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Software for Shielding Calculation Based on NCRP #147 Methodology

Conference Paper · July 2013

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Software for Shielding Calculation Based on NCRP #147
Methodology

Mustafa Majali, Ph.D.

Radiation Safety Specialist
Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Mustafa.majali@fanr.gov.ae
 Introduction

Structural radiation protection for diagnostic X ray

facilities is most commonly performed following the
recommendations of National Council on Radiation
Protection and Measurements report No. 49 which has
effectively remained the primary guide for diagnostic x-ray
structural shielding design in the U.S. in particular and
worldwide in general for more than a quarter of a century.
 Reasons for turn over to Report 147

• NCRP Report 116 mandated substantially lower design

dose limits than those given in NCRP 49.
• NCRP 49 exposure limits selected are 100 mR/Wk. (5 rem
/year) for occupationally exposed persons and 10 mR /Wk.
(0.5 rem/year) for public.
• NCRP Report 116 recommended that for the design of new
facilities or the introduction of new practices should be
designed to limit annual exposures 10 mSv/year (currently 5
mSv/year and1 mSv/year for public.
 Reasons for turn over to Report 147

• Rapidly changes in workload for diagnostic radiology due

to use high speed film/ screen system.
• inappropriateness of the suggested use factors and
occupancy factors provided in NCRP 49 for today imaging
environment.
• Report 49 doesn't address the new modalities such as CT,
mammography and digital imaging.
• Report 49 doesn't address the shielding for multiple
sources is not addressed.
• Intensive use of shielding materials other than lead and
concrete.
 concepts of shielding calculations based on
NCRP No. 147
• The concepts of shielding calculation depend on:

• Shielding design goals (P),

• Distance (d) to occupied areas,
• The occupancy factor (T)
• Workload and its distribution (W),
• Use factor (U).
• Shielding materials
 Shielding design goal

• The weekly shielding design goals for controlled areas is

0.1 mGy/Wk. and 0.02 mGy/Wk. for uncontrolled areas.
• It is also most likely to use the concept of dose constraint in as
shielding design goals for purpose of optimization of safety and
protection of workers and public.
• the proposed design limits is reduced NCRP 49 levels by a
factor of ten for controlled areas and by a factor of five for
uncontrolled areas.
 Occupancy factor & Use factor

• The occupancy factor (T) for an area is defined as the

average fraction of time that the maximally exposed
individual is present.
• Flexibility to determine the occupancy factor is also available.
• The use factor (U) is the fraction of the primary beam
workload that is directed toward a given primary barrier.
• The value of U will depend on the type of radiation
installation and the barrier of concern.
 Workload

• The weekly workload (W) is the time integral of the x-ray

tube current over a specified period (mAs).
• The normalized workload (Wnorm) is also defined as the
average workload per patient.
• It is important to distinguish between the number of
patients examined in a week (N) and the number of
“examinations” performed in a given x-ray room.
• For shielding design, the distribution of workload as a
function of kVp is much more important than the
magnitude of the workload.
 Shielding Materials

• The typical shielding materials are lead and concrete.

• Today, other materials have been used for shielding
purposes such as Gypsum, Steel, and wood and little
guidance or attenuation data is provided in NCRP 49.
• Evidence shows that these barriers have proven to be
sufficient to reduce doses to required levels.
• Also, it is avoid costly and wasteful over shielding,
• it is prudent to use more realistic and accurate estimates
of the required shielding.
 The Software design.

• Development of Software for performing shielding

calculations is based on NCRP report No.147 algebraic
computation Model by using a given tabulated data and
fitting factors.
𝛾
𝑁𝑇𝑈𝐾 −1 𝛽
1 +
𝑃𝑑2 𝛼
𝑥𝑏𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑟 = 𝑙𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑏𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑟𝑠
𝛼𝛾 𝛽
1+𝛼

𝛾
𝑁𝑇𝐾 −1 𝛽
1 +
𝑃𝑑2 𝛼
𝑥𝑏𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑟 = 𝑙𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑏𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑟𝑠
𝛼𝛾 𝛽
1+𝛼
 Software for shielding calculation.

• Since the effective and efficient use of shielding

materials and development of optimal design requires
qualified expert either for performing or for evaluation
and reviewing.
• The software enables user to enter the related
parameters via simple user interface and performs the
shielding calculation and provides the user with result
for the appropriate shielding thickness required to
achieve safety goals and provide adequate protection
to workers and public form radiation.
Software for shielding calculation.
 Software for shielding calculation.

• Selected type of barriers and the targeted modality is available.

• Tableted and fitting data are loaded into software.
• Chose or entering the appropriate occupancy factor, use factor and design
goal is available.
• Distance and no. of patients entering by user.
• Shielding material is selected.
 Software for shielding calculation.

the result of calculation is also generated in form of Assessment report

to be used as part of submission to regulatory authority.
 conclusion.

The software is able to perform shielding

calculations effectively, reliably and being a cost-
effective and time-saving tool.
Using of the NCRP report # 147 shielding
methodology achieve the goal of radiation safety
for workers and public with insignificant increase
of shielding cost.

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