Core Catcher meaning

In nuclear regulatory and project documents, a core catcher is the engineered structure located beneath the reactor vessel that, in a severe accident or core meltdown, contains, spreads and cools molten core material (corium) to prevent basemat failure and limit radiological release. It is a severe-accident mitigation and largely passive safety feature. The term is descriptive rather than defined in UK or Irish legislation or case law, but is widely used by regulators and industry. In the UK, it is a key element of the EPR (European Pressurised Reactor) design (for example at Hinkley Point C) and has been assessed through the Generic Design Assessment by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and environmental regulators (Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales and SEPA), and through site-specific safety cases, nuclear site licence conditions, environmental permitting, planning/EIA and emergency planning. Legal practitioners will encounter the term in EPC and equipment supply contracts, technical schedules, hazard and operability and safety case evidence, insurance and nuclear liability risk assessments, and due diligence for financing. Usage is broadly consistent across England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Ireland does not licence nuclear power reactors, but the term may appear in cross‑border consultation, radiological protection and transboundary environmental assessment materials.