Shielding Plan
A shielding plan your stateaccepts the first time.
A shielding plan is the physicist-signed document that proves your x-ray, CT, or imaging room protects staff and the public — and most states won't let you build, register, or operate without one. Heartland Physics prepares yours in five business days, for $950 per room.
What it is
What a shielding plan actually is
Before an imaging room is built or new equipment goes in, someone has to answer a precise physics question: how thick do the walls, doors, and windows need to be? A shielding plan answers it with math — workload, use and occupancy factors, scatter and leakage calculations under NCRP Report No. 147 — and documents the answer in a report your state radiation control program can review. It protects your patients, your staff, and your license.
Workload & usage assumptions
Weekly patient volume, projections, and techniques for each room — the numbers every calculation stands on.
Occupancy & area classification
Which surrounding areas are controlled vs. uncontrolled, and who occupies them — offices, corridors, waiting rooms.
Barrier thickness schedule
Wall-by-wall shielding callouts in lead equivalency, gypsum, or concrete — ready for your contractor to build from.
Scatter, leakage & primary calcs
NCRP Report No. 147 methodology, shown transparently so your state reviewer can follow every step.
Marked-up floor plans
Your drawings, annotated with barriers, doors, and any details that need attention during construction.
Physicist signature & credentials
Prepared, reviewed, and signed directly by an approved consulting physicist — not stamped by a vendor.
Timing
When you need one
01
New construction or renovation
Most states require a physicist's shielding plan before walls go up — retrofitting lead after the fact is the expensive path.
02
New or replacement equipment
A new CT, fluoroscopy unit, or CBCT changes workload and scatter — your existing plan may no longer cover the room.
03
State registration or plan review
Many state radiation control programs require the shielding plan on file — or submitted for review — before the room can be used.
04
Room repurposing
Turning a general x-ray room into a CT suite (or vice versa) almost always changes the shielding requirements.
Not sure whether your state requires a formal plan review? Check your state's shielding requirements — we track the agency, the forms, and the timelines for all 50 states.
Questions
Shielding plan FAQ
Is a shielding plan the same thing as a shielding design?
Yes — the terms are used interchangeably. Both refer to the physicist-prepared report that specifies barrier thicknesses for your room. Some states say 'shielding plan,' others say 'shielding design' or 'shielding evaluation.' What matters is that it's signed by a qualified physicist and follows NCRP 147 methodology.
Who is allowed to prepare and sign a shielding plan?
Requirements vary by state, but most expect a qualified medical or health physicist — typically board-certified or state-approved. Every Heartland Physics plan is prepared and signed directly by Lancer Smith, M.S., an approved consulting physicist.
How much does a shielding plan cost, and how long does it take?
$950 per room, flat. Most plans are delivered within five business days of receiving complete project information — facility details, floor plans, and equipment specs through our online intake.
Do small offices — dental, veterinary, chiropractic — need a shielding plan too?
In most states, yes. Any installation of x-ray producing equipment typically requires a shielding evaluation before registration. Dental CBCT and veterinary radiography rooms are among the most common projects we handle.
What happens if my state reviewer questions the plan?
You get direct support. If a state agency or inspector has questions about the calculations or documentation, we respond to them directly — revisions related to plan review are included.
Flat rate · 5 business days