I’m getting ready to start constructing my vault, the plan is to do a scaled down version of the USGS vault. The USGS vault calls for a full size overpack drum but since those are over $400+ I went with a smaller version. This limits how deep I can put the vault to ~27" (a full size overpack would be ~40"). I was thinking that it may be beneficial to dig deeper hole and pour a column of concrete (probably using a sonotube), and then pour a base of concreate around that that the drum would embed into. If you look at the diagram, the colored in parts would be concrete, the block on top of the 10" column would be the shake.
My thought is that this gives me “more depth” while still being able to stay in the limits of the drum. However, I’m not entirely sure that there is a benefit in doing it this way and also want to make sure it’s not detrimental.
Any thoughts on this would be very much appreciated.
Looks like you have a good concept. It is close to what I ended up with. I also used the USGS specs as a guide. When I say I ended up with, I did stumble a bit at first and put my RShake underwater: A Wet Shake And Vault Overhaul - Raspberry Shake
Just make sure you keep the water/moisture out and you should be good.
In the pictures, you will see a burlap bag. It holds reusable desiccant that keeps things dry. The humidity creeps up over time. I change it out when it gets around 50 to 60 percent relative humidity. Nothing significant about that number. It just seems to have worked over the years.
Let me know if you need more info or have more questions
Excellent, I’ve seen your vault, I think I’ve seen your vault which is probably where I got the idea for the “extra” pillar from. I was worried about moisture as well (especially here in Oregon) so I put my shake in waterproof enclosure. I also have a camera that will go in the vault and was considering putting some environmental sensors as well.
