Are you certain that your protective aprons are in full compliance with Health Canada’s new Safety Code 35?
Below are the attenuation results performed on the samples submitted to Health Physics Northwest. These samples were evaluated in accordance with ASTM test Method F 2547-06 on October 7, 2011 at our office utilizing a Trex TM50 high frequency X-ray generator.| Apron Front | Sample Information | 130kVp | 140kVp | 150kVp |
| Smart Armor 175 Green | 93.5% | 93.2% | 92.7% | |
| Smart Armor 175 Composite | 95.4% | 95.2% | 95.0% | |
| Smart Armor 175 100% Lead | 95.9% | 94.5% | 94.1% |
| Apron Back | Sample Information | 130kVp | 140kVp | 150kVp |
| Smart Armor 175 Green | 87.4% | 85.8% | 84.4% | |
| Smart Armor 175 Composite | 87.6% | 86.0% | 84.7% | |
| Smart Armor 175 100% Lead | 89.5% | 88.6% | 87.8% |
Attenuation results for various thicknesses of lead
The radiation protection garment industry is moving away from a lead equivalency specification when stating the protective properties of the garments. The industry is moving toward an attenuation standard. The data in the table below approximates the attenuation provided by various thicknesses of lead for different X-ray tube kVp settings; however, data of this type is specific to the X-ray tube and generator used to make the measurements.
Health Physics Northwest’s measurement protocol is compliant with the ASTM test Method F 2547-06 standard for determining attenuation.
|
Thickness of Lead (mm)
|
Attenuation
|
||
| 130kVp | 140kVp | 150kVp | |
|
.25
|
82.1% | 80.3% | 79.1% |
|
.30
|
85.7% | 84.3% | 83.2% |
|
.33
|
87.9% | 86.7% | 85.7% |
|
.44
|
92.4% | 91.7% | 91.0% |
|
.50
|
93.9% | 93.2% | 92.7% |
