Decontamination Factor Calculator
Calculate decontamination factor and efficiency from before and after contamination measurements.
Inputs
Bq/cm²
Bq/cm²
sq ft
Results
Decontamination Factor
100×
Decontamination Efficiency
99%
Activity Removed49,500 Bq/cm²
Removal per Unit Area4,950 Bq/cm² per m²
DF per Pass4.64×
Fraction Remaining0.01
Additional Passes for DF=1000
Meets Release Criteria1
Estimated Waste Volume3 L
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter Initial Contamination, Final Contamination, and Contaminated Area.
- Set Number of Decon Passes.
- Review Decontamination Factor (×) and Decontamination Efficiency (%).
- Use Activity Removed (Bq/cm²) and Removal per Unit Area (Bq/cm² per m²) to inform your decision.
- Use the chart to visualize the results and explore different scenarios by adjusting inputs.
How the result changes with Final Contamination
| Final Contamination | Decontamination Factor | Decontamination Efficiency |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000,000,000 | 0× | -1,999,900% |
| 3,500,000,000 | 0× | -6,999,900% |
| 6,500,000,000 | 0× | -12,999,900% |
| 9,000,000,000 | 0× | -17,999,900% |
What each input means
- Initial Contamination
- Surface contamination level before decontamination in Bq per cm².
- Final Contamination
- Surface contamination level after decontamination in Bq per cm².
- Contaminated Area
- Total contaminated surface area in square meters.
- Number of Decon Passes
- Number of decontamination passes or cycles performed.
What each result means
- Meets Release Criteria
- 1 = Yes (<1000 Bq/cm²), 0 = No
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersInitial Contamination = 50000, Final Contamination = 500, Contaminated Area = 10, Number of Decon Passes = 3 = 4 input(s) provided
- Calculate Decontamination FactorDecontamination Factor100 = 100
- Calculate Decontamination EfficiencyDecontamination Efficiency99 = 99%
- Calculate Activity RemovedActivity Removed49500 = 49500
- Calculate Removal per Unit AreaRemoval per Unit Area4950 = 4950
Related Calculators
The questions that sit next to this one — chosen by subject, including calculators filed under a different category.
Nuclear Science
Radiation Dose Rate Calculator
Calculate radiation dose rate from source activity and distance using the inverse square law.
Nuclear ScienceRadiation Exposure Tracking Calculator
Track cumulative radiation dose against annual occupational limits and ALARA targets.
HAZMATDecontamination Solution Calculator
Calculate decon mix ratios, quantities, and contact times for various contaminant types.
Nuclear ScienceCriticality Calculator
Estimate neutron multiplication factor from geometry, enrichment, moderation, and reflection parameters.
More in Science & Physics.