MarMetal’s drywall is laminated with sheet lead that is designed to cover necessary surfaces or walls in a room requiring radiation shielding
Lead Drywall: also referred to as Lead-Lined Sheetrock, Gyproc, Wallboard or Lead-Lined Gypsum Board.
MarMetal’s drywall is laminated with sheet lead that is designed to cover necessary surfaces or walls in a room requiring radiation shielding. It is affixed to surfaces or walls ensuring a continuous layer of sheet lead under the drywall to a specified height. It is used in new construction or shielding upgrades/renovations for P.E.T and other types of diagnostic imaging rooms.
Lead Drywall Product Details
MarMetal starts with a piece of sheet lead which meets or exceeds Federal Specifications QQ-L-201F, Grade C, ASTM B-749-03, and Standard Specification for lead and lead alloy strip, sheet, and plate products. The lead sheet is 99.9% pure or better of un-pierced virgin lead, free of dross, oxide inclusions, scale, laminations, blisters and cracks and is factory laminated to drywall.
Lead is factory pressure-laminated and adhered to the drywall with permanent adhesive in 48″ widths, equal to the width of the drywall, or in 49″ widths giving the lead a 1″ overlap at the vertical drywall joints. Due to the excessive weight, our drywall panels can be customized to smaller widths and lengths to suit most applications. 2″ wide batten strips can be supplied to cover all vertical joints where applicable. Smaller panels will require more batten strips but the ease of handling these lighter panels will be offset in the extra cost and labour during the installation process. Standard drywall panels are available in 48″ widths with 96″ or 120″ lengths.
Leaded drywall panels will be greater than, or equal to, the attenuation level specified by a health physicist.
For lead thicknesses that exceed 1/8” please refer to our lead lined plywood.
Lead Lined Drywall/Gypsum Board or Plywood Installation Guideline
We start out by using only fire code gypsum materials for all lead-lined drywall/gypsum products. The drywall should conform to ASTM C36. Lead lining from 1/32” – 1/16” and if necessary 1/8” although not recommended due to the heavy weight and handing. A recommended thickness of a simple unpierced sheet of lead in any chosen length is applied and bonded to the appropriate length of drywall/gypsum board. The drywall/gypsum boards are available in a minimum size of 4’ x 8’ to a maximum 4’ x 10’ x 5/8” minimum thickness. ½” thick drywall is available but not recommended.
Install leaded side of drywall/gypsum board, lath or plywood that will be used to cover the sheet lead against wooden or metal studs ensuring that you match the joints of the sheet lead used. Material must be in a vertical position with joint running from floor to ceiling as required by standards. Drill pilot holes as necessary to prevent deformation of fastener, lead or distortion of board. A minimum lead overlap of one inch is required at all joints and corners. Extend lead overhand at least one inch into all frame or openings. Sheet lead over 1/16” thick should have a minimum 2” overhang. Fastened to the wooden or metal studs using proper drywall screws of the correct length. We suggest you use a minimum of 40 screws per 48” x 84” sheet. Spacing the screws at a maximum of 8” on center at the edges and a maximum of 12” on center at the intermediate studs. Screw drywall screws in deeper than normal into wall covering material slightly deeper than the thickness of the lead tab/disk or buttons been used. For drywall/Gypsum board or lath you may create a dimple over the screw head with a swing of your hammer head or other round ended tool to make a 1” diameter impression. Finish by gluing with a construction adhesive the lead buttons usually a minimum of a 7/8” disk over each screw head. After glue has dried out fill in and feather out with wood filler or plaster compound as needed to completely cover the screws and the protection disk devices.
Mars Metal recommends the use of drywall screws in all situations wherever possible. If using lead headed nails (on wood studs only), then ensure that you drive them down to the proper depth and cover with drywall compound.
Lead Drywall can have lead laminated to the full drywall length or partial length – please specify.
Lead Drywall Information Sheet
Lead Drywall Installation Information
