Site Testing - Full Service

Consultation, facilitation, and assistance in MRI Vibration Testing, Seismic testing, concrete testing, structural engineering certification and soil compaction testing where needed. - Module #6

Vibration and Seismic testing is required prior to siting your MRI Magnet. The Vibration and Seismic testing is not provided by the MRI equipment supplier and as stated on the supplier documents, that testing is the responsibility of the individuals procuring the MRI Magnet for the MRI Imaging Facility. These are standard issues that we can  assist you with in scheduling and as we have done for many clients in our Turnkey MRI Imaging Center development.

As it relates to the Seismic and Vibration testing, you might be surprised what kind of ground and other vibration can impact the ability of your MRI to provide the necessary high resolution images.

In your MRI Imaging Center, proximity to a busy parking lot, major roadway, or even the wrong elevator can make the difference in MRI image quality, and can disqualify your chosen site as minimally acceptable for the placement of your MRI unit.

Vibration Testing must be performed early in the site planning process to ensure vibration is minimal and within acceptable limits. As a field engineer will tell you, the Magnet cannot be directly isolated from vibration, as vibration issues have to be resolved at the source. We can work with you to schedule the testing specialists that you will need on site to do what is necessary in order to move forward on your behalf.

These tests do not take long and are not expensive, but they are important to perform before the expensive MRI Magnet is sited in your final permanent MRI Imaging Center location. I would suggest ideally, your MRI Imaging Center and probable MRI Magnet room area in a leased building, should receive the Seismic and Vibration Testing and pass, before you sign your final building and tenant lease agreement.

One of the most recent MRI’s that we sited ,weighed approximately 11,800 pounds ( 1.5 Tesla, not uncommon) and it was going to be placed on concrete slab resting on potentially wetter mountain soils, which required a soil compaction analysis. Not hard to accommodate, but important to have done if needed and results known in advance.

Your MRI Imaging Center can only be successful and profitable, if the clinical studies that you perform moving forward, are of as high a quality as the MRI Magnet that you acquire, is capable of performing in an interference and vibration free site. In the coordination of the MRI site engineering specialists, and any other specialists that might be needed, we work towards ensuring the proper siting of your MRI Magnet, and build out conditions that will enhance the MRI scan resolution quality and resulting Imaging Center profitability.

Disqualification of your site due to Vibration or Seismic testing Issues is not common, but also not unheard of.

Sometimes Seismic testing disqualification can be resolved by recalibrating the seismic testing equipment, and retesting, but not always. We can quickly provide the experts who are able to provide the definitive answer, saving expense and frustration. We have successfully resolved same day, a potential site test failure!

In the Seismic and Vibration testing, it can be apparent in some instances, especially with wet soil or mountain soil, that a ground compaction specialist may be needed to ensure the stable siting of your MRI Magnet.

Builders and Architects can often insist on Ground Compaction testing for the siting of your MRI.

As mentioned previously, in your MRI Imaging Center buildout, your 1.5 Tesla MRI Unit can weigh approximately 12,000  pounds, and will be anchored on a small core cut, concrete slab on grade, with non-ferrous rebar concrete. Acceptable Ground Compaction is always fundamental and prior to building, will be measured/tested for proper MRI Magnet site placement in your MRI Imaging Center. In the planning and buildout of MRI Imaging Centers in which we have been retained for guidance, our consulting group has always followed this process of Seismic, Vibration, and Ground Compaction Testing very closely for our clients, and can confidently provide that assistance, guidance, and reassurance for all of our new clients as well. We work diligently to keep our MRI Imaging Center Client Projects on Schedule and on Budget. 

Normally, in the design and build process, a structural engineer works closely with the design architect in the creation of the buildout plans. When the MRI Magnet equipment supplier vendor comes on board and is working closely on determining the readiness of the site for the delivery of the MRI Magnet, prior to the actual installation of the MRI Magnet, a structural engineer of record will need to affirm the floor and ceiling has been designed in the manner necessary to accommodate load bearing structures. When we are retained, we ensure the structural engineering team can provide that affirmation.

In this Consultation and Assistance Module we will address

As mentioned, the MRI Vendor and Manufacturer will require the Customer receiving the MRI, to retain the Seismic and Vibration testing specialist. We can discuss how and when to contact the Seismic and Vibration  testing specialist, and the approximate cost for the testing, and what you should expect from the process. On your behalf, we can quickly retain the specialists that are needed.

• We can also review with you in advance, a previous actual report, without site names or identifying information, and facilitate understanding of why these tests are important, how they work, and what to expect.

In your MRI Imaging Center, your MRI Magnet will ideally be sited “Slab on Grade," mounted on a concrete slab.

However, the slab must have nonferrous, non-metallic rebar.

That is typically not what is found with an existing building slab, you will normally find ferrous metal rebar.

We can wait until the building contractor is engaged, but it will be important to conduct testing of the slab on grade concrete in the MRI Magnet Room, to determine the Ferrous or non-Ferrous metal composition of the concrete on which the MRI Magnet will be sited.

In the event of ferrous metal composition in the cement slab in the MRI Magnet Room, which is to be expected, we can advise and facilitate the core cut concrete, the Non Ferrous rebar placement and concrete pour that is required. We can quickly assist in shortening the process considerably.

*Assessing your MRI Imaging Project at present and review of activities taken to date.

*Your current MRI Imaging Center site, if chosen at time of consultation. If so, depending on where you are in the process, discussion of what needs to occur regarding finalization of the building and site lease? If desired, review and provide negotiation feedback to the client on their proposed MRI Imaging Center, building site lease.

*The process of retaining an architect, and Builder or Remodeling Site Contractor, and their roles, and incorporation of the Vibration Testing and Seismic Testing data, as well as guidance to the Structural Engineer of Record regarding their responsibilities.

*Choice of ground single floor building or multiple floor building? Are you thinking of a “Slab on Grade” installation or are you interested in second floor or higher installation? Provide more in depth guidance on what to be aware of and how to make either choice, as good as possible.

*Have you assessed the area of the site location where the MRI Magnet Room will be located?

*Providing guidance on scheduling the Vibration and Testing Engineers, interpretation of their reports, and in the case of an actual failing grade on the testing, looking at the preliminary floor plan to flip the layout to still use the site and retest as necessary.

*Understanding the role and value of the Structural Engineer of record who typically works closely with and is chosen by the Architect. If you have currently retained an Architect and Builder or Remodeling firm, do they have a structural engineer of record or not. You will want to know how they have been retained in the design and build process and we will want to make sure they can be contacted in order to provide “sign off” and structural engineering confirmation on various design build issues for the MRI vendor project engineer, in order to receive the MRI Magnet Delivery. Understanding of what that will include and why that is important.

*Understanding the RF (Radio-frequency Testing) that will be conducted after completion of the Magnet Room RF shield.

*Answering all questions of importance to the client, whether related to these items or other items in the MRI build out process.