SHIELDING INFORMATION

• DIAGNOSTIC RADIATION SHIELDING CONSIDERATIONS
  
  
Per the current NCRP Report #147(2004)1.5 General Concepts,states: "The term "qualified expert" used in this report is defined as a medical physicist or medical health physicist who is competent to design radiation shielding for medical x-ray imaging facilities.The qualified expert is a person who is certified by the American Board of Radiology,American Board of Health Physics,or the Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine.

Radiation shielding shall be designed by a qualified expert to ensure the required degree of protection is achieved.
The qualified expert should be consulted during the early planning stages since the shielding requirements may affect the choice of location of radiation facilities and type of building construction.The qualified expert should be provided with all pertinent information regarding the proposed radiation equipment and its use,type of building construction,and occupancy of nearby areas. It may be necessary to submit the final shielding drawings and specifications to pertinent regulatory agencies for review prior to construction".

LEAD SHIELDING REQUIREMENTS SHOULD BE CALCULATED AND DETERMINED BY A CERTIFIED RADIATION HEALTH PHYSICIST BASED ON THE FOLLOWING FACTORS:

1)    ENERGY: HOW POWERFUL IS THE X-RAY UNIT(S) OUTPUT IN KvP?
    TYPICALLY, THE HIGHER THE OUTPUT, THE HIGHER THE SHIELDING REQUIREMENT.

2)    WORKLOAD: HOW MANY EXPOSURES PER WEEK / MONTH / YEAR? MAXIMUM PATIENT VOLUME GROWTH SHOULD BE PROJECTED IN, AS RADIATION IS CUMULATIVE AND OVEREXPOSURE CAUSES BIOLOGICAL DAMAGE ON THE CELLULAR LEVEL. AS AN EXAMPLE, IN CALIFORNIA, IT IS LIMITED TO A MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE LEVEL OF 100 mrem PER YEAR, IN ADDITION TO THE 360 mrem OF RADIATION THE AVERAGE PERSON IS EXPOSED TO PER YEAR DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS (I.E.: ULTRA VIOLET, SOLAR, RADON GAS AND ATMOSPHERIC RADIATION). ALWAYS CHECK WITH ALL LOCAL HEALTH AND SAFETY LAWS AND CODES FOR CURRENT COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS.

3)    ORIENTATION: EACH WALL SECTION WILL BE CALCULATED BY YOUR PHYSICIST IN RELATION TO THE DIRECTION OF THE PRIMARY BEAM TARGET (WHERE IT WILL BE AIMED) AND SCATTER (SECONDARY) RADIATION OF THE X-RAY UNIT, AS WELL AS FLOOR OR WALL BUCKY CASSETTE HOLDER (TARGET AREA).

4)    DISTANCE: RADIATION DISSIPATES AS DISTANCE INCREASES. TYPICALLY, THE CLOSER A PARTITION IS TO THE RADIATION / X-RAY SOURCE, THE HIGHER THE LEAD SHIELDING REQUIREMENT.

5)    OCCUPANCY: ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS OF CALCULATION IS HOW MUCH TIME IN A DAY THAT A SURROUNDING ROOM COMMON TO THE X-RAY ROOM WILL BE OCCUPIED BY YOUR PERSONNEL OR THE PUBLIC. (I.E.: A STORAGE ROOM WOULD HAVE A LOWER OCCUPANCY FACTOR AND A WAITING ROOM OR OFFICE MAY BE HIGH). THEREFORE, IT IS CALCULATED ROOM BY ROOM FOR ALL ROOMS CONNECTED (OR COMMON) TO THE X-RAY ROOM. IF THERE IS NO OCCUPANCY POTENTIAL, THEN TYPICALLY NO SHIELDING WILL BE REQUIRED (I.E.: FLOOR OR ROOF OF A SINGLE STORY BUILDING).

