It’s probably an appropriate time to weigh in on the on-going residential sprinkler situation.First, however, full disclosure. The Gypsum Association-my employer-currently has no formal position on whether sprinkler systems should or should not be installed in residential dwellings.
This column first ran in October 2005. Since then, there have been several updates to the codes mentioned in the original, so we are taking the opportunity to rerun this piece with updated code references.
As a long, hot summer eases into fall, the Chinese drywall situation that has impacted North America since the beginning of the year deserves a retrospective review as it relates to domestic gypsum board production.
One of the many beneficial characteristics of gypsum board is the ease by which it can be cut to fit a specific dimensional application. Score one side of a sheet with a sharp blade, snap the core, and you can split a board in about ten seconds.
This column first ran in Walls & Ceilings in July 2005. Our technical service hotline has recently received several calls that this article addresses, so we have decided it’s time to revisit the topic. We have updated the article in a few places to ensure that the information is current and germane to today’s circumstances.
It’s been about five years since model building codes were initially modified to limit the use of water-resistant gypsum board (“green board”) in shower and tub areas. Accordingly, it seems like a good time to review where the code language rests at present and to discuss some related misconceptions.
The Gypsum Association has been providing information to the construction industry since before it was officially an association. Prior to the formal establishment of the Association, several gypsum manufacturers had supported an informal Chicago-based organization known as the Gypsum Industries. The Gypsum Industries developed standards through third-party organizations and supported a research associate at the National Bureau of Standards.
One of gypsum board’s properties is that it allows water vapor to pass through-it has a permeance of 24 to 35 perms. Contrast that with a vapor retarder, which, by definition, has a permeance of 1 perm. One of the physical properties of water vapor is that it will move from areas of high concentration to areas of lower concentration.
We first ran this column in the November 2004 issue of Walls & Ceilings. Since then, the Gypsum Association has conducted an ongoing public relations campaign designed to broaden awareness of gypsum area separation walls and gypsum roof underlayment.
The past year, as you may have noticed, has been a challenging time for the building materials manufacturing industry. But despite the economic downturn, new materials continue to come to market.