PROCESSING ROOM DESIGN

Size, Location, Type of Entrance of a Darkroom

Darkroom or processing room – protect and prevent the film from ionizing radiation exposure and white
light during handling and processing

 X-ray film is sensitive to radiation and white light

 Unnecessary exposure from these will cause radiation fog and light fog – unwanted density
 Unwanted density in radiograph – type of artifact

Latent image – inherent on the film after the exposure before processing; cannot be seen by the naked
eye; must undergo the processing system with the use of chemicals to develop the manifest image

Manifest image – the one seen in the radiograph

Darkroom size

- Depends on the department size

Size: 1m x 1.5m = DOH standard

8 x 8ft. = standard

200 radiographs per day = 15ft. x 9.5ft. or greater

Daily use: floor area = 10sq-m; Ceiling 2.5-3m

- Location: requires few steps

Darkroom location

- Next to radiographic imaging rooms

- Lined with lead = there can be scattered rad that can penetrate through walls without lead (will
have unnecessary exposure in film)
- In proximity or near to exposure room; adjacent to exposure room only if walls are made of
▪ Concrete = greater than 6in (thickness) important so that scattered rad cannot penetrate the
walls
▪ Hollowblocks = must be filled with cement
▪ Wood = 1.5mm Pb; lead in between 2 woods
- Prevent unnecessary exposure to the film

Darkroom construction

- must be radiation-proof
Dry work area – where we load and unload film off from the cassette

Wet work area – all processing chemicals are located here

Darkroom entrances

- Prevent accidental opening of door – specially designed

- Electric safety locks
- Storage bin – where all x-ray films are placed; door must be automatically locked when open

Types of darkroom entrances

• Single door – most simplest type; must have passbox (film cassette transfer cabinet) allows the film
to transfer without entering the dark room – small box with interlocking system; once opened from
the exposure side, the darkroom is locked; once the personnel from the exposure room put the
cassette in the passbox and closed it, it will automatically unlock on the darkroom side so that the
personnel from the darkroom can get the expose cassette to perform the processing system; to
avoid the radtech outside of the darkroom to enter the darkroom
• Double-door lock systems – used only when there is a darkroom personnel; one is on duty for the
darkroom, another is on duty for the exposure room; also called light lock door; door 1 open, door 2
is closed; to prevent the white light to pass through the darkroom; requires additional space in the
area of radiographic darkroom and the whole department
• Maze – labyrinth; zigzag type; used when the department is large; so that the light won’t pass
through the darkroom; the walls will block the light from entering the darkroom; for those who have
a large floor plan
• Revolving door – fastest access type; radiographer from the darkroom and exposure room can enter
and exit at the same time; rotates and trap the light