6)    MATERIAL: SOMETIMES A PHYSICIST WILL TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE EXISTING OR PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL OF THE WALL PARTITION OR FLOORING MATERIAL, AS HEAVY DENSITY MATERIALS CAN ATTENUATE (SHIELD) RADIATION TO A CERTAIN DEGREE, SUCH AS CONCRETE, STEEL, PLASTER, BLOCK OR MULTIPLE LAYERS OF DRYWALL. THIS MAY REDUCE, OR IN SOME CASES, ELIMINATE YOUR LEAD SHIELDING REQUIREMENTS, DEPENDING ON THE VALUES OF THE PREVIOUS FIVE FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED.

• THERE MAY ALSO BE OTHER CONSIDERATIONS, SUCH AS X-RAY FILM TO BE PROTECTED FROM RADIATION EXPOSURE TO PREVENT "FOGGING" AND THE SHIELDING OF VARIOUS RADIATION SENSITIVE EQUIPMENT, OR DESIGNATIONS OF PERIMETER OCCUPANCIES AS "CONTROLLED" OR "UNCONTROLLED"
  
  "There is nothing more expensive than cheap radiation shielding"
  
  NOTES:

• ALL PENETRATIONS WITHIN A SHIELDED WALL PARTITION MUST BE SHIELDED WITH EQUAL OR GREATER VALUE.
  
• MINIMUM HEIGHT OF WALL SHIELDING IS 7'0" A.F.F. PER NCRP REPORT #49 (NATIONAL STANDARD)
  
• LEAD SHIELDING FOR PARTITIONS MUST BE BONDED TO RIGID PANELS (I.E.: DRYWALL, PLYWOOD, OR PANELING) FOR STRUCTURAL STRENGTH.
  
• SHIELDING REQUIREMENTS MAY CHANGE IF ANY ONE OF THE FIVE BASIC FACTORS CHANGE.
  
• ALL RADIATION PRODUCING SOURCES MUST BE LICENSED AND REGISTERED.
  
• TYPICAL DIAGNOSTIC ROOMS: X-RAY, RADIOGRAPHIC, FLUOROSCOPIC, C.T. SCAN, CATH LAB, ANGIOGRAPHY, CAT SCAN, MAMMOGRAPHY, ETC.
  
• RADIATION THERAPY ROOM CALCULATIONS ARE MUCH MORE INVOLVED THAN DIAGNOSTIC DUE TO THE HIGH ENERGY LEVELS AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS TO FACTOR IN.
  
• END USER SHOULD ALSO HAVE ALL SHIELDING PROJECTS COMPLETELY SURVEYED BY A QUALIFIED RADIATION HEALTH PHYSICIST AFTER INSTALLATION AND PRIOR TO USE

COMMON TYPES OF X-RAY or RADIATION ROOMS

X-RAY / RADIOLOGY / RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGING ROOMS
Primarily utilizing an electrically charged cathode tube to produce ionizing x-ray gamma photons to still-image some soft tissue, organs and skeletal bone structures for diagnose and prognosis of potential health issues. Typical energy levels can be between 100kvp to 150kvp, with a downward table and chest wall bucky primary target beam area. Rooms are typically smaller in size from 10'0" x 12'0" and up to 16'0" x 20'0" and require shielded walls,x-ray glass control window minimum 18" x 18" or larger for a clear view of patient and procedures,and shielded door(s). Shielding is calculated by customer/end users radiation expert based on the specific imaging equiptment utilized and typically will involve several different lead shielding thicknesses depending upon primary beam and secondary scatter radiation fields,surrounding occupancy factors and other considerations.

FLOUROSCOPY ROOMS
Primarily utilizing an electrically charged cathode tube to continually produce ionizing x-ray gamma photons during the actual imaging process to produce real time live-action images of soft tissue,anatomy,blood vessels, organs and skeletal bone structures for same time on-going medical procedures or to diagnose and prognoses' potential health issues. Typical energy levels are between 130kvp to 150kvp with a patient table or "iso-center" field of functional operation. Rooms are typically smaller in size from 10'0" x 12'0" and up to 16'0" x 20'0" and require shielded walls and sometimes an x-ray glass control window and shielded door(s). Shielding is calculated by customer/end users radiation expert and typically will involve several different lead shielding thicknesses depending upon primary beam and secondary scatter radiation fields,surrounding occupancy factors and other considerations.

COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY / C.T.SCANNER ROOMS
Either electrically produced ionizing radiation or an injectable radionuclide such as Iodine-131 or contrasting source producing 16, 32,40 or 64 slice system imaging for complete head,torso,body,organ and anatomy imaging for medical diagnosis and prognosis.Typical energy levels are between 120kvp and up to 150kvp. Rooms are typically larger in size from 18'0" x 20'0" and up to 24'0" x 32'0" and require shielded walls,a large x-ray glass control window minimum 48" wide x 36" high or larger for a clear view of patient and procedures,and shielded door(s). Shielding is calculated by customer/end users radiation expert and typically will involve several different lead shielding thicknesses and possible ceiling shielding depending upon radiation fields,surrounding uncontrolled occupancy factors and other considerations

POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY / PET SCANNER ROOM
Typically utilizing a very high energy positron emitting radioactive isotope (such as Fluorine-18) with a short half-life (i.e.110 minutes) for medical diagnosis imaging of various serious health issues such as cancer, tumors or other heath risks. PET Scanning is typically involving the higher energy levels of 511kev. Rooms are typically larger in size from 18'0" x 20'0" and up to 24'0" x 32'0" and require shielded walls,a large x-ray glass control window providing the same equal shielding protective value as the control wall partition shielding requirements it occurs in and a minimum 48"wide x 36" high or larger for a clear view of patient and procedures,and shielded door(s). Shielding is calculated by customer/end users radiation expert and typically will involve several different heavier lead shielding thicknesses and possible ceiling shielding depending upon radiation fields,surrounding uncontrolled occupancy factors and other considerations such as if equipment and room will be utilized in a dual modality application with Computerized Tomography capabilities requiring additional shielding aspects. Some additional structural support or seismic considerations may apply depending upon heavier lead weight load requirements and will need to be reviewed by the clients project structural engineer. PET scan rooms require the support of 2 or more "uptake" patient injection rooms with heavier lead radiation shielding, and a hot lab room for dose calibration and loading. Ray-Bar was the first company to work with developing both the initial prototype room shielding and the shielding of the cyclotron that produced the F-18 511kvp isotope. Since that time Ray-Bar has provided the shielding for many PET Scan installations nationwide utilizing our special experience and unique understanding of PET shielding.

EMERGENCY ROOMS (E.R.),SPECIAL PROCEDURES and OPERATING ROOMS (O.R.)
Utilizing non-dedicated portable x-ray machines during emergency treatment or urgent trauma diagnosis or delicate on-going medical procedures/operations without the inconvenience of moving the patient to a radiology department for imaging. Room sizes vary depending upon function and procedures and usually require shielded walls,a portable mobile x-ray control screen barrier or an x-ray glass control window, and shielded door(s). .Energy is typically 50kvp-125kvp. Shielding is calculated by customer/end users radiation expert and due to low frequency of use and variety of angles most shielding is minimal, and usually of one or two different lead shielding thicknesses depending upon function,estimated workloads,primary beam and secondary scatter radiation fields,surrounding occupancy factors,uncontrolled areas and other considerations.

CHIROPRACTIC X-RAY
Primarily utilizing an electrically charged cathode tube to produce ionizing x-ray gamma photons to still-image the spine and some soft tissue related to skeletal bone structures and alignment for diagnose and prognose of potential back and spine issues.Typical energy levels are 50kvp-125kvp and usually with a chest wall bucky primary target beam area. Rooms are typically smaller in size from 8'0" x 10'0" and up to 12'0" x 16'0" and require shielded walls,an x-ray glass control window or x-ray control barrier with a x-ray view window minimum 8" x 10" or larger for a clear view of patient and procedures, and shielded door(s). . Shielding is calculated by customer/end users radiation expert and typically will involve several different lead shielding thicknesses depending upon primary beam and secondary scatter radiation fields,workload,surrounding occupancy factors and other considerations.

