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Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 (SI 2017/1075); Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 (SI 2017/1322)

IRR17 and IR(ME)R: radiation equipment (outside Dynamo Dental's scope)

Two sets of regulations govern dental X-ray equipment. The Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 (IRR17), enforced by the HSE, protect staff and the public: they require the practice to register with the HSE, appoint a Radiation Protection Adviser, appoint a Radiation Protection Supervisor, have local rules, and make sure equipment is critically examined on installation and maintained. The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 (IR(ME)R), enforced in England by the CQC, protect patients: they cover justification and optimisation of exposures, the duties of referrers, practitioners and operators, the employer's procedures, and the involvement of a Medical Physics Expert.

Jurisdiction
England
Last verified
9 September 2026
Next review
9 March 2027
Version
1

In plain English

Two sets of regulations govern dental X-ray equipment. The Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 (IRR17), enforced by the HSE, protect staff and the public: they require the practice to register with the HSE, appoint a Radiation Protection Adviser, appoint a Radiation Protection Supervisor, have local rules, and make sure equipment is critically examined on installation and maintained. The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 (IR(ME)R), enforced in England by the CQC, protect patients: they cover justification and optimisation of exposures, the duties of referrers, practitioners and operators, the employer's procedures, and the involvement of a Medical Physics Expert.

Together they require a quality assurance programme for X-ray equipment, with tests at the intervals the practice's RPA and MPE advise, and records of every test, service and fault.

This topic is included so that practices know where Dynamo Dental stops. We do not work on X-ray equipment and do not act as RPA or MPE. Radiation matters belong with the practice's radiation protection specialists.

Who does what

Your responsibility as the provider

  • Registering with the HSE under IRR17 before using X-ray equipment (check the HSE's current registration requirements)
  • Appointing a Radiation Protection Adviser and a Radiation Protection Supervisor, and having local rules
  • Having a Medical Physics Expert involved as IR(ME)R requires
  • Ensuring new equipment has a critical examination on installation and acceptance testing before clinical use
  • Running a quality assurance programme, with routine tests and periodic performance checks at the advised intervals
  • Keeping an equipment inventory, records of tests, maintenance and faults, and staff training records
  • Reporting exposures that are much greater than intended, as IR(ME)R requires

What Dynamo Dental delivers directly

Dynamo Dental's involvement with X-ray equipment is limited to the three points below. We do not test, service, repair, install, move or make any statement about the performance of X-ray equipment.

  • Recording X-ray equipment on the asset register during a Practice Engineering Survey, using the identification and dates in the practice's own records, so the whole equipment estate is visible in one place
  • Servicing the dental chair independently of any X-ray arm or unit attached to it or mounted nearby, without disturbing the X-ray equipment
  • Telling the practice if we notice, in passing, that a radiation record appears to be missing or out of date, so it can raise it with its RPA

Verified specialist competence, or a specialist partner

  • Radiation Protection Adviser and Medical Physics Expert services: appointed specialists with the required certification
  • Installation, critical examination, acceptance testing and servicing of X-ray equipment: the manufacturer or a specialist X-ray engineer, with the RPA's involvement
  • Routine QA measurements and periodic performance testing: as arranged by the practice with its RPA and MPE
  • CBCT and other imaging equipment: the same specialists, with their additional requirements

Outside our scope

  • Any work on X-ray sets, sensors, CBCT or other imaging equipment
  • Acting as RPA, RPS or MPE, or advising on radiation protection
  • Critical examinations, acceptance tests or QA measurements
  • HSE registration or IR(ME)R employer's procedures
  • Certifying anything relating to radiation

Questions

Questions on this topic

Can Dynamo Dental include our X-ray unit in the maintenance programme?

We can list it on the asset register so its dates are visible alongside everything else, using the information your radiation specialists provide. We do not test, service or repair X-ray equipment and do not act as RPA or MPE. That work stays with your X-ray engineer and radiation protection specialists.

Who checks our X-ray equipment, and how often?

Your Radiation Protection Adviser and Medical Physics Expert advise on the QA programme and the test intervals for your equipment, and the X-ray engineer or manufacturer carries out servicing. Check the current HSE and CQC guidance and your RPA's advice rather than relying on a general rule.

Other topics

Not sure what records you should have?

The Practice Engineering Survey establishes what exists and what is missing, without claiming to be an audit.

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