🪟 Shielded Pass-Throughs, Hatchways, and Observation Windows

Radiation shielding isn’t just about solid walls. Real facilities still need to move items, see inside rooms, and interact safely with equipment. That’s where shielded pass-throughs, hatchways, and observation windows come in.

These openings are some of the most common places where shielding problems occur—but when they’re planned correctly using the right materials, they become seamless parts of a safe, efficient space. Let’s look at how each one works and which Intech products are typically involved. 🛡️

⚠️ Why Shielded Openings Matter

Radiation will always look for the easiest path out of a room. Any hole in a wall—no matter how small—can become a leak path if it isn’t shielded correctly.

Physicists and inspectors pay close attention to openings because:

• 📐 Radiation can stream through gaps around frames
• 🧱 Thin or unlined sections reduce overall protection
• 🔍 These areas are easy to overlook during construction

Intech’s role is to help make sure every opening maintains the same shielding integrity as the surrounding wall.

📦 Shielded Pass-Throughs

A shielded pass-through allows small items to move between rooms without staff needing to enter the radiation space. These are common in labs, nuclear medicine areas, pharmacies, and industrial testing environments.

Typical uses include:

• 🧪 Samples or tools
• 📄 Documents or trays
• ☢️ Radioactive materials that should not be hand-carried

How Intech products are used:

• Lead-lined drywall or lead-free wall panels maintain shielding around the opening.
• Lead plate lines the interior of the pass-through sleeve so protection stays continuous.
• Lead batten strips and sealants close seams and prevent radiation streaming.

When done correctly, the pass-through becomes just as safe as the wall it passes through.

🚪 Shielded Hatchways

Shielded hatchways are larger openings, often equipped with a door or sliding panel. They allow bulkier items to pass while still keeping radiation contained.

You’ll often see hatchways in:

• 🏥 Radiopharmacies and isotope handling rooms
• 🏭 Industrial radiography and NDT bays
• 🔬 Research labs working with equipment or containers

Common Intech materials used:

• Lead-lined drywall or lead plate around the opening.
• Lead sheet/plate inside the hatch door itself to match wall thickness.
• Lead or lead-free curtains for flexible secondary shielding when doors need to stay open temporarily.

Overlap is critical here. A hatch door that closes flush—but without overlap—can still leak radiation around the edges.

👁️ Observation Windows

Observation windows let staff safely monitor procedures, patients, or equipment without entering the radiation area. These windows are essential—but they must be treated as part of the shielding system, not an afterthought.

Key Intech products involved:

• Leaded glass windows, rated to match the required mm Pb of the wall.
• Lead-lined frames or surrounding lead-lined drywall to prevent edge leakage.
• Lead acrylic for lighter-duty applications where impact resistance and visibility are priorities.

Window size matters. A larger viewing window often requires thicker glass—even in the same wall—because radiation has more area to pass through.

🧩 How These Features Work Together

In a well-designed space, pass-throughs, hatchways, and windows are planned at the same time as the walls themselves. When coordinated early, they:

• ✅ Preserve workflow without increasing exposure
• 🔁 Reduce unnecessary room entry and exit
• 📋 Pass inspections the first time
• 🧠 Make rooms easier and safer to operate

Intech often reviews drawings alongside shielding plans to help customers choose the right mix of rigid and flexible products.

❌ Common Mistakes to Avoid

Most shielding issues show up during final surveys—and they usually trace back to openings:

• 🚫 Frames installed without lead lining
• 🚫 Windows rated correctly, but frames are not
• 🚫 Hatch doors without proper overlap or internal shielding

These mistakes can delay room approval and require expensive rework.

🧠 Key Takeaways

• 🪟 Openings must be shielded as carefully as walls
• 📦 Pass-throughs need fully lined sleeves
• 🚪 Hatchways require overlapping, shielded doors
• 👁️ Observation windows depend on both glass and frame shielding
• 🤝 Early planning makes everything smoother

📩 Designing a Shielded Opening?

If your project includes pass-throughs, hatchways, or observation windows, Intech can supply everything needed to build them correctly—from leaded glass and lead-lined drywall to lead plate and lead-free curtains.

Share your shielding plan and room drawings, and we’ll help you close every opening—safely, cleanly, and with confidence. 🔒