Building Codes
May 19, 2023
Passive fire protection is an essential aspect of gypsum construction. Gypsum firewalls of various types (shaft walls, simple partitions, etc.) prevent fire from spreading without relying […]
May 19, 2023
Addressing a common issue when installing walls and fire-rated floor-ceiling systems. Model code language addressing the intersection of a wall and a fire-rated floor-ceiling system continues […]
May 19, 2023
DUCT CALL Duct enclosures made with gypsum panel products can and are built and used successfully every day. Understanding the end use of the duct, the […]
May 19, 2023
The WUI and what it contains and why it’s important A wildland-urban interface area is, “that geographical area where structures and other human development meets or […]
May 19, 2023
The International Code Council suite of I-Codes are perhaps the most robust building codes in the world. Protecting life and property—the goal of the I-Codes—requires ongoing […]
Acoustics
May 23, 2023
A recent spate of new school construction and extensive renovations in the Washington Metropolitan-area, the same region where I spent much of my childhood, demonstrates how […]
May 23, 2023
The basics of acoustical performance standards The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) is increasingly acknowledging the important role sound attenuation can play in enhancing quality […]
Recycling
May 23, 2023
When this column last addressed gypsum panel recycling in 2016, the focus was on development of an ASTM standard designed to facilitate closed-loop recycling of clean […]
May 23, 2023
The Gypsum Association and its member companies are committed to sustainability, and now, our industry is embracing another opportunity to contribute to a greener world. Construction […]
Construction
May 23, 2023
More than two decades ago, abuse-resistant gypsum panels and impact-resistant gypsum panels were developed for application in high-traffic and heavy-wear areas. Often referred to as “AR” […]
May 23, 2023
Gypsum area separation firewalls have been constructed for more than 35 years and are an excellent way to separate dwelling units in multi-unit residential construction—referred to […]
May 23, 2023
Curved walls need control joints and the standard rules for control joint installation in straight walls should be used as a maximum spacing guideline. Read the […]
June 1, 2023
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. […]
May 23, 2023
Modular building concepts—also known as off-site construction—have been utilized for decades. However, the use of pre-fabrication and modular building techniques is increasingly common now. According to […]
Sustainability
May 31, 2023
Interpreting sustainability information is often like following the single thread of a Celtic Knot. You begin to accumulate and interpret information, but ultimately you finish back […]
May 31, 2023
In April 2020, the Gypsum Association released a completely revised Environmental Product Declaration for type X gypsum panels to replace an industry average EPD for type […]
May 31, 2023
When I first came to work for the Gypsum Association in the mid-1990s, the green building movement was in its infancy. The U. S. Green Building […]
Resilience
June 1, 2023
Resilience is a newer design concern within the construction industry. With the apparent increase in natural disasters, such as hurricanes and wildfires, the desire for more […]