Pain management fluoroscopic x-ray procedures as performed in some facilities involve significant x-ray "beam on" time. Each room in which such x-ray procedures are performed is typically required to be shielded with the equivalent of at least 1/32-inch lead, including doors and windows. Floors and ceilings, if there is occupancy below or above, are normally required to also be equivalent to 1/32-inch lead or 2.5 inches of standard-density concrete (147 pounds per cubic foot). A facility may prefer to limit and restrict x-ray procedures to one shielded room, or to a few shielded rooms, rather than shield each room in which a mobile c-arm fluoroscopic machine might be used.

February 14, 2005