Laboratory Capabilities and Analytical Equipment

Radioanalyses
RSA Laboratories is a full-service, licensed radioanalytical laboratory capable of performing virtually every type of radioanalysis in existence. In addition to the radioanalytic equipment described below, RSA Labs also maintains a complete wet-chemistry lab for performing the sometimes complex chemical separations often required prior to the radioanalysis. We can work with samples in any medium or geometry, including soil, sludge, water, drinking water, wipes, filters, and bulk samples.

Gamma Spectrum Analyzer
EG&G gamma spectroscopy system with high-efficiency (76%) N-type HPGe detector in a low-background shield with an ultra-low background cryostat.

Alpha Spectrometer
Oxford Oasis alpha spectroscopy system with eight ion-implanted silicon detectors.

Low-Background Gross Alpha/Beta Counter
Protean IPC 9025 low-background, gas proportional counter with guard detector and automated sample changer.

Liquid Scintillation Counter
Canberra Tri-Carb 2550 TR/LL liquid scintillation with low-background option, luminesence correction, and 360-sample capacity.

Instrument Calibration
We are capable of calibrating virtually all makes and models of hand-held radiation detectors. Exposure rate instruments are calibrated in our J.L. Shepard and Associates Model 6910 calibration range, which provides Cs-137 exposure rates from 0.02 to 5,000 mR/h. We maintain a very wide variety of NIST-traceable alpha-, beta-, and gamma-emitting sources as precision pulse generators for the calibration of count-rate instruments. A complete array of other standard and specialty electronic instrumentation is also maintained for the calibration and repair of instruments. Examples of these are oscilliscopes, high-impedance voltmeters, and infrared communicators.
We can also calibrate air samplers and flow meters.

Licenses and Certifications
RSA Laboratories is licensed by the NRC (License #06-30007-01) to perform sample analysis and instrument calibrations. We are also a Connecticut-approved Public Health Laboratory (#PH-0111), and certified to perform drinking-water analysis.

RSA/RSA Labs Portable Survey and Analytical Equipment
Multi-Channel Analyzers
1 Oxford Instruments Prospector, a portable, stand-alone quantitative 2" x 2" sodium iodide-based gamma spectrum analyzer. A 1/2" lead shield is available to be used with this device.
1 Oxford Instruments NanoSpec, a portable quantitative 2" x 2" sodium iodide-based gamma spectrum analysis. After taking spectra, data must be downloaded and analyzed on a computer

Gas-Proportional Detectors
2 Ludlum 43-68 100 cm² gas-proportional detectors
2 Ludlum 44-110 100 cm² windowless gas-proportional tritium friskers
1 Ludlum 43-38 400 cm² gas-proportional detector (hand-held)
2 Ludlum 239-1F 400 cm² gas-proportional floor monitors
1 Ludlum 43-98 gas-proportional pipe probe

Scintillation Detectors
1 Ludlum 44-10 2" x 2" sodium iodide gamma scintillator
1 Eberline SPA-1 2" x 2" sodium iodide gamma scintillator
2 ANS 2" x 2" sodium iodide gamma scintillators (for use with Oxford multi-channel analyzers)
1 Ludlum 44-62 1" x 1" sodium iodide gamma scintillator, waterproof up to 100'
1 Ludlum 44-17 20 cm² low-energy sodium iodide gamma scintillator
2 Ludlum 44-3 5 cm² low-energy sodium iodide gamma scintillators
2 Ludlum 43-1 75 cm² zinc sulfide alpha scintillators
4 Ludlum 43-2 11.6 cm² zinc sulfide alpha scintillators
1 Ludlum 43-5 50 cm² zinc sulfide alpha scintillator
1 Ludlum 44-116 100 cm² plastic beta scintillator

G-M Detectors
17 Ludlum 44-9 "pancake" G-M detectors
9 Ludlum 44-6 "hot dog" G-M detectors
2 Ludlum 44-40 shielded G-M detectors
1 Bicron PGM "pancake" G-M detector

Exposure Rate Instruments
1 Bicron Micro-Rem LE
4 Ludlum Model 19 micro-R meters
1 Ludlum Model 9 ion chamber
1 Bicron RSO-5 ion chamber
1 Victoreen 450P pressurized ion chamber
1 Ludlum Model 5 geiger counter

Portable Sample Counters
2 Ludlum Model 120 gas-proportional sample counter (gross alpha/beta)
1 Ludlum Model 43-10 alpha sample counter
2 Lead-shielded G-M sample counters

Hand-Held Survey Meters
2 Ludlum Model 2224 scaler/ratemeter for alpha/beta survey and discrimination
1 Ludlum Model 2224-1 scaler/ratemeter for alpha/beta survey, sample analysis, and discrimination
2 Ludlum Model 18 analyzers
2 Ludlum Model 12 rate meters
14 Ludlum Model 3 survey meters
1 Bicron Surveyor M

"Desktop" Counter/Scalers/Analyzers/Rate Meters
1 Ludlum Model 2200 counter/scaler/single-channel analyzer
1 Ludlum Model 1000 counter/scaler
2 Ludlum Model 177 alarm ratemeters
1 Bicron Frisk Tech counter/scaler
2 Johnson DIG-5 counter/scalers

Air Samplers
1 Gast low-volume air sampler
2 Staplex low-volume air samplers
1 SAIC medium-volume air sampler
2 Staplex high-volume air samplers
1 MSA oxygen and combustible gas detector
1 MSA volatile organic gas detector

Miscellaneous
2 Ludlum 180-1 constant-geometry sample holders (for use with 2" O.D. detectors)
2 Ludlum 180-1 constant-geometry sample holders (for use with 44-9 detectors)
1 Ludlum 180-4 constant-geometry sample holder (for use with any detector)
1 Ludlum 180-16 constant-geometry sample holder (for use with 43-1 detector)

Decontamination Equipment
5 Pentek "Corner Cutters" (HEPA-filtered, hand-held needle scabbler)
1 Pentek "Squirrel" (HEPA-filtered floor scabbler)
1 Desco "Mini-Flushplate" (HEPA-filtered, hand-held rotary scarifier)
1 5,000 cfm HEPA filter/blower unit
2 750 cfm HEPA filter/blower units
1 500 cfm HEPA filter/blower unit
1 160 cfm HEPA filter/blower unit
3 Pullman-Holt 55-gallon drum-mounted HEPA vacuum cleaners
1 Pullman-Holt 30-gallon HEPA vacuum cleaner
1 Hako Minuteman 30-gallon HEPA vacuum cleaner
2 Pullman-Holt back-pack HEPA vacuum cleaners
3 Black & Decker industrial (approx. 20 lb.) electric chipping hammers
1 Black & Decker industrial (approx. 70 lb.)"Pavement Breaker" electric jack hammer
3 2 hp, 9.1 scfm electric air compressors
3 Air-powered extended die-grinders
1 90° air-powered die-grinder
2 Milwaukee Super-Sawzalls
1 Milwaukee Sawzall
3 Milwaukee Porta-Band deep-cut portable band saws
1 Electric rotary drain cleaner with attachments
1 1400 watt, single-phase gasoline generator
1 36 kilowatt, three-phase diesel generator
1 gasoline-powered chop saw
2 oxy/acetylene cutting arrays
1 55-gallon drum hydraulic compactor
1 Sand-blast cabinet

* An assortment of miscellaneous specialty and hand tools

Radiation Safety Associates, Inc. also owns over 250 sets of protective clothing, as well as an extensive variety of state-of-the-art respiratory protection devices.

NRC License No. 06-30007-01 — Connecticut Public Health Laboratory License No. PH-0111