Successful imaging-equipment relocation requires 8-12 weeks of planning, coordinated cryogen and rigging logistics, protective disassembly, and full re-installation QA before clinical use.
90 days out
- Confirm scope: which systems, which destination, expected clinical restart date
- Facility survey at destination: room dimensions, structural load, HVAC, power, RF shielding, cryogen venting
- Rigging plan: crane, path of travel, wall openings
- OEM notification if system is under warranty or software support
- PACS and DICOM re-integration plan
60 days out
- Confirm rigging contractor
- MRI cryogen plan (partial or full boil-down or magnet-transport-with-helium)
- Insurance and liability coverage
- Utilities plan at destination
- IT and network coordination
30 days out
- Final route walk
- Consumables inventory (bolts, gaskets, cables)
- Physicist scheduled for re-installation QA
- Radiation-safety survey scheduled
Day of de-installation
- Pre-move QA baseline scans and readings
- Systematic disassembly with photo documentation
- Crating and load
- Chain-of-custody documentation
Re-installation
- Delivery and rigging
- Assembly and torque verification
- Cryogen fill (MRI) and ramp
- Power-up and full calibration set
- Physicist QA and radiation-safety survey
- Applications and clinical restart
Common pitfalls
- Underestimating rigging path constraints (elevator size, corner clearances)
- Missing cryogen venting at destination
- Forgetting PACS/DICOM re-integration
- Skipping physicist QA at restart
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a hospital MRI relocation take?
An MRI relocation typically takes 2-4 weeks from de-installation to clinical restart, depending on distance and cryogen strategy. Full planning should begin 8-12 weeks earlier.
Can an MRI be moved with helium in the magnet?
Yes. Modern magnets can be transported with a partial helium load, using a monitored transport service. This preserves the magnetic field and shortens the re-ramp process.
