As a UK manufacturer of lead shielding for nuclear applications, Heaps, Arnold & Heaps Ltd supplies lead bricks, bespoke lead castings, isotope containers and lead-filled shielded components to the nuclear, decommissioning, defence and research sectors. Manufactured in-house at our Rotherham facility from over 250 years of metallurgical expertise, our nuclear shielding products are produced to BS3909 with full material traceability, supporting projects across nuclear power, fuel handling, waste management, isotope production and research reactor operations.
Our nuclear shielding range covers four principal product types — lead bricks for permanent and modular shielding installations, bespoke lead castings for project-specific shielded components, isotope containers for the safe storage and transport of radioactive sources, and lead fills for fabricated steel shells used in hot cell, glove box and shielded transport applications.
Lead Bricks & Chevron Bricks
Standard, interlocking and chevron lead bricks for shielded cells, hot cells, fuel handling areas and decommissioning installations.
Bespoke Lead Castings & Lead Fills
Project-specific lead castings and lead fills for shielded steel shells, transport flasks, glove boxes and hot cell components.
Isotope Containers
Lead and lead-lined isotope containers for the safe storage, transport and disposal of radioactive sources in nuclear medicine, industrial radiography and research applications.
Lead Bricks for Nuclear Shielding
Lead bricks form the structural backbone of permanent and modular radiation shielding installations across the nuclear sector. Used in shielded cells, hot cells, fuel handling areas, glove box surrounds, waste management facilities and decommissioning projects, our lead bricks provide effective gamma attenuation while allowing flexible wall configurations to be built, reconfigured or repositioned as plant operations and decommissioning programmes evolve.
Our lead bricks are cast at our Rotherham facility from pure lead and supplied in standard, interlocking and chevron profiles to suit shielded cell construction, modular shielding builds and ALARP-driven shielding upgrades.
Lead Castings are widely used across nuclear shielding applications where a one-piece shielded component is required in place of stacked or assembled lead bricks. We manufacture bespoke lead castings to drawing or specification, producing shielded components for hot cell installations, glove box shielded windows and surrounds, transport flask internals, waste container shielding and decommissioning project equipment.
Our casting capability allows us to produce shielded components ranging from small machined castings through to multi-tonne lead pours, with internal cavities, recesses and through-features incorporated at the casting stage to reduce machining time and material wastage on safety-critical work.
For complex shielded assemblies we work alongside our sister company Starweld Engineering, providing a combined fabrication and lead casting service — fabricated steel shells filled with lead to form shielded transport containers, hot cell components and decommissioning shielding solutions.
Lead isotope containers are lead or lead-lined containers designed to safely contain radioactive isotopes for storage, transport and disposal. We manufacture isotope containers for nuclear medicine providers, industrial radiography operators, research reactors and university nuclear research installations.
Cast Lead Containers
One-piece cast lead containers with machined cavities and lids, produced from pure lead in our Rotherham foundry. Suitable for compact storage and transport of sealed sources where a self-contained shielded volume is required.
Machined Lead Containers
Containers machined from solid lead billet where dimensional tolerance, internal geometry or surface finish is critical. Used for precision applications and where cast finish would not meet specification.
Lead Fills
Steel or other metal shells fabricated to the required external geometry and filled with lead to form a shielded volume. Used for larger shielded containers, transport flasks and hot cell components where the steel outer provides structural integrity and the lead provides shielding mass.
Why Choose a UK Manufacturer for
Nuclear Lead Shielding
Material traceability
Every batch carries a certificate of conformity stating alloy composition, source and BS3909 grade. Full mill traceability supports nuclear supply chain requirements and quality assurance frameworks operating across the UK nuclear sector.
Bespoke capability
In-house tooling, casting and machining for one-off shielded components, custom isotope containers and project-specific lead bricks. Drawings, samples and specifications accommodated — including fabricated assemblies via our Starweld Engineering group company.
Faster lead times
UK manufacturing supports nuclear sector supply chain expectations and shorter, more transparent supply routes. Stock-held standard items, with bespoke shielding components typically supplied within three to four weeks.
Technical Support
Direct access to metallurgical advice on lead alloy selection, brick configuration and shielded component design for nuclear, decommissioning, defence and research applications.
Bespoke Lead Castings for Nuclear Shielding
Frequently Asked Questions
Lead Shielding
Why is lead used for nuclear radiation shielding?
Lead has a high atomic number (Z=82) and high density (11,340 kg/m³), giving it exceptional ability to absorb gamma rays at the energies typical of nuclear applications, spent fuel handling, isotope sources and waste management. It can be cast, extruded, machined and filled into fabricated shells to produce the brick, casting, container and shielded assembly forms required across the nuclear sector.
Do you manufacture lead shielding to BS3909?
Yes. Our nuclear lead shielding is manufactured to BS3909 grades 1, 2 or 3 as required. Every batch carries a certificate of conformity stating alloy composition and source. Full mill traceability supports nuclear supply chain quality assurance requirements.
What lead thicknesses do you supply for nuclear shielding?
We manufacture lead bricks in 10mm, 12mm, 15mm, 20mm, 25mm, 30mm and 50mm thicknesses. Bespoke thicknesses, profiles and bespoke castings are produced to project specification — typically driven by source energy, activity and ALARP shielding design from the Radiation Protection Adviser or Health Physicist.
Can you produce lead fills for fabricated steel shells?
Yes. We routinely produce lead fills for fabricated steel shells, transport flasks, hot cell components and shielded transport containers. Working with our sister company Starweld Engineering, we can provide a combined fabrication and lead pour service if required — supplying the complete shielded assembly rather than just the lead component.
What's the typical lead time on bespoke nuclear shielding work?
Standard lead bricks are typically supplied from stock or within one to two weeks. Bespoke lead castings, isotope containers and lead-filled assemblies typically take three to four weeks depending on complexity, drawings and material specification. We quote lead time at the point of quotation, not after order.
Do you supply lead alloys for nuclear shielding?
Yes. While pure lead is the standard for shielding, we manufacture in antimonial lead, lead-tin and lead-calcium alloys where mechanical strength, casting properties or creep resistance is required. Alloy selection depends on the component, operating environment and any structural loading requirements.
Can you support nuclear decommissioning projects?
Yes. We supply lead shielding for decommissioning programmes including shielded enclosures, modular brick installations, isotope containers for waste packaging and bespoke castings for shielded transport. Material traceability and BS3909 compliance is provided as standard.
How do I request a quote?
Send your shielding specification (lead thickness, brick profile, casting drawings, traceability requirements, quantity) via our request a quote form or contact our technical team directly. We respond within one working day with pricing, availability and lead time.
Industries We Supply
Our Lead Shielding Products Are Used Across Hospitals, Laboratories, Nuclear Installations and Industrial Radiography Applications
Lead and lead alloy products supporting the UK nuclear sector
Lead solders, lead wire and bespoke lead components for automotive restoration.
