What's New?
.	HPS and CRCPD Proclaim 8-14 November 2009 as National Radiation Protection Professionals Week
.	November Newsletter
.	NRC Academic Program Nuclear Education Grants, FY2010, Now Accepting Applications
.	November ORS
.	November Journal
.	EPA's STAR Graduate and GRO Undergraduate Fellowship Funding Now Accepting Applications

Upcoming Events
.	2010 HPS Midyear Topical Meeting Radiation Risk Communication to the Public 24-27 January 2010 Albuquerque, NM
.	2010 HPS Professional Development School Radiation Risk Communication: Issues and Solutions 27-29 January 2010 Albuquerque, NM

07 November 2009

Answer to Question #3805 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Medical and Dental Equipment/Shielding — Shielding

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

I work in a dental office. We are considering putting in a new operatory in our office. Our equipment supplier is telling us that the new Gendex x-ray equipment does not require a lead shield in the wall. Is this true?

The most direct answer is "I don’t know." Requirements for x-ray shielding are based not only on the type of equipment. Other considerations include (1) the workload for the machine, for example, the number of images taken in a week, and (2) areas adjacent to the x-ray room or location where people might receive radiation doses that exceed a regulatory limit.

State radiation safety regulations usually require the registration and a shielding evaluation with the installation of a new or replacement x-ray unit. A listing of state agencies that can be of assistance can be found at the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors, Inc., Web site.

John Jacobus, MS
Certified Health Physicist

Answer posted on 11 June 2004. The information and material posted on this Web site is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may alter the concepts and applications of materials and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice specific to whatever facts and circumstances are presented in any given situation. Answers are correct at the time they are posted on the Web site. Be advised that over time, some requirements could change, new data could be made available, or Internet links could change. For answers that have been posted for several months or longer, please check the current status of the posted information prior to using the responses for specific applications.