Re: NCRP 49 Occupancy Factors

[rkathren@tricity.wsu.edu (Ron L. Kathren)]

Mike --

Not a simpleton at all -- a very good question.  At the risk of incurring
someone's wrath, I'll take a stab at it -- in the old days, long before
unisex toilets and PC, women's toilets were provided with a couch or lounge
(hence the name rest room); this was even mandated by law or regulation in
some states (California was one.  The purpose, generally unstated, was to
allow a woman the opportunity to lie down or to rest during menstrual
periods which were presumed to cause distress and difficulty.  Some
jusidictions even required the employer to permit a woman to spend a certain
number of hours in the rest room.  Since the time in the 'rest romm' would
typically be longer than in the 'toilet', the difference in T.  Note that
public toilets were usually just that -- no special accomodations.  The
couches etc. were usually found only in toilets or rest rooms used by female
employees.

Ron Kathren

   At 01:38 PM 5/21/98 -0500, malewandowski1@mmm.com wrote:
>Here is a chance to educate a simpleton.  
>
>While reviewing NCRP 49, Structural Shielding Design and Evaluation for
>Medical Use of X Rays and Gamma Rays of Energies up to 10 MeV, Table 4 -
>Occupancy factors for non-occupationally exposed persons, I developed
>the following question.
>
>What is the difference between a "rest room" (T=1/4) and a "toilet"
>(T=1/16)?
>
>Thanks for your thoughts,
>
>Mike Lewandowski
>MALewandowski@MMM.com
>(612) 737-4452
>
>