FAQs

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frequently asked questions

Your questions, answered

Here are some of the typical questions we’re asked about use of lead 
in construction

Delivery General Heritage Radiation Protection Sustainability

Radiation Protection

Lead sheet can be bonded to various types of boards, and we don’t suggest that one type of board is better than another.

In most cases we use plasterboard/gypsum – an excellent choice for screens and window coverings. But other types of board are also available, including MDF and Plywood (lead bonded to plywood is a good choice for floors and ceilings)
It depends! A great feature of thin lead sheet is its adaptability. It is a malleable material, so it can be wrapped around pipes or used in aprons and curtains as well as being built into walls, doors and window frames.

Lead-lined boards provide heavy-duty protection even where there aren’t any walls for you to bond lead sheet onto. Lead-lined boards also provide portable protection, including x-ray screens.

We generally use 2.4m x 600mm x 12.5mm plasterboard/gypsum – and can supply boards up to a maximum length of 3.0m.

For other types of boards – plywood and MDF – we offer different thicknesses, from 4mm up to 25mm, depending on the board type.

For gypsum boards, our standard width is 600mm.
Our turnaround times for plasterboard are very quick! For standard Code 3, Code 4 and Code 5 lead lined plasterboard (12.5mm), we can dispatch within 3-5 days of receiving the order, depending on the quantity required.

Delivery time for non-standard plasterboards and plywood sizes depends on the type of board and the quantity requested. Delivery times outside of the UK will also vary. Contact our team of friendly experts and we’ll happily give you a delivery estimate.
Fitting lead-lined boards in a small dental or veterinary practice is relatively straightforward. We’ve prepared a handy guide to fitting lead-lined boards, in partnership with a Radiation Protection Advisor (RPA). For larger projects, please get in touch with us and we can refer you to an RPA or experienced healthcare project manager.
Fillet backing strips are rolls or strips of lead that are fitted to the wooden battens or steel framework where the lead boards are joined together. Standard lengths are 3m or 6m in length and 50mm or 100mm wide.

We also supply corner strips, which are rolls of lead 100mm wide in the length and code of lead board shield.
The thickness of the lead you need is dictated by the x-rays (in kv) that you will be protecting against. We can supply thicknesses from 1.0 mm (giving protection against 75 kv) up to 9mm.

Please refer to a Radiation Protection Advisor for official approval of your specific requirements.

Heritage

Yes, and it’s a really sustainable approach which also protects the authentic appearance of the building! We take the existing lead from the property, put it back through one of our kettles and then re-mould it for you. We don’t add anything, nor do we take anything away. This way, the building maintains its traditional look and the lead is given a new lease of life for many years to come.
The main difference is the distinctive, slightly grainy texture of sandcast lead which has a more authentic finish for older heritage applications. It’s also supplied in thicker codes. Other than that, there’s very little difference in terms of product quality and durability. That’s why we’d also recommend machine cast lead as an alternative where sandcast lead isn’t specified – it’s a great cost-effective alternative.
Every batch of sandcast lead is made to order. Generally, you should allow around 10 days for a 5 tonne order, but contact us for a more accurate delivery estimate for your specific order.

Sustainability

Lead forms an important part of the circular economy and is the most sustainable product that can be used in construction, producing zero waste. More than 95% of scrap lead is collected and recycled in the UK, compared to a recovery rate of <10% for other non-lead alternatives. Sourcing 100% recycled lead will help you and your customers meet your corporate social responsibility and environmental targets. And best of all, you won’t have to pay a premium for it.
The manufacturing process of recycled lead manufacturing uses just 35% to 40% of the energy required to provide original lead from ore. Unlike many other materials, lead can be re-melted and recycled forever with no loss of quality.
Great questions! This is the three-step process we follow at Midland Lead:
1. First, we use a good lead scrap supplier. All of the lead we use comes from trusted, approved suppliers.
2. We check the quality of all the recyclable lead we receive. Quite simply, if it’s not good enough, we won’t use it.
3. We check our lead at every stage of the production process to ensure it conforms to the right chemical composition and the right code thickness.
It doesn’t! Recycled lead is the same quality as primary lead, and can be reused without limits. In fact more lead is produced today through recycling than mining.
Here’s a good example: Midland Lead is often trusted to work on important heritage projects. Sometimes we’re asked to recycle the existing lead sheet from a church roof so that it can be re-used. As part of the recycling process, we may skim off a few additional impurities, but we don’t add anything. So the customer gets back the same lead – just in a new, purer form.
IPPC permit
Midland Lead works hard to ensure we meet the requirements of the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) permit, regulated by the UK Environment Agency. That means every aspect of our business that could have an impact on the environment is regularly checked and monitored. We are also required to demonstrate what steps we take to reduce our energy use, minimise waste production – and minimise emissions to air, land and water.
ISO 14001
In June 2006, after 18 months of hard work, Midland Lead was awarded an Environmental Management System (certificate EMS 505964) to show that we comply with ISO 14001: 2004 standards. It gives us something that very few lead sheet producers have: ISO certification covering the entire manufacturing process.
We are also the only independent manufacturer offering BBA-certified machine cast lead sheet with an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).

