Types of Gypsum Board, What is gypsum board
Types of gypsum board speaks to what is gypsum board, why use gypsum board, explain gypsum board and the varied products which are available on the market for construction use. It is produced in a variety of types suitable to a wide range of requirements.
Regular gypsum board is used wherever the unique properties of other special board types are not required.
Type X gypsum board is used for most types of fire rated assemblies. The core material of type X board is reinforced with short glass fibers. In a severe fire, the fibers hold the calcined gypsum in place to continue to act as a barrier to fir rather than permitting it to erode.
Type C gypsum board is a proprietary formulation that is more fire resistant than type X. Often a thinner board of Type C may generally be substituted for a thicker one of type X.
Water resistant gypsum backing board, is used in locations exposed to moderate amounts of moisture, with facings of water repellant paper or glass matt and a moisture resistant core formulation is used.
Abuse resistant or impact resistant gypsum board provides greater resistance to indentation and penetration and is intended for use in buildings that are exposed to rough usage. It may be manufactured with heavier backing sheets, may have its core reinforced with cellulose fibers, may be faced with glass fiber mesh or may be backed with polycarbonate film.
Mold resistant gypsum board is manufactured to resist moisture and mold growth. The common paper facing on gypsum board can, when wetted, provide conditions suitable to the growth of mold spores. Mold resistant boards combine moisture resistant cores with chemically treated paper facings or glass matted facings that are not conductive to mold growth.
At least one panel product is manufactured with a gypsum core blended with cellulose fibers that greatly strengthen the board and eliminate the need for facing materials of any kind.
Coreboard is a 1 inch (25.4 mm) thick panel that is used for shaft walls and solid gypsum board partitions. To facilitate handling, it is fabricated in sheets 24 inches (610 mm) wide.
Ceiling gypsum board is sag resistant and is ½ inch (13 mm) thick and is substantially lighter than, but just as resistant to sagging when used in ceiling assemblies as 5/8 inch (15 mm) panels.
Foil backed gypsum board can be used to eliminate the need for a separate vapour retarder in outside wall assemblies. If the back of the board faces a dead air space at least ¾ inch (19 mm) thick, the bright foil also acts as a thermal insulator.
Predecorated gypsum board is board that has been covered with paint, printed paper or decorative plastic film. If handled carefully and installed with small nails, it needs no further finishing. This product is used in a number of demountable office partitioning systems.
Exterior gypsum board is weather resistant and is used for exterior soffits, carport ceilings, undersides of exterior canopies and other sheltered exterior applications.
Most gypsum board product types are manufactured in conformance with ASTM standard C1396. Some related products such as fiber cement backing board or glass matt faced gypsum board are manufactured to separate standards.
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