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A,.. LEAD INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION
tSt MAOIION AVINUI
NEW YORK IT. H. V.
October 16, 1961
s u bj ec t i mo m miour
To Hewers of the toad Industries Associations la a result of tba lmunertbls requests wt have received for
inforaetion on tba uaa of lead in tba construction of fallout abaltaro, we haYa prapared tha attached report to answer such in^ilrlas* We hops that tha infcreation it contains will be of assistance to you In answerins slailar inquiries.
If you need additional oopiee of this alaeotraphed letter please let us know.
Very truly yovirs, David M Eorcina
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LEAD INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION
*1 MADISON AVINUI NSW YORK 17, N. V.
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LEAD If F A L L 0 P T SHELTERS
Among ths nsny connonly available Materials for o n la tha construc-
tloo of fallout shelters, Isad, la torso of weight and apace, provides tho Root
offioloot ablold against (uu rays -- tho prine dangerous radiation to bo ax-
poctod la fallout.
For axaspla, 1-la. thick lead weighing approxlaateV' 60 lb. per aq.
ft. la equivalent to 9.7 la. of concrete welching approximately US lb. per aq.
ft. or ateel 2.7 la. thick weighing about ilO lb. per aq. ft. Tharttfort, where
weight and apace raqulramar.ta are critical, lead la the obvloua choice. How
ever, where weight and apace requirements are not critical and coat la the Major
consideration, then materials other than lead may be aelected. Lead has a further
advantage, uniform density, not alweya enjoyed by concrete or earth.
The following table taken from the Atomic &>ergy Comission's Manual
entitled "CBC-56.fi1 Indicates the thickness of various Materials required for
shielding against penetrating residual radiations, fallouts
Approximate Attenuation Factors for Cajna Rays from Fission Products as Function of Shield Thickness for Indicated Materials
Shield thickness for indicated Materials, In inches
Attenu/-
tion facto _
Lead Iron & Steel Concrete
(7lTTb
"nuns
cu ft)
cu ft)
cu ft)
Earth
nsrib cu ft)
Water
TEH; lb
cu ft)
Wood (Fir)
"T3XTT cu ft)
2 0.28
0.7
2.5
It O.fiii 1.8 6.6
10 1.0
2.7 9.7
50 1.6
It.2 lit
100 1.9
it.fi 16
1,000
2.7
6.8 22
10,000
3.5
6.0 27
_ 100,000 U-3
Q
11
32
3.5 6.9
13 0
23
32 39 14
it.fi
13 19 29 33 L5 56 70
9.2
25 36
55 62
88 110 li0
s
L-
V
N 1730.01
mm* m.' s pamnFo gui<iw*uit^
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7 * LEAD IK FALLOUT SHELTERS (CONT.)
-2-
The Office of Civil end Defense ffcbiliiatlon, OCDM, has reccrnended 8
in, of concrete for house fallout basement shelters which added to the protection
afforded by the materials in the floors above provide an attenuation factor, see
above table, in the neighborhood of 10, ihich la probably adequate for most condi
tions. Hcvever, it has been pointed out that an attenuation factor of 1,000 la
min^ur 'or those areas subject to heaviest fallout, la to the location of the
areas that will be subjected to heaviest fallout, this question may well be re
legated to the "How high is upT* category.
It is important to note, again referring to the table, that the concrete
used in building fallout shelters should have a density of lhlt lb. per cubic foot.
Bile means an 8 in. concrete wall will weigh approximately $6 lb. per aq. ft. and
a wall 8 ft. high will weigh roughly 770 lb. a running foot.
The construction of the concrete walla may not post a serious problem
but the ceiling la another matter. The concrete for the celling of a shelt< r 10
x 10 ft. will weigh roughly 10,000 lb. Lead on the other hand will weigh roughly
6,000 lb. and require only 1 in. of head room rather than the 8 in. required if
concrete is used.
Lead also offers advantages for use in doors, batches, window coverings,
atop shallow underground shelters and other critical areas.
Copposite materials such as lead and concrete, lead and earth, or lead
and steel are other structural possibilities. The necessary thickness of the var
ious materials staking up the eotq>oslte is not a straight extrapolation of the
figures given In the table and it is therefore ruggested that AS or OCDK be
contacted for advice on such construction.
Lead for gamma shielding is aveilable in a number of forms, such as
sheet, brick, shot or wool. Lead shot can be cold poured Into difficult to pro
tect areas or contained in a steel shell for use in doors, hstchss etc. Lead wool
ie an ideal caulking material for joints in thatever material or materials are
o*J acted for the shelter. Leaded glass, which can contain more than $0% lead by
weight is available and can be used for viewing ports there desirable.
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