A lead brick weight is a very common option for a bridge weight. These are used as a ballast for all types of bridges including for railways as well as for general traffic. The two most commonly used materials for this type of ballast requirement are a lead weight or a concrete block.
Both options in materials are typically poured to fit into the encasements in the bridge for the weights. These can square or rectangular in shape, or they can be customized to meet other types of requirements for a particular project.
While concrete is a possibility, there are several advantages to using a lead brick weight or a series of lead weights to create the ballast. To help to understand why lead may be the best product, here are a few benefits of this material over the other options.
Custom Poured
While other materials, such as concrete, can be custom poured to fit desired shapes and bridge structure, lead is very easy to work with. Due to the low melting point and the ability to pour evenly into the mold, there are less risks of irregular density in the final product. It is also possible to image the final product to ensure uniform density.
Additionally, lead is a much heavier material, allowing for smaller physical dimensions of a lead brick weight of any size compared to concrete.
Encapsulation
Lead should not be left exposed as it can result in contamination of the environment and danger to humans. With a lead weight treated with a powder coating or an epoxy paint, all lead dust and possible exposure can be eliminated. This coating keeps the lead safe while also providing a long-lasting surface that will not need to be continuously applied as will be required on concrete.