DENTAL X-RAY
Utilizing very close proximity low energy x-ray for imaging of teeth and surrounding soft tissue conditions and teeth/jaw alignment. Regular dental x-ray (intraoral) uses an x-ray "cone" pressed directly against the cheeks with the film placed in the mouth to produce a simple x-ray image. Panoramic X-Ray or Cone Beam C.T. provides a greater field of view as a 2 dimensional x-ray of the entire mouth. Exam room sizes are typically small from 8'0" x 8'0" up to 12'0" x 12'0".Shielding should be calculated by customer/end users radiation expert although regular standard dental x-ray typically utilizes only a couple of layers of gypsum wall board and normally does not require any lead shielding due to its low energy,however panoramic or CBCT may require some very thin lead shielding thicknesses depending upon overall energy levels,secondary scatter radiation fields,workloads,surrounding uncontrolled occupancy factors and other considerations.Sometimes thin lead sheilding is applicable as in good practices assuming worst case senario to keep any chance of radiation exposure to an absolute minimum,this requirement would be in accordance with the intent of ALARA (keeping doses “As Low As Reasonably Achievable”).

MAMMOGRAPHY
Utilizing very close proximity low energy x-ray radiography for imaging soft breast glandular tissue for medical diagnosis.Typical low energy levels of 25kvp to 35kvp. Exam rooms are usually smaller from 8'0" x 8'0" to 12'0" x 12'0".Shielding is calculated by customer/end users radiation expert and typically will either simply involve several layers of regular gypsum wall board, or very thin lead shielding thicknesses depending upon secondary scatter radiation fields,workloads,surrounding uncontrolled occupancy factors and other considerations.

ANGIOGRAPHY ROOM / CARDIAC CATHERIZATION LABS
Primarily utilizing a ionizing radioactive isotope tracer or contrasting dye to image and detect and diagnose heart function,blood vessels and certain cardiac heath conditions,and on-going catheter insertion procedures with real time imaging similar to live-action fluoroscopy. Typical energy levels are between 50kvp and 100kvp.These rooms are usually larger from 16'0" x 20'0" and up to 24'0" x 32'0" and require shielded walls,a large x-ray glass control window minimum 48" wide x 36" high or larger for a clear view of patient and procedures,and shielded door(s). Shielding is calculated by customer/end users radiation expert and typically will involve a couple of different lead shielding thicknesses depending upon secondary scatter radiation fields,surrounding occupancy factors and other considerations.

MRI (MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING) or RADIO FREQUENCY ROOMS
Utilizes non-ionizing electro-magnetism and radio-frequency to image soft tissues for medical diagnosis. This typically requires special copper and/ or steel shielding,filters and special internally screened window assemblies. This shielding is primarily to protect delicate electronics,computers and equipment from magnetic and/or radio-frequency damage and is performed by specialized companies involved exclusively in this spectrum and type of non-ionizing fields. MRI rooms do not utilize or require any x-ray lead radiation shielding as they do not produce any ionizing x-ray or gamma radiation.

ULTRASONOGRAPHY / ULTRA SOUND ROOMS
Utilizing only sonic sound waves for imaging soft tissue such as fetuses during pregnancy imaging,or higher ultra-sonic frequencies are utilized for medical treatments such as breaking down kidney stones or gallstones, this technology and procedure is known as lithotripsy. These rooms do not utilize or require any lead shielding as they do not produce any ionizing x-ray or gamma radiation.

