Lead Bricks & Shielding — UK Manufactured Since 1770
Heaps, Arnold & Heaps Ltd manufactures lead shielding bricks and lead shielding components for the UK medical, nuclear, research and industrial radiography sectors. Our lead shielding bricks are cast at our Rotherham facility from pure refined lead, with consistent density and dimensional accuracy critical for effective radiation shielding. We supply standard rectangular bricks, interlocking chevron profiles, anti-scatter rails and fully bespoke castings to your specification.
With over 250 years of casting experience, we produce lead bricks for hospital X-ray rooms, CT scanner installations, radiotherapy bunkers, nuclear shielding installations, industrial radiography facilities and research laboratories across the UK.
Why Choose Heaps, Arnold & Heaps Lead Shielding Bricks?
- UK manufactured at our Rotherham foundry — full traceability
- Cast from pure refined lead for maximum density and consistent shielding performance
- Standard, interlocking and chevron profiles all available
- Bespoke dimensions cast to your specification for awkward installation spaces
- Documentation supplied for NHS procurement, nuclear compliance and research records
- Fast UK-wide delivery on standard profiles
- Over 250 years of casting expertise — established 1770
Standard Lead Shielding Bricks
Our standard lead shielding bricks are solid cast lead in rectangular dimensions, designed for general radiation shielding construction. They stack stably for wall building and are the workhorse of most shielded room installations.
- Standard sizes match common shielding design specifications
- Cast to consistent weight tolerance for predictable shielding performance
- Bespoke dimensions produced to project requirements
- Smooth-cast faces for stable stacking
- Available in various weights to suit handling requirements on site
Interlocking Lead Shielding Bricks & Chevron Profiles
Interlocking lead shielding bricks are designed with a tongue-and-groove or chevron profile that creates a continuous shielded volume across adjoining bricks. This eliminates radiation leakage paths between butted joints — a critical consideration for high-energy shielding applications.
Chevron Lead Bricks
Chevron lead shielding bricks have an angled profile that overlaps with neighbouring bricks, providing radiation-tight joints in installations where shielding performance must be maintained at structural connection points. Used extensively in:
- Radiotherapy bunker construction
- High-activity nuclear shielding installations
- Industrial radiography facilities
- Research reactor shielding
Where to Use Interlocking vs Standard Lead Shielding Bricks
- Standard lead shielding bricks — general diagnostic shielding, lower-energy applications, where occupancy of adjacent areas allows some attenuation tolerance
- Interlocking/chevron lead shielding bricks — high-energy environments, radiotherapy bunkers, where every leakage path must be eliminated, and installations subject to strict post-build radiation survey
Your radiation protection adviser (RPA) will specify which profile is required based on the equipment energy, workload and adjacent occupancy. We supply both and can advise on quantities for specific shielding designs.
Lead Anti-Scatter Rails
Lead anti-scatter rails are used in hospital and dental imaging facilities to absorb scatter radiation in X-ray suites, CT scanner rooms and angiography installations. They are typically mounted around door frames, observation windows and at the junction between shielded and unshielded wall sections, where lead sheet alone wouldn’t provide complete shielding integrity.
Our anti-scatter rails are cast and machined to project specification, with profiles matched to the wall, door or window frame configuration of your imaging facility.
Bespoke Shielding Fabrication & Custom Castings
Standard lead bricks don’t always fit the requirement. For complex geometries, equipment-specific shielding components or one-off architectural features, we offer full bespoke shielding fabrication at our Rotherham facility.
Typical Bespoke Casting Projects
- Custom-dimensioned bricks for awkward installation spaces or non-standard wall builds
- Collimator components for radiotherapy and industrial radiography equipment
- Custom apertures and beam stops cast to engineering drawings
- Lead-lined doors and door frames with integrated shielding
- Source containers and transport flasks for isotope handling
- Equipment-specific replacement parts where original parts are unavailable
- Curved or shaped shielding for cylindrical equipment installations
How Bespoke Orders Work
- Send us drawings, samples, or a clear description of what you need
- We review feasibility and provide a quote with lead time (typically 2–4 weeks for bespoke castings)
- On approval we cast, machine, inspect and dispatch
- Documentation supplied for compliance archiving
Lead Lined Plywood & Plasterboard
Lead lined boards combine a sheet of pure lead bonded to a structural backing — either plywood or plasterboard — providing radiation shielding that can be cut, fixed and finished using standard construction techniques.
Lead-Lined Plywood
- Pure lead sheet bonded to plywood backing
- Standard board thicknesses to match construction sizes
- Suitable for partition walls, doors and ceilings
- Cuts and fixes using standard tools
Lead-Lined Plasterboard
- Pure lead sheet bonded to plasterboard backing
- Ready for skim plaster finishing
- Standard and bespoke lead thicknesses
- Compatible with standard construction methods
Isotope Pots & Source Containers
Lead isotope pots are used for the safe storage, handling, transport and disposal of radioactive isotopes used in nuclear medicine, radiopharmacy and medical research. Manufactured to customer specification, our isotope pots are produced from pure cast lead with internal cavities, lid configurations and external dimensions matched to the specific isotope, source dimensions and shielding requirement.
We supply isotope pots to nuclear medicine departments, radiopharmacy facilities, university research laboratories, industrial radiography providers and clinical research installations.
Why Choose a UK Manufacturer for Medical Lead Shielding?
Material Traceability
Every batch carries a certificate of conformity stating alloy composition and source — essential for medical, dental and nuclear installations operating under strict compliance frameworks (IRR17, AMPAS, CQC).
Bespoke Capability
In-house tooling, casting and machining for one-off shielding components. Custom isotope pots and project-specific lead bricks. Drawings or samples accommodated.
Faster Lead Times
UK manufacturing with stock-held standard items. Bespoke shielding components and lead-lined boards typically supplied within two to three weeks.
Technical Support
Direct access to metallurgical advice on lead thickness, brick profiles and shielding design for medical, dental and laboratory applications.
Who We Supply
Our lead shielding products are used across the UK healthcare, nuclear, research and industrial sectors:
- NHS Trusts — X-ray, CT, MRI, radiotherapy and nuclear medicine departments
- Private healthcare groups running diagnostic and treatment facilities
- Specialist radiation shielding contractors as a trade materials supplier
- Dental practice fit-out specialists
- Veterinary practice contractors
- Nuclear power station maintenance contractors
- Nuclear decommissioning specialists
- University research facilities with radiation-using laboratories
- Industrial radiography service providers
- Modular building manufacturers producing mobile X-ray or treatment units
Compliance & Documentation
Radiation shielding is a compliance-led specification. All our lead bricks and shielding products are:
- Manufactured in the UK at our Rotherham facility
- Cast from material with documented traceability
- Supplied with certificates of conformity stating composition and source
- Documented for batch traceability
- Suitable for inclusion in CQC inspection records and nuclear compliance files
How to Order Lead Bricks & Shielding
All shielding orders are processed on a quote-led basis to ensure your exact specifications are met:
- Submit a quote request with your dimensions, brick profile and quantity
- We respond within 1 working day with availability and lead time
- Once approved, your order is cast, machined (if applicable) and dispatched with documentation
For trade accounts and ongoing supply arrangements, contact our team directly to discuss credit terms and BACS payment.
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