Floor Monitoring

[stewdill]

So I work at a facility that we are going to be doing 100% floor scan. The company does not want to by floor monitors. So I am trying to figure out something that isn't expensive that could be used with a ludlum 43-93 probe and a radeye attachment. We have came up with using a metal detector pole but it would have to be adjusted and parts added to make it work. I didn't know if there was anyone out there in the industry that has created such a walking stick?

[Rennhack]

 

How about rent one from SEC? (Or whatever they are called these days... Perma-Fix)

Instrumentation Rental, Repair, and Calibration, please contact Carl Hall, Lead Instrumentation Tech., chall@perma-fix.com, or call 865.342.3924.

That is what I would do.

The time savings will pay for the rental. -- A few hundred dollars.

[BetaAnt]

We use mop handles with screw head attachment. Has a claw closure for the mop head. Cheaper still, broom stick and duct tape. Make sure plastic spacer is attached to prevent probe scratching.

[GLW]

first rule of business:

everybody wants it fast, good and cheap,....

pick two,....that's all you're gonna get,...

[stkeele]

I have attached a picture of what we use to survey floors, trailers, sage brush...etc. I have more pictures if you would like, i was only able to add one due to file size. We use a metal detector handle with a machined piece on the end that has a probe holder off of our Ludlum 3 and Ludlum 2224 survey instruments screwed to it. It is comfortable and adjustable to different sizes of people. If you have any questions feel free to PM me. Like others have said you can also rent instruments, i have attached some links to a couple of providers. Thanks


http://www.envisupply.com/rentals/radiation-monitor-rental-equipment.htm
http://instruments.energysolutions.com/Instrument-Rental/Ludlum-Floor-Monitors/

[atomicarcheologist]

Using adapted handles and a 43-93 for floor surveys will take longer, result in more holes in the mylar (which will potentially give erroneous data), and be less accurate due to geometry of the probe/floor. If you have a large floor space, it will be better to rent a unit as they can scan at about 10 square meters per minute. A smaller floor, and cheap cheap management, could be done accurately and more quickly with a wheeled mechanic's stool and hand held instrumentation.

[ISOCS]

Mark off grids on the floor and assay each grid with an ISOCS unit and create a geometry composure and efficiency calibration to report results in dpm/100 cm2 instead of pCi/gm. This will save a whole lot of time and effort.

[stewdill]

I think there would be a problem with renting equipment because there would be no procedures in place to operate that equipment. Also this needs to be a long term solution. I think we are going with a metal detector pole that is going to be fitted to hold a meter..

[GLW]

I think there would be a problem with renting equipment because there would be no procedures in place to operate that equipment. Also this needs to be a long term solution. I think we are going with a metal detector pole that is going to be fitted to hold a meter..

cheap ✔

good ✔

fast X

[Rennhack]

cheap ✔
good ✔
fast X

I would say:

cheap ✔
good X
fast X

Swinging a pole changes your distance and speed. Which severely reduced your accuracy, and increases your variance.

Renting a cart does not require new procedures if you attach the equipment you already have to the cart.

(Or ask the vendor for procedures if you want different equipment)  Heck, I have lots and lots of procedures...

It sounds like your mind is already made up though, so enjoy. 

[GLW]

not nice Mike,...

technicians can do a good survey with small detectors at, oh, I don't know, 1.5"/sec and mebbe 100 sq cm / sec?!?!?

with that known it should be pretty easy to figger out how many years months weeks this project should take,....

[Marlin]

    Is a procedure really needed or can the tech manual and tool box knowledge be justified? Ask vendor if they have a generic procedure as well, they may have one for you. I have rented equipment and simply documented use on survey documents and final report.

[roosterfitz]

If one does the math...a pancake probe at 1/2" with a 2 second per inch frisk will provide a 50 / 50 chance of seeing 5000dpm / 100cm squared. That's a zero sigma confidence level. Anyone OK with that? Buy the correct instrument for the application please?

[GLW]

If one does the math...a pancake probe at 1/2" with a 2 second per inch frisk will provide a 50 / 50 chance of seeing 5000dpm / 100cm squared. That's a zero sigma confidence level. Anyone OK with that? Buy the correct instrument for the application please?

So I work at a facility that we are going to be doing 100% floor scan. The company does not want to by floor monitors. So I am trying to figure out something that isn't expensive that could be used with a ludlum 43-93 probe and a radeye attachment. We have came up with using a metal detector pole but it would have to be adjusted and parts added to make it work. I didn't know if there was anyone out there in the industry that has created such a walking stick?

not a pancake,....

[Marlin]

not a pancake,....

A waffle?

[GLW]

A waffle?

well, after pushing it for a full shift, feels more like:




waffle iron,...

[bigjoemonger]

Well you could glue some rubber feet, like from an RO-20, or other plastic pieces onto the four corners of the probe. That way you can just rest it on the floor and push it. It'll just slide along and will always be the same distance. Attach that to a stick of some kind with the radeye and a 5ft bnc cable.

What I'm curious is what rooms are you planning to do this in? If you're using a 43-92 probe in a big room, scanning the whole floor would take forever. If there's dose in the room, how much dose are your ALARA guys willing to spend to do this? If there's not dose in the room why are you even doing it? Would probably be better off spending the money to do it properly. It'd be easier, faster, save dose, and probably a lot more accurate. Especially since floor monitors are gas proportional counters which are far more efficient than you're standard 43-92 probe. If this were a temporary thing then I can understand rigging something together. But if this is a permanent change then not buying the correct tool for the job is just lazy.

Honestly rather than a 43-92 you'd probably be better off grabbing a swiffer mop with a dry pad and run that over the whole room, then just survey the pad.