When a radiation source moves, the shielding has to move with it. An operator of multiple AI-driven industrial companies on the US West Coast, and a repeat MarShield customer, needed to shield a non-destructive testing area without surrendering floor space to a permanent structure. They turned to MarShield, who engineered and delivered 12 heavy-duty mobile lead barriers, letting the customer build a shielded enclosure where and when it was needed, then roll it out of the way.
The Challenge: High-Attenuation NDT Shielding Without a Permanent Structure
Two constraints drove the entire project.
The first was attenuation. The environment the shielding would be used in demanded a high attenuation rating. Whatever was supplied had to carry enough lead to protect personnel working around the source.
The second was space. Floor space in an active industrial facility is expensive, and a permanently framed shielded room would have consumed it whether the NDT work was running or not. The customer needed protection during testing and open floor the rest of the time.
The engineering problem was building a barrier heavy enough to shield properly and stable enough to be safe, so that a worker could still reposition it by hand.
The Solution: 12 Custom Mobile Lead Barriers Engineered for Weight and Movement
Cory Aitken, MarShield’s most senior technical shielding specialist covering the West Coast, took the lead on the account. After a brief discussion of the application, he recommended a versatile multiple mobile barrier system rather than a stationary installation.
Working with MarShield’s in-house technical team, the specification came together as 12 mobile rolling lead-lined radiation barriers in two sizes:
- Six barriers at 48″ wide x 77″ high.
- Six barriers at 36″ wide x 77″ high.
Each barrier was built as a full heavy-duty shielded panel, including:
- ¼ inch sheet lead to meet the required attenuation rating.
- Fire-rated plywood backing supporting the lead.
- Two ABS surface sheets sandwiching the assembly for a durable, cleanable finish.
- A custom-designed external metal structure, powder-coated to the customer’s specified colour.
The ¼ inch lead requirement pushed each finished barrier into the 500 lb-plus range. MarShield addressed that directly at the base: every barrier was equipped with four-way heavy-duty locking casters, selected and positioned so the units move freely under hand force while remaining stable when parked and locked. Mobility and stability were engineered together.
Results at a Glance
- 12 custom mobile lead barriers delivered — six at 48″ x 77″ and six at 36″ x 77″.
- ¼ inch lead construction meeting the high attenuation rating the environment demanded.
- Over 500 lbs per barrier, kept fully mobile on four-way heavy-duty locking casters.
- No lost square footage and no on-site construction.
- Powder-coat finish in the customer’s specified colour, integrating the barriers into the facility environment.
- Smooth delivery and another completed project for a returning MarShield customer.
The Result: A Shielded NDT Enclosure That Goes Where the Work Is
The customer can now enclose an area for non-destructive testing on demand. The barriers are rolled into position, locked, and the shielded zone exists for as long as the testing does. When the work is finished, the barriers roll out, and the space goes back to production use.
The customer received the attenuation performance of heavy lead construction without the permanent footprint, and the flexibility to move the shielding to wherever the next inspection happens rather than moving the inspection to the shielding.
Delivery went smoothly, and the project closed as another success with a pleased customer who has returned to MarShield more than once.
Conclusion: Custom NDT Shielding That Fits Your Workflow
No matter how comprehensive the shielding is, protection that forces you to redesign your floor plan is not a complete solution. This project proves that a properly engineered mobile lead shield system delivers both: full ¼ inch lead performance and total spatial flexibility.
If your facility runs NDT, radiography, or any intermittent radiation process, a mobile lead barrier system will protect your people without costing you the floor.
Get a custom quote for your industrial radiation shielding needs, with fast turnaround and heavy-duty construction engineered for your application.