A compact, factory-built nuclear power unit used to generate on-site electricity for remote industrial facilities and resource projects. For subcontractors, SMR sites represent emerging work in civil, electrical, and mechanical trades. Expect strict federal nuclear safety compliance requirements affecting worker certifications and site access.
SMR (Small Modular Reactor)
Related Terms
OSHA
IndustryOccupational Safety and Health Administration. The US federal agency responsible for workplace safety regulations. Compliance with OSHA standards is required for contractors working in the United States.
Acre-Feet
IndustryA volume measurement equal to one acre of surface area filled one foot deep, roughly 1,233 cubic metres. Common in water management contracts for tailings ponds, frac water storage, and site remediation. Subcontractors may be scoped and billed based on acre-feet of material moved or treated.
Caisson
IndustryA watertight steel or concrete structure used to support foundations in offshore or waterlogged environments. Subcontractors may be scoped to install, inspect, or perform maintenance work on caissons. Access and confined space protocols often apply.
Baseload Power
IndustryThe minimum level of electrical power a facility requires continuously, regardless of time of day or season. For subcontractors, it determines generator sizing and fuel planning on remote or off-grid job sites. Steady baseload demand also helps forecast equipment runtime and maintenance schedules.
Scissor Lift
IndustryA mobile elevated work platform that uses a folding metal support structure to raise workers and materials vertically. Commonly used by subcontractors for maintenance, installations, and inspections at height on industrial sites. Operators typically require documented training and a valid operator certification before use.
Cathodic Protection
IndustryA corrosion control method that uses electrical current to protect buried or submerged metal infrastructure like pipelines and tanks. Subcontractors installing or maintaining CP (Cathodic Protection) systems must hold recognised certifications. Inspections and anode replacements are common billable scopes in pipeline integrity contracts.
Latest Industry News
Canada's First SMR Basemat Installed at Darlington in Historic Nuclear Construction Milestone
A 2.1-million-pound basemat module has been installed at Ontario's Darlington site, marking the first new nuclear reactor foundation poured in Ontario in over 30 years and signaling that SMR construction is firmly underway.
5 months agoIndustryNRC Issues TVA Construction Permit for First US BWRX-300 SMR
The NRC has granted TVA a construction permit for a 300-MW BWRX-300 at Clinch River in Tennessee. TVA has not yet committed to build or authorized new contractor packages.
9 days agoIndustrySMR Deals Signal Early Nuclear Buildout Work for Certified Subs
Utility Dive reports hyperscaler-backed small modular reactor deals are moving advanced nuclear toward commercial deployment, creating a coming wave of specialized civil, electrical, and mechanical subcontracting work for firms with nuclear-grade quality certifications.
1 month agoIndustryOhio Nuclear Developer Files for Grid Connection, Selects GE Vernova Reactor for 1.5-GW SMR Project
Elementl Power has submitted a PJM interconnection request and signed an Early Works Agreement with GE Vernova Hitachi for a proposed small modular reactor plant in Meigs County, Ohio, with construction potentially starting in 2030.
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