Civil Effects Study CEX-58.1

Report regarding experiments made to determine the fallout-radiation protection offered by five typical residential structures located at the Nevada Test Site

Experimental Evaluation of the Radiation Protection Afforded by Residential Structures Against Distributed Sources

A study was made to obtain information that could be used to evaluate the protection afforded by residences against radiation due to fallout. The sources used were Co/sup 60/ and Cs/sup 137/ and the radiation dosimeters used were pocket type ionization chambers. Measurements were made for distributed sources (400 Co/sup 60/ and 20 Cs/sup 137/) and for single sources located inside the structures (one each, 2-curie Co/sup 60/ and Cs/sup 137/). Attenuation measurements were made for five houses of typical domestic design and construction. Several modifications were made to the houses, and the attenuation measurements were repeated. The houses. located at the Nevada Test Site, included single- and two-story houses with and without hnsements and with light and heavy walls. For comparison with the house data the dose-rate distrihntion above an extended plane source was measured in a phantom house. i.e., air measurements with the instrument fixed on a framework of thin-walled aluminum tubing. Although the complete analysIs of the data is net yet available, some typical analyses are presented, and the effectiveness of some of the modifications is illustrated. (auth