ASTM C1725-17(2022)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: C1725 − 17 (Reapproved 2022)
Standard Guide for
Hot Cell Specialized Support Equipment and Tools
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C1725; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
1.1 Intent:
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
1.1.1 This guide presents practices and guidelines for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
design and implementation of equipment and tools to assist
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
assembly, disassembly, alignment, fastening, maintenance, or
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
general handling of equipment in a hot cell. Operating in a
remote hot cell environment significantly increases the diffi-
2. Referenced Documents
culty and time required to perform a task compared to
2.1 ASTM Standards:
completing a similar task directly by hand. Successful special-
A193/A193M Specification for Alloy-Steel and Stainless
ized support equipment and tools minimize the required effort,
Steel Bolting for High Temperature or High Pressure
reduce risks, and increase operating efficiencies.
Service and Other Special Purpose Applications
1.2 Applicability:
A354 Specification for Quenched and TemperedAlloy Steel
1.2.1 This guide may apply to the design of specialized
Bolts, Studs, and Other Externally Threaded Fasteners
support equipment and tools anywhere it is remotely operated,
A453/A453M Specification for High-Temperature Bolting,
maintained, and viewed through shielding windows or by other
with Expansion Coefficients Comparable to Austenitic
remote viewing systems.
Stainless Steels
1.2.2 Consideration should be given to the need for special-
A962/A962M Specification for Common Requirements for
ized support equipment and tools early in the design process.
Bolting Intended for Use at Any Temperature from Cryo-
1.2.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be
genic to the Creep Range
regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are
C859 Terminology Relating to Nuclear Materials
mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for
C1217 Guide for Design of Equipment for Processing
information only and are not considered standard.
Nuclear and Radioactive Materials
1.3 Caveats:
C1533 Guide for General Design Considerations for Hot
1.3.1 This guide is generic in nature and addresses a wide Cell Equipment
range of remote working configurations. Other acceptable and
C1554 Guide for Materials Handling Equipment for Hot
proven international configurations exist and provide options Cells
for engineer and designer consideration. Specific designs are
C1615 Guide for Mechanical Drive Systems for Remote
not a substitute for applied engineering skills, proven practices, Operation in Hot Cell Facilities
or experience gained in any specific situation.
C1661 Guide for Viewing Systems for Remotely Operated
1.3.2 This guide does not supersede federal or state Facilities
regulations, or both, or codes applicable to equipment under
SI10-02 IEEE/ASTM SI 10 American National Standard for
any conditions. Use of the International System of Units (SI):The Modern
1.3.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Metric System
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
2.2 Federal Regulations:
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
10 CFR 830.120 Subpart A, Nuclear Safety Management,
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
Quality Assurance Requirements
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee C26 on Nuclear Fuel Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Cycle and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C26.14 on Remote Systems. the ASTM website.
Current edition approved July 1, 2022. Published July 2022. Originally approved AvailablefromU.S.GovernmentPrintingOfficeSuperintendentofDocuments,
in 2010. Last previous edition approved in 2017 as C1725 – 17. DOI: 10.1520/ 732 N. Capitol St., NW, Mail Stop: SDE, Washington, DC 20401, http://
C1725-17R22. www.access.gpo.gov.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
C1725 − 17 (2022)
2.3 Other Standards: reduce failed hardware replacement time, and provide a stan-
ANSI/ASME NQA-1 Quality Assurance Requirements for dardized design approach.
Nuclear Facility Applications
5. Design Requirements
ANSI/ISO/ASQ 9001 Quality Management Standard Re-
5.1 The complexity, performance, reliability, and life expec-
quirements
tancy of support equipment will be determined by the facility
3. Terminology
purpose, configuration, and radiation levels. A production
facility may require robust designs intended to be extensively
3.1 The terminology employed in this guide conforms to
used for the life of the facility. In contrast, equipment for a
industry practice insofar as practicable.
research or analytical facility may be intended only for limited
3.2 For definitions of general terms used to describe nuclear
short-term experiments.
materials, hot cells, and hot cell equipment, refer to Terminol-
5.2 Present and future radiation levels, chemical exposures,
ogy C859.
and other severe environmental conditions should be well
3.3 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
understood for their impact on material performance, life
3.3.1 acorn-head (cone-head) fastener—a bolt or screw
expectancy, and disposal.
witharoundedsphericalheadtaperingintoastandardhexhead
5.3 Limitations of the facility handling equipment should be
resembling the shape of the bottom portion of an acorn (or
identified and possible constraints imposed on support equip-
cone), the purpose of which is used to guide and align a tool
ment and tools understood. Applicable inputs include lift
onto the bolt head.
capacities,rangeofmotion,forcelimits,andareasofcoverage.
