Introducing The Lancs Industries QuickRack

The Lancs Industries QuickRack is an innovative, adaptable solution designed to enhance ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) practices by providing an efficient and cost-effective way to protect workers from ionizing radiation exposure. Developed as an alternative to traditional, cumbersome shielding methods, the QuickRack is specifically engineered to offer maximum flexibility, allowing teams to quickly set up and disassemble shielding configurations as needed and by also using various materials such as tungsten radiation shielding or bismuth radiation shielding. This tool is valuable across numerous applications within nuclear and radiological work environments where radiation protection from radiation sources is a priority.

QuickRack is a lightweight, modular shield system that allows workers to construct and dismantle temporary shielding in just minutes. It offers an efficient way to create a shadow shield around personnel or establish a barrier around radiation sources. In traditional settings, shielding often relies on bulky, permanent steel racks that require considerable resources and space for installation. The QuickRack, however, is designed to eliminate those limitations with its compact and modular design, making it highly portable and easier to maneuver within confined spaces. It is ideal for deployment in various sections of a facility, such as Pipe Chases, Valve Galleries, and Steam Generator Eddy Current Platforms, where space is often limited and accessibility can be challenging.

Weighing less than 50 pounds, with each of its two pieces at around 25 pounds, the QuickRack’s lightweight nature provides numerous benefits. This design allows workers to easily transport it through narrow doorways and into tight spaces without needing special handling equipment. The modular design also contributes to greater versatility and ease of use, as individual pieces can be assembled and disassembled by a single worker, reducing the need for extensive labor and minimizing time requirements. This ease of setup directly translates into decreased radiation exposure time for personnel, helping to achieve higher ALARA goals by reducing the overall dose absorbed by workers.

In terms of durability, the QuickRack has undergone extensive testing and certified structural analysis to ensure it meets rigorous safety and strength requirements. The results have demonstrated that the QuickRack can withstand vertical loads up to 11,244 pounds. In fact, this tool has proven robust enough to handle the heaviest crane counterweights, sustaining a certified 9,500-pound load with zero structural deformation. These impressive figures affirm the QuickRack’s reliability and strength, providing users with confidence that it will perform effectively under various conditions.

The QuickRack’s versatility makes it suitable for a range of applications within high-radiation and low-radiation areas (HRA and LHRA).

A Variety of Possible Uses:

• Low-dose waiting area in HRA and LHRA
• Shadow Shields for S/G Platform Workers
• Hot spot shielding
• Personal shield booth for fire watch and FME monitors
• During RCP work (draining/filling, MMD, etc.)
• Around valve and piping work
• Field Supervision and Oversight Activities
• In-core sump entries

This adaptability ensures the QuickRack serves as a multi-purpose tool that can meet the unique demands of various radiological tasks, further underscoring its value within the ALARA toolbox.

Lancs Industries’ QuickRack has been recognized by the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) as a strength in shielding programs, specifically highlighting its impact at the Braidwood Nuclear Plant. This recognition underscores the tool’s effectiveness in radiation protection for the workers, attesting to its practical benefits and contributions to ALARA goals. As nuclear facilities continue to prioritize worker safety and minimize radiation exposure, tools like the QuickRack are essential to supporting these goals through efficient, flexible, and durable shielding solutions.