Designing The X-Ray Room and Dark Room
Designing The X-Ray Room and Dark Room
Designing The X-Ray Room and Dark Room
Manassery, Mukkam
DESIGNING THE
RADIOGRAPHIC
DARK ROOM
Presented By:
Niyas Ummer
PG Student
Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology
Introduction
The x-ray exposure to produce a radiograph of satisfactory diagnostic
quality, with minimum exposure to the patient, depends on:
Exposure technique
Film-screen combination
Proper handling of the film
Processing of the film
These require a good darkroom and proper developing techniques.
Overview
1. Designing the Radiographic Room
Controlled areas
Location
Layout
Room Size
Shielding
Ventilation
Control Panel
Warning lights
2. Designing the Dark Room
Minimum Requirements
Layout
Light-tight Processing Room
Darkroom Entrance
Safelighting
Processing Tanks
Processing solution temperature
Ventilation
Storage Place
Viewing Area
Regulatory Acts
a) Section 17 of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and the Radiation
Protection Rules (RPR), G.S.R. - 1601, 1971 issued under the Act
Radiation safety in handling of radiation generating plants
b) Radiation Surveillance Procedures for Medical Applications of
Radiation, G.S.R. - 388, 1989, issued under rule 15 General
requirements for ensuring radiation protection in installation and
handling of X-ray equipment
Shielding
An appropriate structural shielding for walls, doors, ceiling and floor
is mandatory. In addition, appropriate shielding for the dark room is also
necessary (ensure that the undeveloped X-ray films are not exposed to
more than 10 mGy per week).
Brick or concrete are the best materials for shielding as they are
easily available, economical, and have good structural strength. Lead
cannot be used, as it is a weak structural material with tendency to lose
uniformity, needs periodic radiation survey to ensure its continued
adequacy, and poses a serious environmental hazard and the use of it is
being discouraged the world over.
Openings and Ventilation
Unshielded openings for ventilation or natural light, must be located
above a height of 2 m from the finished floor level outside the X-ray room.
Control Panel
posted outside.
Location of Dark Room
It should be located adjacent to the X-ray room such that no primary
or secondary X-rays reach inside.
Light-tight room
Both safe-light and white-light illumination
Processing tanks and / automatic processor
Hot and cold running water
Accurate thermometer and interval timer
Drying racks or dryer
Adequate storage space
A radiograph viewer
Has a light-tight storage draw for unexposed extra-oral film
Layout
Type of filter
Intensity of illumination
Wattage of bulb
Distance of safelight lamp above working area
Time film is exposed to the safe light
a) Master Tank It serves as water jacket to hold the insert tanks. Made
of either enamel, stainless steel or plastic (no reactive metals), it should
be large enough to provide space between insert tanks for rinsing and
washing of films.
b) Insert Tanks Removable containers for the individual processing
solutions (developer and fixer) that are made of stainless steel. They are
kept spaced in the master tank.
Viewing Area
A radiographic viewer is used in the darkroom, when making use of
the techniques of time temperature (wet viewing), and to examine the
final product.
Dose Limits
Workers:
Cumulative effective dose over a block of five years shall not exceed 100
mSv
Effective dose in any calendar year during a five-year block shall not
exceed 30 mSv
Trainees:
Effective dose in any calendar year shall not exceed 6 mSv
Public:
Effective dose in any calendar year shall not exceed 1 mSv
Effective dose averaged over a five year period does not exceed 1
mSv/year
Conclusion
To quote Aristotle, Well begun is half done.
The proper designing of the radiographic room, and more
importantly the dark room, is essential to obtaining diagnostic quality
radiographs, with minimal safety concerns and maximum use of
resources.
References
1) P. E. S. Palmer. Manual of Darkroom Technique. WHO Basic
Radiological System. 1985.
2) Neill Serman. The Darkroom. August 2000.
3) Darkroom and Film Processing. RAD TECH A.