Gypsum board for ceilings and walls
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Gypsum board, also called plasterboard or drywall, is a flat sheet of gypsum core faced on both sides with paper. Knauf makes its boards to the European standard EN 520; its standard 12.5 mm wallboard weighs 8.3 kg per square metre, and special boards add moisture or fire resistance.
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What gypsum board is
A gypsum board is a sheet of set gypsum plaster between two paper liners. Knauf’s UK plasterboard brochure states that its boards are made to EN 520 with paper liners of 100% recycled paper, and that special additives in the core turn the same basic board into moisture, fire, sound or impact boards.
Knauf supplies gypsum wallboard for use with its own metal sections and accessories as complete wall and ceiling systems, and describes its standard wallboard as the board for walls and ceilings with standard performance requirements.
Gypsum board types
EN 520 gives each board type a letter, and one board can carry several: Knauf’s high-performance boards are marked A, D, F, H1, I and R together.
| Type letter | Meaning under EN 520 | Example in the Knauf range |
|---|---|---|
| A | standard board | Knauf Wallboard: 9.5, 12.5 and 15 mm |
| H (H1, H2) | additives that reduce water absorption (Pladur H1 board) | Knauf Moisture Panel: type A and H2, 12.5 and 15 mm |
| F | fire board | Knauf Fire Panel, “improved fire resistance”: type A and F, 12.5 and 15 mm |
Sources: Knauf plasterboard range brochure; Pladur H1 board page.
Knauf describes its Moisture Panel as having additives in the core that repel moisture, suited to kitchens, bathrooms and other areas prone to high humidity. Its Fire Panel offers improved fire resistance: the brochure states up to an hour’s fire resistance with a single layer of 15 mm Fire Panel on each side of a Knauf partition. That figure applies to the Knauf partition as the maker specifies it, not to any board on any frame.
Gypsum board thickness, weight and size
| Knauf board | Thickness | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Wallboard | 9.5 mm | 6.2 kg/m² |
| Wallboard | 12.5 mm | 8.3 kg/m² |
| Wallboard | 15 mm | 10.2 kg/m² |
| Moisture Panel | 12.5 mm | 9.5 kg/m² |
| Fire Panel | 12.5 mm | 10 kg/m² |
Source: Knauf plasterboard range brochure.
The Tanzanian shop listings collected for our price list show 9, 12 and 12.5 mm boards in 1200 × 2400 mm and 1220 × 2440 mm (8 × 4 ft) sheets. A 1200 × 2400 mm sheet of 12.5 mm wallboard at 8.3 kg/m² weighs about 24 kg — our calculation from Knauf’s figure.
What to check when you buy gypsum board
- Type. Standard, moisture-resistant or fire board. For a bathroom ceiling, ask for an H-type board by name.
- Thickness. 9 or 9.5 mm boards are lighter; 12.5 mm is Knauf’s middle thickness and is made in all three of its board types.
- Size. 1200 × 2400 mm and 1220 × 2440 mm boards differ by 20 and 40 mm; buy one size for one ceiling so the sheets match.
- Edges and face. Check for broken corners, torn paper and damp patches before the boards are carried in.
- Brand and EN 520 marking. Boards sold as BBG, Knauf, Gyproc or other names should carry their maker’s type marking. Ask for the data sheet if the board has none.
Uses: board ceilings, partitions and damp rooms
- Ceilings. Knauf makes its standard wallboard for walls and ceilings. For the mouldings that finish a gypsum ceiling, see cornice and ceiling rose.
- Partitions. Knauf names space division and separating walls among the uses of its range.
- Damp rooms. Moisture-resistant board in kitchens and bathrooms, according to Knauf.
- Fire protection. Fire boards within the maker’s systems, such as the one-hour partition in the Knauf brochure.
Gypsum board price
Prices depend on thickness, size and type, and are kept with sellers and dates on the gypsum board price page. Fixing screws are covered on gypsum screws.
Gypsum board in Zanzibar
Kitovu sells from stock in Zanzibar, and this board is not among its products at present.
Questions
How do I choose a gypsum board?
Start from the room: a standard board for dry rooms, a moisture-resistant board for kitchens and bathrooms, a fire board where a fire rating is required. Then match the thickness and size to the frame, and check the EN 520 type letters on the board or the data sheet.