In a pressurized water reactor, the containment also encloses the steam generators and the pressurizer), together constituting the reactor building. The anti-missile shield is normally a tall, cylindrical or domed building. There are several common designs but, for security analyses, the shields are classified as: large-dry, sub-atmospheric, or ice condenser.

In a boiling water reactor, the containment and shield are built very close to the reactor vessel. The reactor building wall forms secondary containment during refueling operations. The different containment designs are referred to by the names Mark I (oldest; toroidal/drywell), Mark II, and Mark III (newest). All three types house a large mass of water that is used to cool the steam emitted by the reactor system during transients.

The CANDU multi-unit system[2]​ uses a vacuum building equipped with a water spray to quickly condense any vapors that could be produced by a possible rupture, returning the containment to subatmospheric pressure conditions. This minimizes any possible escape of fission products into the environment.

In the United States it is Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 50, Appendix J, which provides the basic design criteria for pipelines that penetrate containment. Each large pipe that penetrates the containment, such as steam lines, has isolation valves, configured as authorized by Appendix J, with the use of two valves being common [2]. For minor pipes, one inside and one outside. For large pipelines with high pressures, due to the space required for safety valves and for maintenance reasons, designers should install the valves listed in Appendix J near where those lines exit containment. In the event of a leak in the high-pressure pipes carrying steam and feedwater, these valves close quickly to prevent leakage of radioactivity from the containment. Valves on reserve system lines that penetrate containment remain in the normally closed position.

In the Soviet Union the normal practice was not to construct containment buildings. This led, among other reasons, to the Chernobyl accident.[3]​ In RBMK reactors such as Chernobyl, it is more appropriate to call the building that houses the reactor reactor building and not containment building.

In 1988, Sandia National Laboratories conducted endurance tests that consisted of crashing a jet fighter into a large block of concrete, simulating containment, at 775 km/h.[4]​[5]​ The plane left only an approximately 6 cm deep indentation in the concrete. Although the block had not been constructed in the same way as the missile shield of a containment building (as it was not anchored, etc.), the results were considered sufficiently indicative. A subsequent study carried out by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and these laboratories concluded that commercial aircraft did not put containment at risk either.[6]​.

In 1992, Hurricane Andrew directly hit the Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant. This plant has two fossil fuel groups and two nuclear ones. Damage valued at more than $90 million was caused, largely to a water tank and one of the chimneys of one of the fossil fuel clusters, but the containment buildings were not damaged.[7]​[8]​.

• - Nuclear energy.

• - Nuclear power plant.

(in English):.

• - Nuclear Tourist, search for "containment" and "containment pressure control".

• - Susquehanna Nuclear Energy Guide a boiling water reactor, see page 22.

• - Finnish description.

• - Southern Company Glossary.

• - Microsimulation technology.

In a pressurized water reactor, the containment also encloses the steam generators and the pressurizer), together constituting the reactor building. The anti-missile shield is normally a tall, cylindrical or domed building. There are several common designs but, for security analyses, the shields are classified as: large-dry, sub-atmospheric, or ice condenser.

In a boiling water reactor, the containment and shield are built very close to the reactor vessel. The reactor building wall forms secondary containment during refueling operations. The different containment designs are referred to by the names Mark I (oldest; toroidal/drywell), Mark II, and Mark III (newest). All three types house a large mass of water that is used to cool the steam emitted by the reactor system during transients.

The CANDU multi-unit system[2]​ uses a vacuum building equipped with a water spray to quickly condense any vapors that could be produced by a possible rupture, returning the containment to subatmospheric pressure conditions. This minimizes any possible escape of fission products into the environment.

In the United States it is Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 50, Appendix J, which provides the basic design criteria for pipelines that penetrate containment. Each large pipe that penetrates the containment, such as steam lines, has isolation valves, configured as authorized by Appendix J, with the use of two valves being common [2]. For minor pipes, one inside and one outside. For large pipelines with high pressures, due to the space required for safety valves and for maintenance reasons, designers should install the valves listed in Appendix J near where those lines exit containment. In the event of a leak in the high-pressure pipes carrying steam and feedwater, these valves close quickly to prevent leakage of radioactivity from the containment. Valves on reserve system lines that penetrate containment remain in the normally closed position.

In the Soviet Union the normal practice was not to construct containment buildings. This led, among other reasons, to the Chernobyl accident.[3]​ In RBMK reactors such as Chernobyl, it is more appropriate to call the building that houses the reactor reactor building and not containment building.

In 1988, Sandia National Laboratories conducted endurance tests that consisted of crashing a jet fighter into a large block of concrete, simulating containment, at 775 km/h.[4]​[5]​ The plane left only an approximately 6 cm deep indentation in the concrete. Although the block had not been constructed in the same way as the missile shield of a containment building (as it was not anchored, etc.), the results were considered sufficiently indicative. A subsequent study carried out by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and these laboratories concluded that commercial aircraft did not put containment at risk either.[6]​.

In 1992, Hurricane Andrew directly hit the Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant. This plant has two fossil fuel groups and two nuclear ones. Damage valued at more than $90 million was caused, largely to a water tank and one of the chimneys of one of the fossil fuel clusters, but the containment buildings were not damaged.[7]​[8]​.

• - Nuclear energy.

• - Nuclear power plant.

(in English):.

• - Nuclear Tourist, search for "containment" and "containment pressure control".

• - Susquehanna Nuclear Energy Guide a boiling water reactor, see page 22.

• - Finnish description.

• - Southern Company Glossary.

• - Microsimulation technology.