A Practical Cath Lab Siting Checklist

Cath lab installations are among the most infrastructure-intensive imaging projects a facility will undertake. Getting the site plan right early avoids costly change orders once equipment is on order.

Structural and electrical requirements

Confirm floor loading capacity for ceiling-mounted or floor-mounted C-arm systems, dedicated electrical circuits sized to peak imaging load, and adequate space above the ceiling for gantry rail mounting where applicable.

Shielding and radiation safety

Cath labs require lead-lined walls, doors, and often ceiling shielding, sized to the room's specific fluoroscopy usage and adjacency to occupied spaces. A qualified medical physicist should sign off on the shielding plan before construction begins.

Workflow and adjacency

Locate the lab close to interventional cardiology and vascular surgery teams, with clear paths for emergency patient transport, control room sightlines into the procedure room, and space for hemodynamic monitoring and sterile supply storage.

HVAC and environmental control

Interventional imaging electronics and staff comfort both depend on tight temperature and humidity control — plan HVAC capacity for the room well before equipment delivery, not after.

Our installation and commissioning team works directly with your architect and construction contractor from the earliest planning stages, so the room is ready the day your system arrives — not weeks after.