Did you know that it just takes a small flame to spread fire throughout your home in less than a minute? If you didn’t, you’re not alone. In this blog, we will look at the importance of fire-rated drywall to improve your home’s safety.
What is fire-rated drywall?
Fire-rated drywall contains a special mix of gypsum and non-combustible materials to increase fire resistance. Fire resistance is measured based on how long the drywall withstands exposure to flames and intense heat.
Standard drywall is 30-minute rated, meaning it will ignite within 30 minutes. In Canada, builders basically have two choices for fire-rated drywall, which at least doubles the fire rating.
1. Type X
Fire rating: 1 hour.
Type X has a core of non-combustible glass fibres and gypsum, and is 5/8 drywall compared to ½ conventional drywall.
2. Type C (also known as firecode C)
Fire rating: At least 2 hours.
Type C drywall can more than double the fire rating of type X drywall thanks to a naturally occurring additive called vermiculite. Vermiculite helps prevent shrinkage when exposed to intense heat. It is also available in both ½ inch and 5/8 drywall options.
How to Choose the Right Fire-Rated Drywall
Hiring an experienced drywall contractor who is familiar with your municipal building codes is the easiest way to ensure the right fire-rated drywall is used in your home. If you are planning a DIY installation, the following areas require fire-rated drywall:
- Furnace room
- Utility rooms
- Rooms with wood stoves or fireplaces
- Walls separating attached garages from the home
- Garage ceilings between rooms above the garage
Why is fire-rated drywall safer?
Fire-rated drywall is designed to quell the spread of flames, providing more time for your family to make a safe escape. However, there are many other ways fire spreads throughout your home. From flammable furnishings and personal items to air vents and doorways, your home is filled with materials that ignite far faster than drywall.
It’s therefore more realistic to consider that the main role of fire-rated drywall is to create a more reliable barrier to help prevent the quick spread of fire from room to room. Not only does it slow the spread of fire, but it also creates a safer environment for firefighters to put it out. As a result, it helps protect the team by potentially reducing the intensity of the fire.
How to Install Fire-Rated Drywall Properly
The method and steps for fire-rated drywall installation don’t differ much compared to conventional drywall installation. You have to be more careful in the selection of materials used, as standard materials can reduce the performance of fire-resistant drywall.
Here are the most critical considerations for fire-rated drywall installation:
- Steel versus wood framing: Wood is an acceptable framing material for fire-rated drywall. However, non-combustible steel is the preferred framing for walls in areas requiring a higher fire rating.
- Fasteners: Special screw lengths are recommended for fire-rated drywall installation based on various building code requirements. They should also be installed 16 inches apart, with special care taken to avoid ripping the surface.
- Joints: Fire-rated joint tape and joint compound help improve fire resistance.
- Safety: It is advisable to wear a mask and gloves when installing fire-rated drywall to avoid contact with glass fibres and dust. This is especially important when cutting the drywall.
What are the benefits of fire-rated drywall?
Although installing drywall with an increased drywall fire rating won’t prevent fires, it does offer several advantages compared to standard drywall, including the following:
- Safer escape: Since a higher drywall fire rating slows the spread of fire from room to room, your family has more time to safely escape.
- Reduced damage: Depending on where the fire starts and how long it takes for the fire department to arrive, a higher drywall fire rating can help reduce damage. By creating a barrier between rooms, it can keep flames and heat at bay, protecting other rooms in the home.
- Structural damage: A higher drywall fire rating prevents fire from burning through the drywall to underlying structures such as framing. This helps reduce the risk of collapse as the fire progresses, as well as structural damage that can make your home uninhabitable.
- Reduced restoration process: When the spread of fire is contained, you are less likely to face structural damage that requires complex restoration. When extensive damage is caused, it can mean a complete tear-down of your home as opposed to a more straightforward restoration. Superficial damage can take just weeks to restore, while a tear-down or fixing structural damage can take months.
- Quicker containment: Additional time allows firefighters to contain the fire, reducing the risk of spread not only through your home, but also to your neighbours’ homes and adjacent structures.
- Potential for reduced insurance premiums: In some cases, your insurance company might not increase your insurance premiums drastically, knowing your home was protected by fire-rated drywall.
- Reduced noise transmission: Installing 5/8 drywall can create a more effective sound barrier, making your home more comfortable. You won’t have to worry about noise transfer between rooms and floors, creating a more peaceful environment for your family. A great tip when installing drywall is to speak to your contractor about Sonopan soundproofing panels to help reduce noise transmission even further.
What Fire-Rated Drywall Doesn’t Do
Fire is relentless, spreading through your home with a combination of flames and intense heat. While drywall with a higher fire rating will help slow the spread of fire, it does not prevent fire, and also cannot guarantee that the fire will not spread through other avenues.
Depending on how and where it starts, fire is fed by oxygen, making it hotter and more powerful. It will find passages throughout the home through direct contact with flames and growing heat intensity that can cause vulnerable materials to burst into flames.
Modern homes are filled with furnishings and materials that are highly flammable, creating a clear path for the fire to spread. Other passages include hollow core doors, ceilings, and vents.
Contact the Experts at Ontario Drywall And Taping (ODT)
Losing your belongings, home, or even a family member’s life to fire is a tragedy that has lasting effects long after your home is restored. By installing fire-rated drywall based on building best practices, you can help reduce the damage and injury caused when the unthinkable occurs.
ODT specializes in high-quality drywall installation and taping services for homeowners in Toronto and the surrounding areas. We use industry-standard material and modern equipment to ensure quality workmanship for your fire-rated drywall installations.
Click here to learn more or request a quote for your next drywall installation. You can also call us at 647-878-4466 or contact us online.
