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MarShield - Common Sheet Lead Questions

Sep 23, 2024

Sheet lead is a common, quick and cost-effective method to efficiently shield radiation in dental offices, vet clinics, health clinics, hospitals and other areas. Roof flashing, and sheet lead can also be laminated for lead lined drywall or lead lined plywood, depending on your needs.

Many customers have questions about sheet lead orders and clarifications about what we offer. We’ve gathered all the important information you need to know about sheet lead to help you complete your order below.

About Sheet Lead

Sheet LeadWhat is the difference between a lead roll and lead sheet?

Lead sheets are actually rolled from 1/32” to 1/8” and by doing this we save on freight costs for you by being able to put more lead on a smaller skid. 1/8” material is quite heavy, so it is put onto 4” coils to make unrolling them easier. ¼” x 4 x 5 ft is shipped flat due to its weight and thickness.

Sheet LeadWhat are lead strips and discs used for?

When you are shielding from radiation, it is mandatory and critical to make sure there is no radiation shine through, or leaking, whatsoever. The Ministry of Health requests you overlap your sheets by 1”. What a strip does is make your work easier by simply putting the lead strip right down the seam where the lead meets. The strip is 2” by the length of your sheet. Typically, 7,8, and 10ft long. The strip goes down the seam and overlaps 1” on either side. Strips are also great for getting into the more challenging areas such as around an outlet or a corner. Lead discs will be glued onto the countersunk screw head to again ensure there is no way of having a radiation leak. You will always be given enough lead discs based on how many rolls you order. For lead strips, it is recommended one strip for each sheet of lead.

Is sheet lead heavy?

Sheet lead does start to get heavy after 1/16”. To give you a quick idea of weights simply take how many lbs the sheet weighs per sqft and multiply that by how many sqft are in the sheet. For example 1/16” x 4 x 10 ft – so 1/16” is approximately 4lbs in weight and there is 40 sqft in this sheet: 4 x 40 = 160 lbs so this sheet will weigh 160 lbs.

What type of lead do you use?

When shielding from radiation it is important to get the right purity level of lead. In Canada ASTM B749 lead, which is 99.94% pure, is required for the medical and health industry. In the US QQ-L-201f2 or 99.5% pure lead is required. At Marsmetal we can get you either, but the material that is standard stocked sheet lead is ASTM B749 material.

Do you offer leaded drywall or lead plywood?

Yes! While this material is not stocked, we can usually turn this material for you in about 2 weeks, depending on the volume required and our warehouse schedule. Just ask at the time of quoting and I can give you a better idea. Please note we offer lead drywall in ½” thickness and, more commonly, in 5/8” thickness. The material is always fire-rated material. Please be advised, though, that for shipping either of these materials, you MUST have a forklift with extended forks so as to be able to offload the material. This is because both are very heavy, can be quite fragile and are on oversized skids. If you do not have a forklift your options are to arrange pickup from one of our locations at your own risk or order the rolls to be laminated onsite yourself.

Sheet Lead Sizing

What sizes do you have that are regularly stocked?

Mars Metal stocks 1/32” (0.8mm) in 4 x 7, 4 x 8 and 4 x 10 ft rolls. 1/16” (1.6mm) in 4 x 7, 4 x 8 and 4 x 10 ft rolls. 1/8” (3.2mm) in 4 x 8 and 4 x 10 ft rolls. We also stock ¼” (6mm) in 4 x 5 ft.

Do you have other thicknesses that you offer outside of your regular stock?

We can get most sizes within 3 weeks from 1/64” up to 2” thickness in the standard sizes. Material can be made longer than 10 ft if you require it, but it will require a minimum order of sheets to run this size. Ask me for more details. Keep in mind though lead gets very heavy after ¼” thickness and cutting smaller pieces for handling capability is ideal. You will also require a forklift for offload of anything heavier than 1500 lbs.

Sheet Lead Pricing

How long can you hold my price?

