Framework environmental management plan

1.2 Building requirements
The radiology laboratory will be composed of, where appropriate, at least:

1. RX room destinated to the radiology device.

2. Command room destinated to the command pannel, as applicable.

3. Developing room.

4. Undressing and waiting room for patients, as applicable.

5. Image interpretation room.

6. Medical consultation room.

7. Medical personnel room.

8. Archive of films and permanent recordings.

9. Cloakroom, toilets for personnel and toilets for patients, as applicable.

The surface of the RX room has to comply with the requirements of the manufacturer regarding the minimum area necessary for installation and assembling of the respective radiological device.

It is not justified the assembling of the radiological device in rooms that are smaller than those recommended by the manufacturer, nor the limitation of the technical capacity of the device because of insufficient area.

If the minimum allowed size for the RX room area is not specified in the RSA of the device, the minimum sizes of the RX rooms, without limiting the technical capacities of the device, must be:

a) The rooms destinated to the radiologic diagnostic devices with one post will have a surface of minimum 20 m² and a square or rectangular shape. The ratio between the two dimensions will be not less than 2/3.

b) For devices with two posts (radioscopy and radiography) in the same RX room, the area of the room will be not less than 36 m². Location in this room of furniture not strictly connected to the utilization of the device is prohibited.

c) In the case of devices with several posts or special devices, the space will be increased as appropriate, taking into account the necessity to ensure the protection of the medical staff, a patients and other persons.

d) The RX room destined to an intraoral dental radiology device, with a voltage of maximum 70 kV, will have an area of at least 10.5 m². In the case of location of two intraoral dental radiology devices in the same room, the area will be minimum 16 m², and the devices will work alternatively only.

e) The RX room destined to a panoramic dental radiology device, with a voltage of maximum 90 kV, will have an area of at least 16 m².

f) The RX room destined to a radiology device for mammography will have an area of at least 10.5 m².

g) The RX room destined to an osteodensitometry device de, with a voltage of maximum 80 kV, will have an area of at least 16 m².

As a rule, the location of the diagnostic radiologic device will be in the in center of the room.

The fluoroscopy radiologic device will be installed with the RX tube - image receptor axis parallel with the short axis of the RX room.

In the case of thefluoroscopy radiologic devices, the minimum distance between the focus of the RX tube and the closest lateral wall will be at least 150 cm.
The mobile radiography and radioscopy devices will be used as such.

The utilization of mobile radiologic devices as stationary devices is prohibited.

The button for exposure must be linked to the command pannel or to the radiologic device through a cordon of minimum 3 m, in order to allow the operator to move away sufficiently from the patient during the exposure.

The utilization of mobile radiologic devices without using adequate radioprotection equipment for professionally exposed persons and the population is prohibited.

The design of the RX room must be so that the useful RX fascicle can not be pointed to any suraface which is not adequately shielded.

The RX room must be designed to avoid the direct incidence of the RX fascicle on the acces doors.

The doors must fulfill the requirements of a protection shield against the scattered radiation and must be closed when the RX fascicle is emitted.
The RX room will be designed so that the dose output will not exceed:

a) 15 mSv/year at the workplace of the person profesionally exposed to X radiaton;

b) 1 mSv/year in the spaces where the population may have access.

The shiels, other than the RX room walls, wiil be designed so that the dose output will not exceed 20 μSv/h.

It is mandatory to display the “ionizing radiation danger symbol” on each access door to the RX room, according to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) recommendation, ISO Publication No. 361. The symbol will be black colored, and the background yellow.