GAMMA KNIFE ROOMS
Utilizing 201 sources of a very high energy isotope Cobalt-60 located in a shielded "helmet" set in place over the patients head to treat head cancers and brain tumors.This technology is utilized primarily in Radiation Therapy or Oncology Centers. Room sizes vary from 20'0" x 20'0" to aprox 24'0" x 24'0".Shielding is calculated by customer/end users radiation expert and typically will involve a several feet thick high density concrete wall and ceiling vault , steel or different heavy sheet,lead brick or plate shielding thicknesses including the ceiling and a heavy shielded door depending upon overall radiation field,surrounding uncontrolled occupancy factors,skyshine and many other considerations.

LINEAR ACCELERATORS / RADIATION THERAPY
High energy radiation utilized to treat cancers and tumors in Radiation Therapy or Oncology Treatment centers. Typical energy levels are 4Mev to 6Mev producing high energy gamma radiation,and 10Mev to 20Mev producing both high energy gamma radiation and thermal neutrons.Room sizes vary from inside of 20'0" x 20'0" with a much larger real estate "footprint" due to the thick concrete vault walls.Shielding is calculated by customer/end users radiation expert and typically will involve a several feet thick high density concrete wall and ceiling vault , steel,possibly borated polyethylene, several different heavy lead sheet,brick or plate shielding thicknesses including the ceiling,special detailed shielding attention to any penetrations, and a heavy shielded door depending upon energy of radiation fields,radiation types,primary beam paths,beam stoppers(if any),surrounding uncontrolled occupancy factors,skyshine,radiation byproduction and many other complex considerations.

PROTON BEAM ROOM
High energy Protons are accurately directed toward the tumor target from several angles and minimizing surrounding tissue damage or other side effects.This technology is exclusively utilized in radiation therapy oncology treatment centers. Room sizes vary from inside of 20'0" x 20'0" with a much larger real estate "footprint" due to the thick concrete vault walls. Shielding is calculated by customer/end users radiation expert and typically will involve a several feet thick of concrete wall and ceiling vault,and possibly different steel or lead shielding thicknesses including the ceiling and a shielded door depending upon energy of radiation fields,primary beam paths,surrounding uncontrolled occupancy factors and many other considerations. Ray-Bar was the company selected to be involved with successfully shielding the first Proton Beam Room ever built in the United States.

Other unique medical imaging or treatment related rooms requiring radiation shielding are: Simulator Rooms, HDR, Brachytherapy, RadioTherapy, Orthovoltage, etc.

NDT ROOMS
Industrial X-Ray Rooms utilizing higher energy ionizing x-ray for the Non-Destructive Testing of materials or products to evaluate quality assurance,control and risk factors such as imaging metal parts or components for voids,stress cracks or other defects.Energy levels can be from 300kvp and higher depending upon materiials and products to be inspected or tested.

Rooms are typically very large and require large access doors depending upon x-ray equiptment and the materials or specialized processes involved.Shielding is calculated by customer/end users radiation expert and can involve heavier lead thicknesses depending upon primary beam and secondary scatter radiation fields,workloads,surrounding occupancy factors and other unique considerations.Some additional structural support or seismic considerations may apply depending upon heavier lead weight load requirements and will need to be reviewed by the clients project structural engineer.

Please contact Ray-Bar directly for additional technical assistance in designing and providing your unique radiation room shielding needs: Phone# 1(800)444-XRAY or e-mail at sales@raybar.com or go to CONTACT US page on this website.

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All calculations for lead shielding requirements should be determined by a qualified health radiation physicist or other radiation
"expert" as defined by NCRP or ICRP, and currently recognized by the state/providence/region/area in which the project occurs.

CUSTOMER OR END USER SHOULD HAVE ALL RADIATION SHIELDING PROJECTS COMPLETELY TESTED AND SURVEYED BY A THEIR ORIGINAL PROJECT RADIATION PHYSICIST OF RECORD,
WHO MUST BE A QUALIFIED RADIATION HEALTH PHYSICIST OR OTHER RADIATION "EXPERT" AS DEFINED BY EITHER NCRP OT ICRP, AFTER INSTALLATION AND PRIOR TO OCCUPANCY AND USE.

Please see DIAGNOSTIC RADIATION SHIELDING CONSIDERATIONS for more information

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