Technical Guidance
Here you will find data and articles on radiation shielding, frequently asked questions (FAQ), monitor performance, specific gamma ray constants, mathematical derivations, radiation protection widgets - everything we have personally found useful from our own tool kit. New resources will be uploaded here from time to time.
For formal radiation safety advice, visit our Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA) services page.
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When \(1/d^2\) breaks down - part 1: line source
Published: Mar 22, 2024
Source: Dr Chris Robbins, Grallator
Read moreWhen \( 1/d^2 \) breaks down - part 1: line source. Using some mathematics to explore how the inverse square law works with a radiation line source.
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What is an RPA (Radiation Protection Adviser)?
Published: Mar 16, 2024
Source: Ionactive Radiation Protection Resources
Read moreAt Ionactive we are often asked 'What is a Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA), and do we need one?' This is an interesting question and concept, since the question is aimed directly at an RPA. We give objective advice and for most uses of ionising radiation a Radiation Protection Adviser is required, sometimes only for initial advice via consultation, but more often than not via an official appointment (in writing). Here is a quick summary of the role of the RPA and why a user of ionising radiation will probably need to appoint an RPA.
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Lead shielding thickness - what are the lead codes?
Published: Mar 09, 2024
Source: Ionactive Radiation Protection Resource
Read moreWhat do lead codes mean and how do they relate to thickness? Often you might calculate a certain level of lead radiation shielding required (e.g. for an x-ray inspection enclosure) and need to supply this information to an architect who is helping you design the facility. They will ask you -"what code lead do we need to use? Find out what you need to know in this article.
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Formula for calculating dose rates from gamma emitting radioactive materials
Published: Mar 01, 2024
Source: Ionactive Radiation Protection Resource (Mark Ramsay, RPA)
Read moreA rule of thumb updated for 2024! This article considers the following expression D=ME/6r2 which has turned up in text books and training courses, but there appears to be no direct reference to when it was created and by whom. We start by using the expression with Cs-137 and see how the results compare with other resources available for calculating dose rates for chosen radionuclides with given activity and distance. We then hand over to Dr Chris Robbins of Grallator who is a maths, physics and nuclear physics whizz who derives this expression from first principles, outlining the good, the not so good and how it can be improved.
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The accumulated radiation dose when moving up to a source
Published: Nov 27, 2023
Source: Dr Chris Robbins, Grallator
Read moreConsider the situation where you move up to a radioactive source, perform some operations for a period of time, and then move away. What total dose will be received?
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H-3 (Tritium) Radiation Safety Data
Published: Aug 21, 2023
Source: Ionactive Radiation Protection Resource
Read moreH-3 (Tritium) radiation safety data from Ionactive.
Physics is, hopefully, simple. Physicists are not