C-FER's Special Environments Laboratory (SEL) is one of the world's largest and most comprehensive containment test facilities. This unique facility is utilized for tests demanding the safe containment of toxic and flammable gases and potential explosions.

The SEL contains two in-ground test vessels. Each vessel consists of a Primary Containment Chamber (PCC), a sealed chamber that houses the test specimen, and a Secondary Containment Chamber (SCC), a redundant safety chamber which is also used as an ancillary test equipment control room. The PCC is a 2.5m (8') diameter and 12m (40') deep steel caisson grouted in place.

The SCC sits above the test chamber and has a working internal pressure capability of 1.4MPa (200psi). The entire SEL has complete scrubbing and ventilating systems for safe disposal of contained gases and fluids. All testing equipment is remotely operated with complete instrumentation access inside the PCC. An illustration of one of the test vessels is shown above, with a pressure vessel specimen in the PCC.

Bench-scale testing can also be performed in fume hoods next to the test vessels, also part of the SEL facility.

Specifications:

• sealable below-ground chamber 12 m (39.4 ft) deep by 2.5 m (8.2 ft) in diameter
• secondary containment vessel provides a safe work chamber for control, mixing and scrubbing equipment
• external scrubbing, ventilating and fluid handling systems enable safe disposal of contained gases and liquids
• external remote control and monitoring
• safely contains pressures and gases generated by combustion events
• safely working pressure rated at 1.4 MPa (200 psi)