For many years, construction standards and building codes have required the edges and ends of adjacent gypsum boards to be in moderate contact. While this level of precision is fine for the higher performance needs of systems rated for fire, sound, or shear, it may be a bit tight for nonrated systems.
The first instance the term “moderate contact” was used occurred most likely in the Uniform Building Code many decades ago. The term continued to appear in the UBC frequently until 1997, when the final edition of the code was published. Unfortunately, there is no evidence the term was ever defined by the UBC, nor does it seem it was used or defined in either of the two other codes—the Standard Code or the BOCA National Code, which, along with the UBC, were melded into the first edition of the International Building Code.