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Contaminant deposition building shielding factors for US residential structures
E D Dickson1, D M Hamby, K F Eckerman
1United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Rockville, DC 20555-0001, USA.
Summary
Validated building shielding factors for US homes are presented, crucial for emergency planning and risk assessments during radiological events. These factors help understand potential risks from radioactive contamination on roofs and surrounding areas.
Area of Science:
- Radiation Shielding
- Nuclear Engineering
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Accurate building shielding factors are essential for realistic radiological risk assessments.
- Contemporary US housing stock requires specific shielding data for emergency planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present validated building shielding factors for current US housing.
- To support emergency planning and probabilistic risk assessments for radiological events.
Main Methods:
- Computational modeling using the Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP5) code.
- Benchmarking calculations with narrow- and broad-beam measurements.
- Analysis of ten common construction materials and ten housing shielding models.
Main Results:
- Shielding factors calculated for various housing types (detached, manufactured) and configurations (with/without basement).
- Factors account for contaminant deposition on roofs and surrounding ground.
- Models scaled to common residential construction practices.
Conclusions:
- The validated shielding factors provide a realistic assessment for accident mitigation and emergency response planning.
- Data is applicable to single- and multi-story homes and manufactured housing.
- This research enhances understanding of radiation exposure risks within residential environments.
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