Design and shielding
The basic shielding requirements for radiation protection depend on several factors, which include: the type of radiation encountered, length of exposure, and distance from the source of radiation. Different types of radiation are emitted with different levels of energy behind them, but all are caused by unstable atoms. The higher the energy of the radiation, the greater the level of shielding required to safely shield against it. When proper shielding is not provided, radiation can cause burns on the skin and at high levels, putting people at risk of radiation-induced sicknesses including cancer.
From drawing up radiation protection specifications to designing and outfitting a room to managing ionizing radiation, we guarantee optimum operational radiation protection and total safety for workers and patients exposed to ionizing radiation as well as the public.
Whether you need lead partitions, flexible ecological lead shielding material, viewing windows, lead doors, or other equipment, we can deliver the best radiation protection solution for your facility in compliance with national and international regulations.
Design and shielding of the diagnostic x-ray room
We do design and lead-lining for X-ray rooms in a unique pattern. Due to its excellent shielding properties, Lead is often used to shield specific rooms in healthcare facilities. Lead-lined rooms are necessary for radiotherapy and radiology departments, to protect staff and patients from the effects of radiation. Shielding for a general x-ray room is typically 2mm lead but could vary due to some prevailing factors.
Triple-N Formations Limited offers solutions for various projects. We can offer consultation, design concepts, and installation services for all lead shielding projects. We can offer consultation on the best design to meet your specific needs for radiation shielding materials. We have structural engineers and physicists to help complete your job with maximum efficiency. We can partner with your current architect, or develop a fresh set of plans for a purpose-built or modified structure for housing your radiation-emitting equipment.
We offer wall shielding, ceiling/floor shielding, and duct shielding installations. We complete the installations in a timely and professional manner. Our job area is kept clean every step of the way. When necessary we try to ensure all lead cutting takes place at the factory before installation to avoid concerns about lead dust or particles. This is carried out with absolute precautions to ensure 100% compliance with all regulatory agencies.
Design and shielding of a radiotherapy facility
A radiotherapy facility is designed to have a treatment vault or bunker and an administrative block (offices/other utilities). A Vault or bunker is the structure that houses the radiotherapy external beam (EBRT) or brachytherapy machine.
The purpose of a radiotherapy bunker is to reduce external dose rates to below the respective design dose constraints. Building bunkers is an expensive process and while bunkers have an average lifespan of approximately 30 years, each medical Linear Accelerator is only in use for approximately 10 – 15 years. Hence when designing bunkers, it is crucial to plan for future advancements in the field of radiotherapy.
To understand the concept of shielding design for a bunker, certain terminologies need to be defined:
- Primary radiation is the radiation directly emitted from the treatment machine through the collimator opening and striking the patient or a primary barrier of the treatment room (walls, ceiling, or floor).
- Scatter radiation is the radiation produced by the scattering of the primary radiation beam from the patient, collimators, beam shaping devices, air, treatment room wall, floor, or ceiling.
Leakage radiation is the radiation that escapes through the shielded head of the therapy unit (for Linacs the leakage radiation is only present when the beam is on; for Cobalt-60 units, the leakage radiation is always present). So we offer expertise ranging from the design of radiation enclosures(including shielding calculations) to the design and upgrade of the radiation safety system, to the requirements of the critical examination. Our services extend to providing advice and guidance on the requirements of suitable radiation monitors and personal dosimetry.