Mars Metal Offers Sheet Lead to Overcome X-Ray Room Shielding Challenges

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Jan 05, 2022

There is an expanding requirement for more x-ray rooms at hospitals and clinics nationwide. Rapid expansion of facilities to care for the aging population and the current situation at hand has brought high demand. All x-ray rooms are constructed using sheet lead for radiation protection and Mars Metal offers many options.

Mars Metal can provide many options working along with architects and contractors providing solutions to their challenges. We incorporate our sheet lead technology also in to our innovative EZ Panels and our Mobile X-Ray rooms.

Mars Metal is a leading North American supplier of sheet lead with many available sizes. We carry a large inventory of lead sheeting and can ship the following sizes immediately and if these sizes do not meet your criteria, we all custom size the material to fit your needs. Our standard sizes include:

• 1/32” x 48” x 96”
• 1/32” x 48” x 120”
• 1/16” x 48” x 96”
• 1/16” x 48” x 120”
• 1/8” x 48” x 96”
• 1/8” x 48” x 120”
• 1/4” x 48” x 60”

In the Dental industry, the usual standard radiation protection requires 1/32” sheet lead thickness and occasionally 1/16” thickness. Hospitals, Health Centres and Veterinary Clinics have higher radiation doses so the more common sheet lead thicknesses are 1/16” to 1/8”, however, it is necessary to get the recommendation of a health physicist when selecting the thickness of the sheet lead as there are several factors that need to be considered when shielding against radiation.

Mars Metal manufactures its high-quality sheet lead from pure lead conforming to ASTM B-29, B-749 and Federal QQ-L-201F, QQ-L-171E. Most applications that use sheet lead require it either to be supported or laminated so that it provides a more rigid building material as well as more support and stability for the lead.

This is needed as lead sheeting is limited in its structural strength and should be used with either lead-lined plywood of lead-lined drywall.

Lead Lined PlywoodLead-Lined Plywood

Mars Metal’s plywood is laminated with sheet lead and is designed to cover necessary surfaces or walls in rooms that require radiation shielding. It is fire-rated and encompasses a layer of lead affixed to the surface of fire-retardant plywood conforming to AWPA U/T1-16 Sec H. (fire-retardant treatment standards). The lead-lined plywood is available in 5/8” to 3/4” in thickness. It is recommended to use lead-lined plywood with heavier lead shielding requirements that call for a 1/8” thickness or better.

Lead-Lined Drywall

Mars Metal’s drywall is fire rated material laminated with sheet lead and is used in the new construction or shielding upgrades/renovations for P.E.T and other types of diagnostic imaging rooms. It is available in 1/2” to 5/8” thickness and is ideally used with lead that is 1/32” to 1/8” thick. With thicknesses over 1/8” you will need to use leaded plywood as the lead becomes too heavy for drywall as this point. Standard panels are available in 48” widths with 96” or 120” lengths, but we can customize your size to fit your needs. Leaded drywall can also be laminated to full or partial drywall length in accordance to your specific requirements.

Mars Metal also offers fire rated, moisture barrier lead-lined drywall. Our drywall has a fire-resistance rating up to four hours (Type X) and the technology provides an additional zone of protection against moisture and mold.

Find more information about sheet lead click here and feel free to contact our product engineering specialists anytime for a consultation (800) 381-5335.

@MarsMetalCo #MarsMetal #leadcasting #leadfabrication #leadfinishing

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