[ RadSafe ] Dose rate limits

[ROBBARISH at aol.com]

Dear Mr. Ravello:
 
As my RADSAFE posting stated, for restricted areas such as the x-ray  control 
booth you discuss, there are no dose rate limits in any  jurisdiction that I 
know. The only criteria for acceptability of the radiation  shielding is 
compliance with an integrated (total) dose limit, one that seems to  have been 
readily met in the situation that you describe. 
 
In your initial post you stated that you did not have instrumentation  
capable of measuring the integrated dose, only the dose rate. If that's true you  
simply need to multiply the measured dose rate by the actual radiation "on"  
times to derive the total dose in that area. I thought from your second posting  
that you had done so and were satisfied that the total weekly or annual dose 
was  acceptable. Again, if that is the case, then you do not have to worry 
about dose  rates. Any dose rate that you measure is acceptable. Only in Great 
Britain,  in unrestricted public spaces (not x-ray control booths) do they apply 
an  instantaneous dose rate limit. So as I said in my posting to RADSAFE you  
should stop being concerned about the dose rate you measure. I don't know how 
I  can make this any more clear.
 
Respectfully,
 
Robert Barish