have been uncovered at the first nuclear plant to be built in Britain for 30 years, including flammable materials left on emergency exit stairs.

Inspectors from the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) said they found significant fire safety shortfalls at Hinkley Point C, EDF's twin-reactor nuclear power station in Somerset.

The ONR has served enforcement action notices on five organisations which are overseeing mechanical, electrical and heating (MEH) and ventilation and air conditioning work (HVAC) at the site.

Bosses of the five organisations will need to address the shortfalls ahead of the next inspection.

A spokesperson for Hinkley Point C said they are working closely with contract partners to ensure that the appropriate enhancements are made.

"Safety is our overriding priority, and we are already acting to oversee improvements," they added.

Mahtab Khan, ONR's head of regulation, said fire safety is not optional and it is a legal requirement that protects lives.

"We will not hesitate to take enforcement action where safety standards fall short, and we expect all dutyholders to treat fire safety with the urgency it demands.

"Working alongside the principal contractor and MEH alliance, we have made good progress in understanding the root causes of these shortfalls to ensure they are addressed," Khan added.

The Hinkley Point C contractors given fire enforcement notices are Altrad Babcock, Altrad Services, Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick Ltd, Cavendish Nuclear, and NG Bailey.

The combustible material, found during an inspection in December, was discovered in the staircase and was waste typical of construction activities, the ONR said.

It added although the waste did not block the fire exit, it could have compromised access to the building in the event of a fire.

Inspectors found the construction site did not have an adequate fire risk assessment.

There were also insufficient means of escape exits for the number of people working in the building.

The ONR said the shortfalls had no direct impact on the likelihood of a fire, but that the enforcement means adequate routes should be available to workers in the event of a fire.

It comes after inspectors found there was a "risk of serious injury" due to "inadequate fire controls" being used by civil engineering firm Bylor JV, which is run by both Laing O'Rourke and Bouygues Travaux Publics.

In December, the company was served with a fire safety notice and was told it had until June to implement changes.

The estimated cost of Hinkley Point C has risen to £46bn from the £18bn predicted in 2017, and it is expected to open in 2031.

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