A nuclear facility includes a fuel element pool which is filled with a cooling liquid. A fuel element rack, which is disposed in the fuel element pool, includes compartments for receiving fuel elements. The fuel elements received in the compartments are in direct contact with the cooling liquid in the fuel element pool. At least one cooling element is disposed in one of the compartments instead of a fuel element. The cooling element acts as a heat exchanger through which a coolant can flow, the cooling element is connected into a cooling circuit and the cooling element is immersed in the cooling liquid.