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Types of Fire-rated Drywall and the Places they are Commonly Used

Sep 13, 2024 | Commercial

According to the content of fire-rated or fire-resistant drywall alternatives Canada also known as Type X drywall, this type works wonders to boost building safety. It is developed to be fire resistant and to inhibit the spread of fire hence enabling more time for evacuation and combating the fire. These materials are widely used in the construction industry to develop set building codes and safety standards. Builders, architects, and property owners should thus have adequate knowledge about the various types of fire-rated dry walls, and their uses.

Type X Drywall

Fire-rated drywall Type X drywall is the most popular fire-rated gypsum board utilized in building construction. It has some non-combustible fibres and other fillers that make it much more fire-resistant than the material from which it was derived. One common type of this particular wall is capable of providing only 1-hour fire resistance, this implies that it can endure fire menace for only 60 minutes before it collapses. Type X sheetrock fire rating is utilized in constructing walls, ceilings, and other areas that demand a fire rating based on building codes.

In residential buildings Type X drywall can be used in garages, utility rooms or other common stairways. The notable areas are as follows: it is easy for these areas to catch up with the fire hazard since they contain inflammable material or high-heat equipment. In commercial buildings, Type X drywall is used in the corridors, the storage areas as well as the division of the working spaces to avoid the spread of fire.

Type C Drywall

Type C is another variation of Type X drywall, but it has a better fire ranking than the latter. It has more glass fibre and extra materials that help to enhance the flammability resistance of the fibre. As for type C drywall, it has been created for fire rating reaching up to two hours, therefore, meeting the requirements of rooms that require more fire resistance.

It is required in high-rise buildings, hospitals, schools and any other place where the cost of fire catastrophe is valued. In these areas; Type C drywall is used in corridors, stairwells, elevator shafts and mechanical rooms. Type C vs Type X drywall affords improved fire resistance for occupants of a building as well as the safety of essential property in the event of a fire calamity.

Fire-Resistant Drywall for Ceilings

It is a fact that roofs act as a major horizontal communication between 5/8 gypsum board fire rating and smoke, therefore ceilings deserve special attention as far as fire resistance is concerned. Fire-resistant drywalls which are designed for ceilings normally tend to be thicker and denser than standard drywalls to offer better protection against fire. This form of drywall is specially made to reduce the rate at which fire and smoke spread across the ceiling to provide the occupants enough time to exit or the firefighter’s ample time to arrive at the scene.

In dwellings, for example in basements as well as in the attic fire-rated ceiling/ wall drywall is installed, in a bid to curb the spread of fire. In commercial buildings, it is observed mostly in corridors, lobbies and other open office spaces. Another application of fire-resistant drywall is in the ceilings since by doing so, the building designers make certain that in case of a fire breakout, it will not spread to the other floors or other parts of the building. There is always the need for this extra precaution especially in buildings with many floors because fire can spread vertically easily.

Fire-Rated Shaftliner

A shaft liner is a fire-rated gypsum board which is used in shaft walls and other vertical structures. It is usually employed on buildings where it is applied in the construction of elevator shafts, stairwells and ductwork enclosures. As compared to other fire tape drywalls, shaftliner panels are thinner and weigh less which makes it easier to install where space is restricted.

The typical application of the shaftliner is to act as fire protection to contain the fire and smoke through the vertical shafts. Apart from the fire-resistant characteristic, the shaft liner also provides sound insulation where sound cannot easily transverse from one level to another. This makes it useful when acting as a protection in multi-story buildings such as residential units and commercial blocks where firefighting and sound isolation are crucial factors.

Fire-Resistant Gypsum Board

Fire-resistant gypsum board is another type of fire-rated drywall; it is also referred to as fire-resistant gypsum board. It is slightly different from normal drywall since it is created with additives that give it fire-resistance properties. It is commonly utilised in regions where a bulk moderate degree of fire protection is desired or required.

Fire-resistant gypsum board is also used in residential buildings, particularly in living rooms, bedrooms and the kitchen. While these areas do not catch fire as frequently as utility rooms or garages they will also get the added benefit of fire resistance. Fire-resistant gypsum board is also used in commercial buildings mainly in the offices, meeting and break rooms. It offers an effective solution for Fire resistive criteria as well as is not considered very expensive hence it receives a lot of attention for many construction activities.

Fire-Rated Drywall in Multi-Family Dwellings

High-rise residential buildings like apartments and condominiums have different fire protection characteristics. Residential areas such as flats require fire resistance in the walls between different units and corridors, and fire-rated drywall is a good fit for this purpose. Fire-rated drywall is a necessity that must be put in place inside the walls and ceilings of different units, in the corridors and the stairs too depending on the building codes of the area.

Besides fire safety provisions, fire-rated drywall in multi-family dwelling applications offers the added value of sound control. This in turn minimizes the transference of noise from one unit to the other which boosts the comfort and privacy of the inhabitants of the apartment. Hence, by installing fireproof drywalls, the developers enhance the quality of occupants’ living spaces in multi-story buildings in many kinds of drywall.

Fire-Rated Drywall in Commercial Buildings

Business structures including offices, shops, and storage facilities incorporate fireproofing common drywall thickness into their construction to conform to the codes of the building industry and protect persons inside the edifice. Fire-rated gypsum board is also well used in walls, ceilings and partitions to resist the fire spread and smoke. In various office buildings, a fire-resistance-rated gypsum board is installed to divide individual offices, meeting rooms, and other shared spaces. It also assists in the suppression of fires and stops them from escalating throughout the building thus saving lives and property.

In retail stores and warehouses, fire-resistant wallboard works as a barrier between the storage spaces, sales floor, and the employees’ working area. It also assists in preventing the fire from moving to other sections of the house or other rooms in the building. The occupants and the property in commercial buildings need to use fire-rated drywalls to meet the codes about buildings. Further, a fire-resistant gypsum board provides some protection for the stocks and equipment in case of a fire and consequent cut down on the losses.

Fireproof gypsum board is known to be one of the most important materials in the construction of today’s structures since it plays an important role in fire protection and the safety of people in case of fire. Therefore ranging from Type X and Type C gypsum board to shaftliner and fire-resistant gypsum board there are various options for the fire protection needs a construction project will require. Thus, when deciding on the choice of fire-rated drywall and its application, builders and owners of premises can make the right choice for improving fire performance within buildings. In general occupancy, business occupancy, and residential occupancy, fire-resistant drywall to be used in new construction or existing construction for below-grade floors; and exterior walls, and structural framing, can be the key factors to reduce the spread of fire and prevent loss of life and property.

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