Free AutoCAD radiation protection layout blocks (DWG): shielding walls, hot cells, glove boxes, monitors, nuclear medicine, radiation signs

About standards and requirements

Only the trefoil has a standard behind it: its shape and proportions follow ISO 361, the basic ionizing radiation symbol. For the rest, no standard defines layout symbols for radiation protection, so the library follows common practice in laboratories, nuclear medicine, radiotherapy and research facilities. Area classes, dose limits, shielding thickness and signage are set by national regulation and by the qualified radiation protection expert of your project, and they differ from country to country.

These symbols are our own drawings after common practice, and the library is not certified against any standard or regulation. They show layout and construction, not a shielding calculation or a safety assessment; the shield thicknesses in the block names are placeholders to be replaced by your design values.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a nuclear power plant library?

No. It covers radiation protection and layout for laboratories, nuclear medicine, radiotherapy, irradiation rooms and research facilities. There is no public standard for nuclear power plant drawing symbols, and the library does not invent one: for plant systems drawings use the P&ID, instrumentation and electrical libraries and the legend of the plant.

Do the warning signs follow a standard?

The trefoil follows the proportions of ISO 361. The wording and layout of the sign plates are common practice and differ between countries. If you need the standardized safety sign of ISO 7010, it is in the safety signs library of this site.

Can I use the symbols in commercial projects?

Yes. They are free to use and modify in your own projects, including commercial ones. They are provided as is, without warranty. Please do not redistribute or resell the library; see the library terms.

How do I set the shield thickness?

Choose the wall block closest to your design and fill in the invisible attributes: material, thickness, lead equivalent and density from the radiation protection assessment. The drawn thickness is in the block name; stretch the block or draw your own if you need another value.

Can I change a symbol or add attributes?

Yes. Open the DWG, edit a block with BEDIT to change it or add attributes, and save. To update drawings that already contain the block, run ATTSYNC or replace the block. Make a backup first: attribute values can be lost if ATTSYNC is used carelessly.

Are the floor, wallpaper and material patterns hatches?

No, they are blocks made of thin lines. Insert one, scale it to the area you want to show and copy it to cover more (ARRAY), or use it as a legend sample next to your finish schedule. For large areas the hatch patterns of your CAD program are the better choice.

Should I download this library or one of the smaller topic libraries (furniture, doors and windows, bathroom and kitchen, stairs, walls and roofs)?

This one has everything in a single file. If you need only one topic, the topic library holds the same blocks in a smaller file, and the furniture library adds front elevations of the furniture.

Where do I find a ready-made set of these symbols for AutoCAD?

AutoCAD itself ships only a small set of sample blocks, so a full symbol set has to come from a library. Download the ZIP on this page and open the DWG: every symbol is a block. Insert one with INSERT (Blocks palette, Libraries tab, then pick the DWG) or drag it from DesignCenter (ADCENTER). You can also download a single symbol on its own.