[ RadSafe ] What is the typical warranty or life expectancy of a leaded enclosure?

[Robert Atkinson]

Hi Ted,
It would depend mainly on the construction, particuarly seams or joints and door "seals". Bulk lead itself won't degrade, so unless they are using some kind novel material that is not an issue. Non-moving seams and joints should also have a very long life if they were OK on assembly and haven't been disturbed.
The biggest issue I can see is gaps opening up in doors due to wear in hinges and latches or sections of complex labyrinth arrangements being displaced. So they need to look at their mechanical design durability and base the warranty on that. A good engineer should be able to make a design that is tolerant of hinge wear and fail-safe or non-critical in terms of "seals". I'd have thought a hinge breaking and a lead filled door falling on someone is actually a bigger risk, at least you can meaure increased leakage :-)

Hope this helps,
Robert Atkinson CEng MRAeS.




________________________________
 From: Ted de Castro <tdc at xrayted.com>
To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List <radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu> 
Sent: Wednesday, 25 September 2013, 20:31
Subject: [ RadSafe ] What is the typical warranty or life expectancy of a	leaded enclosure?
 

This question has been put to me from a client who sells x-ray analysis 
equipment in a large (not walk-in) leaded enclosure/cabinet and has been 
concerned with how long they should warranty the radiation protection 
integrity of their enclosure.

In any environment I've ever worked in I've never seen any indication of 
a warranty on the integrity of the lead lined enclosure - they just seem 
to last forever and that's what everyone just seems to expect.

Does anyone have any more rational input on this issue?

Thank-you
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