This paper presents the results of a visualization experiment which is carried out to measure the pressure and to observe the wave propagation when an explosion occurs in a model of a nuclear fuel cycle facility (NFCF). Numerical simulation is also performed to compare the phenomena in NFCF. NFCF is simulated as the several closed rooms in these experiments and simulations, because the NFCF is composed of many closed rooms. As a result, typical tendencies of pressure history and the behavior of the wave propagation are obtained, and it is confirmed that a wave caused by an explosion which occurs in a closed space propagates and reflects complexly, mutual interference with progressing waves is also observed. Finally, experimental results are compared with a numerical simulation. It is confirmed that the results of a numerical simulation show a good agreement with experimental results. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.