Shielding plan required:
- Any facility installing or replacing an X-ray machine using CT reconstruction with a typical doughnut-shaped opening.
- Mobile CT units.
- Cone-beam CT units (those used for medical, not dental applications).
- All mobile c-arms, milliamperage-capable, that are used in only one room. Micro-amperage (mini) c-arms are exempt.
Plan not required:
- Dental (iCat-type) cone beam pan/CT units.
- We require that units be installed in a semi-enclosed room – wallboard construction is acceptable – conforming to our standard requirements for patient viewing and exposure switch placement.
Minimum workloads:
Rad room - 10 patients per week as follows:
- Check bucky – 5 patients per week.
- Rad room table – 5 patients per week.
Lead shielding:
- All control booths must be shielded with at least 2-pound lead.
- When lead is required, 2-pound lead must be used to reduce the chance of cold flow.
- When calculations require that shielding must be installed in a facility, the amount of shielding must reduce radiation exposure to below the current regulatory standards.