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Order lead lined drywall from Liberty Shielding for X-ray rooms, CT rooms, medical imaging facilities, dental offices, veterinary clinics, laboratories, and other environments requiring radiation shielding.
Also called lead backed drywall, lead lined sheetrock, lead drywall, or X-ray drywall, each panel combines gypsum wallboard with factory-laminated sheet lead to create a permanent radiation barrier within the wall or ceiling assembly.
Our standard product uses 5/8" Type X gypsum board with sheet lead bonded to the back and is available in lead thicknesses from 1/64" (1 lb./sq. ft.) through 1/8" (8 lb./sq. ft.).
Each standard sheet includes a 2" lead batten strip and 50 lead discs to help maintain shielding continuity at joints and fasteners.
Typical fabrication time is only 2–3 business days.
Select your required lead thickness and sheet configuration above to see your price and order lead lined drywall online.
Additional wallboard options are available for projects requiring different construction.
Depending on the project, lead can be factory laminated to several different substrates.
Our standard and most common configuration for radiation-shielded walls.
5/8" Type X gypsum board + required sheet lead thickness
This configuration is commonly used in medical X-ray rooms, imaging facilities, dental offices, and other radiation-shielded environments.
For applications where a 5/8" Type X board is not required, 1/2" non-rated gypsum board is also available with lead backing.
For heavier shielding requirements, sheet lead can be laminated to:
Lead backed plywood is commonly used where the required lead thickness exceeds practical limits for gypsum wallboard or where a more robust substrate is required.
Additional options include:
The correct lead thickness must be determined from the project's radiation shielding design or shielding report.
Standard lead lined drywall is available in:
| Sheet Lead Thickness | Nominal Lead Weight | Common Product Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1/64" | 1 lb./sq. ft. | 1# Lead Backed Drywall |
| 1/32" | 2 lb./sq. ft. | 2# Lead Backed Drywall |
| 3/64" | 3 lb./sq. ft. | 3# Lead Backed Drywall |
| 1/16" | 4 lb./sq. ft. | 4# Lead Backed Drywall |
| 5/64" | 5 lb./sq. ft. | 5# Lead Backed Drywall |
| 3/32" | 6 lb./sq. ft. | 6# Lead Backed Drywall |
| 7/64" | 7 lb./sq. ft. | 7# Lead Backed Drywall |
| 1/8" | 8 lb./sq. ft. | 8# Lead Backed Drywall |
For shielding requirements beyond standard drywall configurations, lead backed plywood is available with heavier lead thicknesses.
Plywood-backed configurations can accommodate lead from approximately 5/32" (10 lb./sq. ft.) through 2" (120 lb./sq. ft.), depending on the project requirements and manufacturability.
Each standard lead backed drywall sheet includes installation accessories to help maintain shielding continuity.
1 × 2" Wide Lead Batten Strip
The batten is manufactured from the same lead thickness as the drywall panel and is used behind vertical joints between adjacent sheets.
50 × Lead Fastener Discs
Each disc is approximately 3/8" diameter and matches the lead thickness of the sheet. The discs are used to shield screw and fastener locations.
Depending on the room design, additional products may be required for:
Lead lined drywall is gypsum wallboard with sheet lead permanently bonded to the back surface.
During installation, the lead side faces the wall framing while the gypsum surface faces the finished room.
Once installed and finished, the wall can look similar to conventional drywall while providing the radiation attenuation specified by the project's shielding design.
This makes lead backed gypsum board one of the most common methods of incorporating radiation shielding into medical and diagnostic imaging rooms.
There is no meaningful difference between these terms.
The product is commonly called:
All generally describe a gypsum wallboard product incorporating sheet lead to provide radiation attenuation.
“Sheetrock” is commonly used as a generic search term for drywall, although it is also a brand name.
Lead is particularly effective at attenuating X-rays and gamma radiation because of its high density and high atomic number.
A relatively thin layer of lead can therefore provide substantial radiation attenuation compared with many conventional building materials.
By laminating the required sheet lead directly to gypsum board, the shielding can be incorporated into the wall assembly without constructing a separate freestanding barrier.
X-ray rooms are one of the most common applications for lead backed drywall.
The required lead thickness is determined based on factors such as:
The required shielding can vary from wall to wall within the same room.
Never assume every wall requires the same lead thickness. Follow the shielding requirements specified for each barrier in the project's radiation shielding design.
Lead lined drywall and lead backed panels are commonly used for:
The appropriate shielding material and thickness depend on the radiation source and project-specific shielding requirements.
Before ordering lead lined drywall, determine the required lead thickness and shielding height for each wall from the project's radiation shielding design.
A qualified radiation professional may evaluate factors including:
Depending on the jurisdiction and facility type, shielding calculations or plans may need to be prepared or reviewed by a qualified medical physicist, health physicist, radiation safety professional, or other authorized professional.
Always follow the requirements of the applicable regulatory authority and approved project documents.
A standard lead lined drywall sheet does not necessarily require lead to extend across the entire height of the gypsum board.
A common configuration is:
4' wide × 8' high drywall with 4' × 7' sheet lead
This provides 7 feet of lead shielding from the finished floor while leaving the upper portion of the gypsum board without lead.
This configuration can reduce unnecessary material and weight when the shielding design requires lead only to a specified height.
Always order the lead height required by the shielding report.
For projects requiring shielding above 7 feet, longer lead coverage and drywall sheets up to 12 feet high are available for compatible configurations.
Correct installation is essential to maintaining a continuous radiation barrier.
The lead backing must be oriented toward the framing, with joints and penetrations properly shielded to prevent gaps in the lead barrier.
