For any medical hospital, clinic or dental practice offering X-ray procedures, having the correct level of protection from radiation for both staff and patients is critical. In these types of applications, lead shields for radiology can be used to provide a safe working environment for staff while also providing an ideal room configuration for visibility and access to patients and equipment.
There are specific design standards that can be used in determining the best options in lead shields for radiology rooms. This will provide the minimum recommended standards for the shields based on the type of X-rays that will be taken in the room as well as the different aspects of the equipment.
Different radiography rooms that will be used for general purpose X-rays and imaging, mammography, ultrasound, interventional radiology or for CT (computed tomography) will all have different plans and specifications for radiation shielding as well as overall design.
Finding a Supplier
While it may be easy to use standards to determine the correct lead shields for radiology rooms, it can be more difficult to find a supplier. The weight of lead makes it a costly item to freight, so it will be important to consider the distance from the supplier to the facility when choosing a company.
The unit price will also be a factor, although most of the specialized lead suppliers will be competitive in their pricing. A difference to look for includes the ability to customize the alloy or to customize the size of the lead shielding plates to suit your specific design and construction needs.
As lead is a softer metal, it will also be essential to look for a company that stands behind their product and will provide replacement product if anything is damaged in transit. While this is not a common occurrence, it is a good idea to verify this commitment to customer service when choosing a supplier.