Lead is constantly changing in price globally and daily based on the LME. It can be quite significant due to the demand. We do our best to try to hold pricing for a month. However, that may not always be possible, so it is best to ask when you inquire. Your quote validity period will always be on your quote.

Sheet Lead Order Information

Do you have a minimum order, and can I just walk in and pick it up?

$500 is our minimum order unless you have done an order with us within the last month, and you need to add extra rolls to complete a job. We are not really set up for same-day walk-ins, so if you do need material right away, a $75 rush order fee will be applied. This also pertains to same day order and pick up.

Can you ship to us?

Yes, we can ship to you with certain restrictions. Sheet lead is usually on a 48” x 56” wood skid and can take a weight of about 2000 lbs. With freight there are important things to know and consider when shipping. Tailgate is an extra service but is the most common way to get the material to the ground. A tailgate holds a maximum weight of 1500 lbs, so keep this in mind when ordering larger amounts, you will most likely require more skids. Freight companies will also have an extra charge outside deliveries, appointments, and shipping to more restricted or limited access areas such as hospitals, educational institutions, government or military facilities as well as residential areas.

How do I know what lead thickness to use for my shielding?

Typically, dental offices would use 1/32”, health and vet clinics 1/16”, and hospitals usually 1/8”. The best thing to do in this case is to check the physicist or ministry report for the minimum shielding standards required based on the type of radiation you are shielding from. Never guess, though, as you do not want to risk putting up too little shielding.

If I over order will you take the material back?

Yes we do have a return policy on sheet lead. We are all human, so we understand sometimes we end up ordering more than we need. For our return policy, we do have guidelines that must be adhered to. We will require you to take pictures of the material both from the profile and above angles to be emailed to your rep, so that our warehouse manager can review the condition of the material. He will then advise if it can be resold. If it can, then an RMA (Return Materials Authorization) form will be issued, and then you will be able to return it at your expense to us with a 25% restocking fee. Once we have the material, your account will be credited the difference for a future order, or if this is a one-time buy, then the balance will be put back on your credit card.

Please note: If the warehouse manager deems the material unsellable, we will not be able to take it back or refund it.

Can I hand bomb material into my vehicle and will the warehouse employees help me?

Yes, you can hand bomb material into your vehicle, and yes, we will assist, provided you do not show up in a car, SUV or something small where the material can damage the interior. If you do you will be on your own to put it in your vehicle yourself. In a pick-up, van or something of that nature, we will definitely assist you. Keep in mind it is best to put material on a skid once you exceed 10 rolls of 1/32” of any size or 5 rolls of 1/16” of any size. We do not hand bomb anything thicker than 1/16” due to weight.

Installing Sheet Lead Or Leaded Drywall

For instructions and information on how to install sheet lead, please see our Sheet Lead Installation Guidelines. For instructions on how to put leaded drywall up, download the resource at the bottom of the Lead Lined Drywall page. Remember when calculating your shielding to include an extra 1” overlap to ensure you have 100% coverage of shielding. This prevents any radiation shine through. We also offer lead strips in 2” thickness with lengths of the sheets to make your life easier. Just place the strip where the seams of the sheets meet, and you’ll have 100% coverage.

Ordering Sheet Lead From MarShield

MarShield provides the highest quality sheet lead available. Our team can work with you to provide a sheet lead solution that meets all your needs. Our sheet lead information PDF resource can provide even more information about MarShield sheet lead features, options, and ordering. Visit our website to view our MarShield products for all your shielding needs. MarShield is your one stop shop that takes the hassle out of radiation shielding. You are also welcome to contact us directly to get more information or place an order.

Need More Information or Ready to Place a Large Order?

Reach out to Chris Newman for expert assistance on sheet lead orders or to discuss bulk purchasing options. Chris specializes in handling large orders for contractors and can guide you through the ordering process, ensuring you get exactly what you need. Whether you have questions or are ready to place an order, Chris is here to help.

Contact Chris Newman:
Phone: (905) 637-3862 | (800) 381-5335 – Ext. # 134

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