IN SITE - Prediction Radiation Survey

Radiation Risk Assessment – What Is It?

A Radiation Risk Assessment is a process designed to evaluate

the potential radiation exposure risks associated with a given project.

Why Is a Radiation Risk Assessment Required?

A radiation assessment is typically conducted to ensure that exposure levels remain within the limits set by applicable laws or regulatory standards.

These assessments may be required for a wide range of developments, including commercial, educational, residential, and public-sector projects. In most cases, the radiation risk assessment is carried out during the design and planning phase, for example:

Radiation assessment for an educational institution
Radiation assessment for a residential building
Radiation assessment for an office building or mixed-use structure
Radiation assessment for a hotel project
Radiation assessment for a public facility
Radiation assessment for power generation facilities (e.g., photovoltaic plants, wind turbines, thermosolar installations)
And many other cases

Types of Radiation Risk Assessments

Radiation risk assessments must be carried out by a qualified radiation consultant with expertise in the relevant domain.

In the field of non-ionizing radiation, assessments are typically divided into two main categories:

RF radiation (radiofrequency) – emitted by broadcasting and transmission stations
ELF radiation (extremely low frequency) – generated by electrical infrastructure

In construction projects, the primary goal of the assessment is to analyze and predict magnetic field levels resulting from the project's electrical systems.

To perform the assessment, the consultant typically requires technical documentation from the project’s electrical engineer and architect.

The Assessment Process

The process generally begins with a preliminary evaluation of the potential impact of nearby or internal electrical infrastructure, focusing on areas designed for long-term occupancy, such as:

Apartments
Workstations
Classrooms
And other regularly occupied areas

Using professional expertise, mathematical models, and specialized simulation software, the consultant estimates expected magnetic field levels based on planned electrical infrastructure and predefined assumptions.

These estimations lead to specific recommendations, such as:

Safety distance guidelines
Shielding solutions, if required

If radiation shielding is necessary, the consultant will develop a detailed shielding plan to ensure compliance with exposure limits defined by governmental regulations or national standards, depending on the country of jurisdiction.

The Importance of Early Assessment

The earlier the radiation risk assessment is conducted, the greater the opportunity to integrate shielding or mitigation measures directly into the project’s design—minimizing future impact from electrical infrastructure and reducing mitigation costs.

The more detailed and accurate the assessment, the lower the risk of radiation non-compliance during construction and operation. A comprehensive assessment helps ensure full regulatory compliance with local environmental authorities.

Conclusion

Early-stage planning helps prevent radiation exceedances and minimizes shielding costs. A professionally executed radiation risk assessment contributes to a safe, compliant, and cost-effective project.

What is an active magnetic shielding system?

An active magnetic shielding system is an electronic system that includes sensors and current loops that can monitor the magnetic field levels in a specific area and produce an opposing magnetic field.
What is the purpose of an active magnetic shielding system?

The purpose of an active magnetic shielding system is to reduce magnetic field levels resulting from external electrical infrastructure (such as power lines) located in proximity to the area in interest, so that ultimately the equivalent magnetic field levels will meet the regulatory and/or the client's requirements.
In what situations does an active shielding system solve a radiation problem?

An active shielding system provides a solution to two main situations: Situations in which the desired areas have magnetic field levels that exceed the required exposure values, and situations in which due to the proximity of a project to external electrical infrastructures there is difficulty in obtaining construction permits and approval from the authorities because of a potential for exposure deviations. Given that there is feasibility for installing such a system, then it will provide a solution in terms of magnetic field levels from the electrical infrastructures.
What are the benefits of an active protection system?

The first benefit of an active system is the solution itself - there are many cases for which no alternative solution can be found. For example, in the case of an existing structure near an overhead power line that cannot be modified in any way. Another advantage is in terms of costs, the cost of an active system is significantly cheaper than the costs of burying an overhead high voltage power line. There is also the advantage of schedules, planning and building an active protection system will usually take a few months compared to the schedules for burying a high voltage power line, which can be in the order of years. An active system will also maximize the project area, with an emphasis on the areas intended for continuous occupancy and without expropriation due to radiation levels.
In what situations is an active protection system less appropriate?

The design of an active system will be adapted and designed in accordance with the characteristics of the overhead power lines and in accordance with the project outline. The more complex the interface between the power lines and the structure (different distances and angles), the more complex the system will be and may not provide a complete solution. An active shielding system may be less suitable in the case of a changing energy flow direction regime between the circuits, or it may be complex to implement, which can affect the cost of installation. However, it may still be a possible solution.
How is it determined if an active shielding system is required?

As stated, an active shielding system is a solution to a radiation problem. Usually because of at least one of two scenarios: First scenario - the problem already exists according to measured values in the project area. Second scenario - the problem can arise according to a magnetic field exposure survey, i.e. a survey of high voltage lines carried out towards the project. The survey examines the feasibility of the voltage lines to affect the project area at various electricity consumption scenarios and not only according to the current consumption status.