3.3.2 alignment (guide) pin—a pin used to align two mating
A specific example is to use the repeatable minimum incre-
components by mating a pin mounted in one component with
mental movement of the handling equipment to size features
a precisely sized and positioned hole in the mating part.
for easy alignment with appropriate tool.
Multiple pins are typically required for proper alignment
depending on the configuration and orientation of the mating 5.4 Operator interfaces with handling equipment should
also be identified to understand how the operator verifies
surfaces.
successful task completion or recognizes when a problem
3.3.3 captive fastener—a bolt or screw physically retained
occurs. Refer to Guides C1217, C1533, C1554, C1615, and
on a component that remains attached when mating parts are
C1661 for additional descriptions of hot cell equipment design
separated. Using captive fasteners eliminates the risk of drop-
requirements.
ping the fastener and helps to maintain the fastener in a ready
to use position. It can also apply to nuts when mating
6. Quality Assurance, Qualification and Acceptance
components are too thin for threading.
6.1 Facility owners and program managers should establish
3.3.4 grapple—a removable tool that attached by means of
a quality assurance program to assure proper equipment
a non-threaded connection to equipment and interfaces with an
operation and reliability consistent with that required for
overhead crane or electro-mechanical manipulator to lift and
facility operations as outlined by law or the agency of
move the equipment.
jurisdiction. Quality assurance programs may be required to
3.3.5 lifting bail—lifting handle, hook, or cable generally
comply with 10 CFR830.120, ANSI/ASME NQA-1, or ANSI/
attached over the center of gravity of the equipment to aid
ISO/ASQ 9001.
remote handling.
6.2 Qualityassurancespecificationsshouldbeestablishedto
3.3.6 power manipulator—manipulator controlled by an
ensure all procurement and fabrication meets the design
operator outside of the hot cell with the in-cell slave-arm
specifications. The level of complexity and risk consequences
powered by electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic actuators.
should be used to determine the level of required certification
documentation and the degree of inspection.
4. Significance and Use
6.3 Components should be tested in a simulated operating
4.1 This guide is relevant to the design of specialized
environment (mockup) before in-cell installation or use to
support equipment and tools that are remotely operated,
verify remote operability, maintainability, and to reduce the
maintained, or viewed through shielding windows, or combi-
risk of unexpected problems. The level of complexity and risk
nations thereof, or by other remote viewing systems.
consequences should be used to determine the degree of
4.2 Hot cells contain substances and processes that may be
simulation required to test designs before remote implementa-
extremely hazardous to personnel or the external environment,
tion.
or both. Process safety and reliability are improved with
6.4 Equipment to be used in nuclear or other regulatory
successful design, installation, and operation of specialized
controlled facilities may be required to meet specific qualifi-
mechanical and support equipment.
cation requirements and documentation by the regulatory
4.3 Useofthisguideinthedesignofspecializedmechanical
agency prior to installation or use.
and support equipment can reduce costs, improve productivity,
7. Remote Handling Features
7.1 Manipulator Finger Guides—Guides for the fingers on
Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org. the in-cell portion of the manipulators provide positive grips
C1725 − 17 (2022)
when handling items and prevent unnecessary damage and
delays resulting from dropped items. Fig. 1 is an example of
finger grips fabricated from sheet metal and attached to a tool.
Fig. 2 shows an example of flats machined into a round shaft
to match the manipulator fingers.
7.2 Positive Latch Indicators—Latch indicators identify
when a component is properly positioned or when a grapple is
properly engaged. Fig. 3 is an example of a positive latch
indicator for a threaded grapple that must engage mating
threads in a non-visible location. As the grapple is threaded
into position, the push rod contacts the bottom surface of the
mating hole and slides a sleeve over a color-coded band. Full
engagement is indicated when the color band is no longer
visible.
