§ 227.11a. Equipment requirements.
(a) Open-beam configurations shall have a safety device which either prevents the entry of any portion of an individual’s body into the primary X-ray beam path, or causes the beam to be terminated or interrupted upon entry into the path. A registrant may apply to the Department for an exemption from the requirement of a safety device. The application for an exemption shall include the following:
(1) A description of the various safety devices that have been evaluated.
(2) The reason each of these safety devices cannot be used.
(3) A description of the alternative methods that will be employed to minimize the possibility of an accidental exposure, including procedures to assure that operators and others in the area will be informed of the absence of safety devices.
(b) Open-beam configurations shall be provided with a readily discernible indication of one or both of the following:
(1) X-ray tube status (on-off) located near the radiation source housing, if the primary beam is controlled in this manner.
(2) Shutter status (open-closed) located near each port on the radiation source housing, if the primary beam is controlled in this manner.
(c) Warning devices shall be labeled so that their purpose is easily identified. In addition, equipment manufactured after December 17, 1987, shall have fail-safe characteristics.
(d) An easily visible warning light located immediately adjacent to the tube head or port and labeled with the words ‘‘X-ray on,’’ or words containing a similar warning, shall be provided and shall be illuminated when the X-ray tube is energized.
(e) Unused ports on radiation source housings shall be secured in the closed position in a manner which will prevent casual opening.
(f) Analytical X-ray equipment shall be labeled with a readily discernible sign bearing the radiation symbol and both of the following:
(1) ‘‘CAUTION—HIGH INTENSITY X-RAY BEAM’’ or words having a similar intent on the X-ray source housing.
(2) ‘‘CAUTION RADIATION—THIS EQUIPMENT PRODUCES RADIATION WHEN ENERGIZED,’’ or words having a similar intent, near any switch that energizes an X-ray tube.
(g) On equipment with an open-beam configuration manufactured and installed after December 19, 1987, each port on the radiation source housing shall be equipped with a shutter that cannot be opened unless a collimator or coupling has been connected to the port.
(h) Equipment exclusively designed and exclusively used for vacuum spectroscopy where the tube housing and sample chamber is located behind all external surfaces of the unit shall be exempt from the requirements of this section, § § 227.12a and 227.13a (relating to area requirements; and operating requirements), but shall meet the requirements of § 227.14 (relating to personnel requirements) and the following:
(1) The unit shall be designed so that when the unit is operating at the maximum kilovoltage and current ratings, the leakage radiation will not be in excess of 0.5 milliroentgens (.129 µC/kg) per hour at a distance of 4 centimeters from any external surface.
(2) Radiation surveys using appropriate radiation survey equipment shall be performed on the analytical X-ray unit upon installation, after moving the unit to a new location, and after maintenance or repair requiring the disassembly or removal of a local component or radiation shielding.
(3) Safety and warning devices shall be tested for proper operation at least annually. If the test reveals that a safety or warning device is not working properly, the unit may not be operated until the warning device is repaired or replaced.
(4) Records of all tests and surveys sufficient to show compliance with subsection (h) shall be maintained and kept available for inspection by the Department for 4 years.
(5) A sign bearing the radiation symbol and the words ‘‘CAUTION RADIATION—THIS EQUIPMENT PRODUCES RADIATION WHEN ENERGIZED,’’ or words of similar intent shall be placed next to any switch or device that activates the X-ray tube.
(6) A sign bearing the radiation symbol and the words ‘‘CAUTION—RADIATION,’’ or words of similar intent shall be placed next to the opening of the sample chamber.
(i) Analytical X-ray equipment operating at less than or equal to 50 kV tube voltage and designed to be held by an operator during use are exempt from the requirements of this section and § 227.12a(b), but shall meet the requirements of subsection (f)(2) and § § 227.13a(a) and 227.14(a).
Authority The provisions of this § 227.11a issued and amended under sections 301 and 302 of the Radiation Protection Act (35 P.S. § § 7110.301 and 7110.302); and section 1920-A of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P.S. § 510-20).
Source The provisions of this § 227.11a adopted October 2, 1998, effective October 3, 1998, 28 Pa.B. 4894; amended July 16, 2004, effective July 17, 2004, 34 Pa.B. 3823; amended October 26, 2018, effective January 24, 2019, 48 Pa.B. 6791. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (304560) to (304562).
No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit.
This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Code full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.
