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Five Use Cases for Radiation Shielded Doors
June 11, 2021
What are radiation shielded doors and why do we need them?
Doors are meant to keep something or someone, either out or in. Our acoustic doors are designed to control and limit sound transmission, our bullet resistant doors are designed to prevent the entry of ballistic rounds, and our blast and pressure resistant assemblies are meant to contain and prevent the spread of blasts. Our lead lined steel and wood doors and frames are no different. Radiation shielded doors utilize radiation proof materials such as a lead lined core, covered by either wood or steel, to provide radiation protection in environments where radiation could cause serious damage to the people who are present. While hospital environments might be the first place you think of when you think of radiation such as X-ray machines, there are a surprising number of other areas where radiation protection is essential.
While humans have benefited from modern medicine, our pets have been fortunate as well. Most veterinary clinics now are equipped with X-ray machines to create radiographs of animals for diagnostic purposes. It is precisely this reason that radiation proof materials including radiation shielded doors are necessary in order to protect animals and workers from the risks of radiation. Typically, lead lined doors can be supplied to veterinary clinics as both wood with a lead core or steel with a lead core to match the aesthetic of the clinic.
Research labs and nuclear power plants
Nuclear powerplants are a large sector where radiation shielded doors are used. The United States, for example, contains the largest number of nuclear reactors and power plants in the world and produces the most nuclear power on the world. As a result, there is a great need for radiation proof materials in these areas. Nuclear research labs also produce ground breaking research, such as cancer fighting radiation research, energy production research, and much more. They require the utmost protection against radiation for the safety of their employees and the public. While radiation shielded doors might play a small part in radiation safety in these power plants and research centres, the work in tandem with other radiation proof materials to keep everyone safe from the effects of radiation exposure.
Hot Cells
Hot cells are radiation containment chambers used in nuclear energy and nuclear medicine industries. These specially designed stainless-steel chambers are used to protect users from radiation while they manage radioactive isotopes inside the chamber. Radiation proof materials such as lead glass is often the preferred component of hot cells, which is used in conjunction with other radiation proof materials found in the hot cell chamber. By working within hot cells, scientists can safely experiment with different nuclear fuels, create safer nuclear reactors, and advance research on the use of nuclear isotopes in medical sciences.
CyberKnife Centres
The CyberKnife System is a revolutionary robotic-assisted device used to deliver high-energy X-rays, or photons, for radiation therapy. This highly accurate device provides targeted radiation to tumours in order to reduce damage to surrounding tissues and can track the target area in the event that the patient moves. In rooms where The CyberKnife System is in use, radiation shielded doors play an integral role in working with surrounding radiation proof materials in the walls. Using radiation shielded doors and radiation proof materials keeps doctors and technicians safe from unwanted radiation produced by the X-ray device.
Aerospace Manufacturing
Neutron radiography, or N-ray, is akin to X-rays in that it can penetrate materials, but at a much deeper level than a traditional X-ray can. In the aerospace industry, N-rays provide a crucial advantage to 3D printed products that are becoming more and more common in aerospace manufacturing due to the complexity of the product that can be created and the lower cost to create it. Using N-rays helps manufacturers better inspect the inner components of their created products, leading to better quality assurance checks. When radiation shielded doors are combined with radiation proof materials in the factories where these components are made and tested, the safety of workers is ensured.
The AMBICO Solution
Our extensive line of radiation shielded doors are available as lead lined wood doors and lead lined steel doors and have been used in medical, government, and research facilities to protect users from the threat of unwanted radiation. We supply our lead lined steel products with varying thicknesses of lead from 1/32” to greater than 1” and our lead lined wood doors are available in 1/8” thick to 1” thick. Our lead lined steel doors are also available fire rated, in accordance with NFPA-80 and certified by Intertek ‘s Warnock Hersey Mark- Norther America’s leading product safety and performance mark for building and construction products.
@AmbicoDoors #AmbicoDoors #Ambico
Company: 
Ambico
Product: Radio Frequency Assemblies
Of: Rachel Barr, P.Eng - Design Engineer
Source: https://www.ambico.com/blog/five-use-cases-for-radiation-shielded-doors/
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