7.3 Lanyards—A lanyard may be used to secure loose parts
at risk of being dropped. Lanyards may also be attached to
connectors or pins to aid in releasing latching mechanisms that
are difficult to operate when using manipulators. Lanyards are
FIG. 2 Machined Flats
typically thin wire ropes that are attached to the part and to a
more rigid or fixed equipment item. Fig. 4 shows an example
of a removable pin being secured using a lanyard.
actuator failures leave the lock in the open position. A lock in
the open position should not hinder normal crane hook
7.4 Lifting Features:
operation. Manual actuation of a lock limits its use to locations
7.4.1 Hooks—Crane hooks used in hot cells typically have
where the locking mechanisms can be reached with a manipu-
no motorized rotational capability. To compensate for this
lator.
limitation, hooks can be modified or an additional special
7.4.2 Swivel Hoist Rings—Swivel hoist rings have been
purpose hook can be used below the regular hook. Fig. 5 is an
used extensively in hot cells for lifting equipment because of
example of a modified hook with an extended nose that guides
their multidirectional loading capability. They swivel 360° to
the hook onto lifting features. Fig. 6 is an example of a
compensate for pitch, roll and sway when lifting unbalanced
detachable treble hook requiring minimal rotation for align-
loads. Fig. 7 is an illustration of a typical swivel hoist ring
ment. The treble hook is also inherently self-standing when
using a convenient deep-socket head screw for ease of instal-
removed from the regular crane hook and stored. The crane
lation.
hooks illustrated do not have load locking mechanisms. Lock-
7.4.3 Lifting Bails—Lifting bails on equipment should be
ing mechanisms that lock the load into the hook require special
self-standing or have locking positions maintaining clearances
consideration. As a result, hooks without locks are common
for easy engagement of hooks as shown in Fig. 8. Cable bails
and often designed with deeper throats to help secure loads
should be constructed from self-supporting stiff material and
during handling. When used, locks should be designed so
attached using a shoulder bolt with large diameter washer to
secure the loop at each end. Fig. 9 shows details for typical
cable bail attachment. Bails should be located over the center
of gravity to avoid uncontrollable motions when the lifted
component becomes unrestrained. Potential shifting of the
center of gravity needs to be considered when multiple
handling configurations exist, such as handling a container
either empty or loaded.
7.4.4 Grapples—A grapple is a lifting device that is typi-
cally separate from the equipment to be lifted, and may be
designed to lift several different equipment items. Using
grapples is a way to standardize lifting schemes for multiple
pieces of equipment and it may simplify lifting designs and
improve ease of handling. Grapples generally have positive
locking mechanisms. The locking mechanisms should be
operable by manipulators and include latched and unlatched
indication. Fig. 10 is an example of a ball-detent quick-lifting
grapple designed to handle flat cover plates and container lids.
To use, the grapple is inserted a mating hole and locked by
rotating a handle pushing locking balls outward into a larger
diameter recess. The mating hole in the load must be precisely
FIG. 1 Sheet Metal Grips machined with proper clearance for expansion of the locking
C1725 − 17 (2022)
FIG. 3 Positive Latch Indicator
FIG. 4 Lanyard Securing Removable Pin
balls and also provide a shoulder to restrain the balls when the 7.5.1 Toggle Clamps—Toggle clamps come in a variety of
grapple lifts the load. The lifting capacity is limited by the
sizes and configurations and function as a quick action clamp-
material characteristics of the locking balls and hole shoulder.
ing device. Toggle clamps are typically used in light-duty
As shown, the hole in the load may be a single diameter when
clamping applications for parts that are frequently installed and
the mating plate is thin or a stepped hole when thicker. Fig. 11
removed. They are useful in hot cell environments because
illustrates a grapple designed to handle round bails and is
they are easily actuated using master-slave manipulators. An
equipped with a sliding sleeve to lock the bail in the grip.
advantage of most toggle clamp designs are that when the
7.5 Positioning and Clamping Features: handle is opened, the clamping arm completely clears the work
C1725 − 17 (2022)
it in the most accessible position. A captive configuration is
shown in Fig. 13. For non-captive designs, a lanyard is
recommended for securing the pin to equipment as shown in
Fig. 4. Lanyard use eliminates the potential for dropping loose
pins while handling.
7.5.3 Spring Plungers—Retractable spring plungers are use-
fulaspositioners,locatingpins,andindexingdevicesinremote
equipment applications. The locking T- and L- handle plungers
have a rest position where the plunger can stay in the retracted
position as shown in Fig. 14. The T- and L- handles are easily
withdrawn and re-engaged using master-slave manipulators.
7.6 Alignment Features—Mating components often need
guides to assure successful remote assembly and to prevent
damage or incorrect assembly orientation.
7.6.1 Guide Pins—Guide pins provide precise alignments
for applications such as when mating electrical connectors.
Dual diameter (two stage) or long taper pins
...