Always follow the approved project details and applicable installation requirements.
Joints between lead lined drywall sheets require special attention.
The objective is to prevent the seam between adjacent sheets from creating an unshielded path through the wall.
A 2" wide lead batten strip matching the lead thickness of the drywall is typically installed behind each vertical joint.
The batten provides lead overlap behind the seam so the radiation barrier remains continuous even where the drywall sheets meet.
One matching 2" lead batten is included with each standard sheet.
Drywall screws penetrate the sheet lead during installation.
To maintain shielding continuity at these locations, each fastener is covered with a matching lead disc.
Our standard sheets include:
50 × 3/8" diameter lead discs per sheet
The lead thickness of the discs matches the lead backing selected for the drywall.
Electrical boxes are one of the most common interruptions in a radiation-shielded wall.
Cutting an opening through lead backed drywall removes shielding from that location unless additional protection is installed.
Potential penetrations include:
These locations should be shielded according to the approved radiation shielding details.
Lead pads for electrical boxes can be used in compatible applications to continue the shielding barrier behind electrical penetrations.
Inside and outside corners also require continuous shielding.
Lead should overlap or otherwise continue through corners according to the approved installation details so that the shielding barrier does not terminate where two walls meet.
Optional lead corner shielding is available for projects requiring additional material at these transitions.
Lead backed drywall can also be used for radiation-shielded ceilings when overhead protection is required by the shielding design.
Ceiling installations require additional consideration because lead backed drywall is significantly heavier than conventional gypsum board.
Framing, fasteners, support spacing, installation methods, and overall structural capacity must be appropriate for the weight of the selected assembly.
The ceiling should be designed and installed according to the project requirements and applicable construction standards.
Lead lined drywall is substantially heavier than standard drywall.
The sheet lead alone adds approximately the following weight to each square foot:
| Lead Thickness | Added Lead Weight |
|---|---|
| 1/64" | 1 lb./sq. ft. |
| 1/32" | 2 lb./sq. ft. |
| 3/64" | 3 lb./sq. ft. |
| 1/16" | 4 lb./sq. ft. |
| 5/64" | 5 lb./sq. ft. |
| 3/32" | 6 lb./sq. ft. |
| 7/64" | 7 lb./sq. ft. |
| 1/8" | 8 lb./sq. ft. |
For example, a sheet with 4' × 7' of 1/16" (4#) lead contains approximately 112 lbs. of lead alone, before accounting for the weight of the gypsum board.
Proper material-handling equipment and installation planning are important.
Both products can provide effective radiation shielding.
Combines the lead shielding and wallboard into a single prefabricated panel.
Advantages include:
Provides greater flexibility where lead must be applied independently of drywall or around unusual construction.
It may be preferable for:
The appropriate material depends on the project's wall construction and shielding design.
Lead lined drywall is gypsum wallboard with sheet lead factory laminated to the back. It is used to incorporate radiation shielding into walls and ceilings.
Yes. Lead lined drywall and lead backed drywall generally refer to the same product.
The required thickness is project specific and should be taken directly from the project's radiation shielding design or shielding report.
Do not select lead thickness based solely on what was used in another imaging room.
Standard lead lined drywall is available from 1/64" (1#) through 1/8" (8#) lead.
Heavier lead configurations can be laminated to plywood for compatible applications.
Typical fabrication time is approximately 2–3 business days.
Transit time is additional and depends on the delivery location and freight service.
A common standard configuration is 4' × 8' drywall with 4' × 7' lead coverage.
Longer sheets and lead heights are available for compatible configurations, including drywall up to approximately 12 feet high.
Each standard sheet includes one 2" wide matching lead batten strip and 50 matching 3/8" lead discs for shielding joints and fasteners.
Yes, when ceiling shielding is required. Because lead backed panels are heavy, the supporting structure and installation method must be designed appropriately.
If an electrical box interrupts a lead-shielded barrier, additional shielding is typically required according to the project's shielding details.
Lead backed drywall is designed to attenuate X-ray radiation according to the thickness of sheet lead incorporated into the panel. The required thickness must be determined for the specific room and radiation source.
Lead is also used for gamma radiation attenuation, but gamma shielding requirements can differ substantially depending on the radionuclide, energy, activity, geometry, and application. The required shielding must be determined by a qualified radiation professional.
Customer is responsible for unloading all freight shipments. Lead lined drywall is extremely heavy and must be shipped by freight.
Prior to delivery, you must arrange for a forklift, loading dock, or other suitable equipment and personnel capable of safely unloading the shipment. Freight carriers are not responsible for unloading material from the truck unless a specific unloading service has been arranged in advance.
Failure to have the proper equipment, personnel, or facilities available to receive and unload the shipment is not grounds for refusing delivery, cancellation, or return.
The customer is responsible for any additional charges resulting from re-delivery, missed delivery attempts, storage, detention, or changes to the delivery address after the order has shipped.
By placing and proceeding with an order, the customer acknowledges and accepts these delivery requirements and agrees to the Liberty Shielding Terms & Conditions available at:
https://shop.libertyshielding.com/terms-and-conditions/
Order lead lined drywall for X-ray and radiation shielding directly from Liberty Shielding.
Choose the lead thickness specified by your shielding design, select the required quantity, and order your lead backed drywall online.
Each standard sheet includes a matching 2" lead batten and 50 lead discs, with typical fabrication in only 2–3 business days.
Available configurations range from 1/64" (1#) through 1/8" (8#) lead backed drywall, with heavier lead backed plywood available for higher shielding requirements.
Select your required lead thickness and quantity above to see your price and order online.
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