General

General questions about our products and services

No. Not even a little. We guarantee you won’t notice any difference between the two. In fact, if you or your clients were to lay a lead roof using rolled (milled) lead and machine cast lead side-by-side they would only notice the slightest difference in appearance – and no difference in quality or usability.

Still not convinced? Our experts will happily send you a sample roll of machine cast lead to work with!
Both machine cast lead and rolled lead are made to the exact same chemical specification. At Midland Lead we subject all our lead to testing in our on-site lab to ensure it meets our meticulous quality standards: 99.92% pure! The remaining 0.8% is an important part of the blend. We introduce additional elements to make the lead easier to work with in commercial applications.
Code 4 (1.80mm) is the most commonly used code for the construction industry. And that’s generally the code you’ll find in a roofing, building, plumbing or plastic merchants. Code 5 (2.24mm) is also used in some cases.

Industry standard lengths are 3m & 6m with common widths for flashing applications being 150mm, 240mm, 300mm, 390mm, 450mm and 600mm

For more details, download our weight chart.
That’s lead oxide. It sometimes forms if lead is exposed to a damp atmosphere. It’s not a sign of damage or deficiency, but it can cause a problem if the oxide washes off the lead onto brickwork or tiling below.

You can easily prevent these stains by storing your lead in a dry, clean area – on raised pallets. We also recommend you treat the lead with patination oil as soon as the work is completed.
With a recycled rate of >99%, it’s one of the most sustainable materials used in construction! Lead is durable, recyclable and thanks to its low melting point has a relatively energy-efficient manufacturing process (with a low carbon footprint, to boot). Lead also has a working life expectancy of well over a hundred years. And when it reaches the end of its life? It’s often melted down and recycled again.

Proving its green credentials, lead is now in the BRE Green Guide with a rating of A+ or A.
Sure! Take a look at the reverse of our handy weight chart first – that should give you the information you need to select the right thickness.

But if you can’t find the information you’re after, or you just want to make absolutely sure, our team of experts will happily help you. Contact us to talk to an expert
Ancillaries are generally purchased with a lead sheet order, but you’re welcome to buy them on their own. Unless you are able to make a bulk order of £500, you will incur a small carriage charge.
The major difference is in the way they’re made. Rolled lead sheet (sometimes called milled lead) is made by passing a solid slab of lead back and forth on a rolling mill between closing rollers. In the machine cast lead process, a water-cooled rotating drum is immersed in a tray of molten lead – this makes the lead solidify. And as the lead sheet forms on the drum it’s stripped off and wound onto spools.

Both rolled (milled) and machine cast lead are made to the same BS specification (analysis, codes, tolerance, strength and sizes etc.) There is very little difference in quality and appearance – we’re happy to provide a couple of lead samples so you can compare! The only key difference actually benefits you, our customers - machine cast lead is more efficient to make and it has a longer guarantee – 60 years for machine cast lead, compared to 50 years for rolled lead. Midland Lead is also the only lead manufacturer to hold the Environmental Product Declaration which, demonstrates that our machine-cast lead is a fully circular product.

Check out our infographic for a summary of Rolled Lead vs Machine Cast Lead.

Delivery

We make it our business to understand your material requirements, sequencing of deliveries and any on-site handling or storing restrictions.

Our normal UK delivery time is 3-5 working days, from order through production to delivery. For urgent orders, you can request a quicker delivery. If it’s possible, we’ll do it for you! This will incur an additional carriage charge of just £60 per pallet. Overseas delivery details are available on request.
For all lead sheet orders, our minimum order weight is 500kgs for carriage paid.

For ancillaries, the minimum order is £500. Don’t worry, we’ll let you know if you’re close to the minimum order limit so that you can add a little more and take advantage of free delivery.

Orders of lead sheet that don’t meet the required carriage weight have a delivery charge of £55.00. For ancillary orders under the £500 minimum spend cap, a delivery fee of £30.00 is applied.
Our customers receive a unique Midland Lead sales reference which you can enter in the portal of our logistics partner Walkers, to track your delivery and receive real-time delivery notifications by text or email. On the day of delivery, you will receive a two-hour ETA window, as well as a copy of the signed POD once the goods have been successfully delivered.

Did you know? We offset the carbon created by all our customer deliveries, via tree planting and other renewable energy projects! We’re proud to work with Walkers and Ecologi, who share our goals of investing in a greener future.