As the technical, promotion, and information center of the gypsum industry, the Gypsum Association takes its responsibilities to the public and the contractor community very seriously. Considering that drywall is used in more than 95 percent of structures built today, the GA and its member companies feel increasingly obligated to disseminate accurate information about the proper handling, storage, application and finishing of gypsum panel products. The association’s Building Code and Technical Committee, comprised of technical experts from all member companies, devote countless hours to the task of writing and reviewing guidance documents. As a result, some 30 technical and informational documents are available to the public for free download via our online bookstore.
The GA also listens. Our technical services department responds to hundreds of calls and emails each month. Many are related to selecting the appropriate fire-resistant design assembly, but others come from contractors experiencing challenges in the field. Our member companies are similarly attuned to design and installation issues because they also answer questions related to their own proprietary products. The continuous revision of the GA’s technical documents provides opportunities to address these concerns. In addition to performing cyclical revision of code-referenced documents, such as GA-600, Fire Resistance Design Manual, the Building Code and Technical Committee regularly reviews and updates technical documents including GA-221-2014, Repair of Gypsum Board Joint Ridgingand GA-225-2015, Repair of Fire-Rated Gypsum Panel Product Systems.