The Gypsum Association maintains evaluation reports issued by code bodies or jurisdictions, specifically the International Code Council (ICC Evaluation Service, Inc.), and the City of Los Angeles. These reports demonstrate code compliance and acceptance of specific gypsum materials and systems. In addition, this page allows you to access information about specific building code compliance issues that may arise from time to time.
Code Referenced GA Publications
GA-216 Application and Finishing of Gypsum Panel Products
GA-253 Application of Gypsum Sheathing
GA-600 Fire Resistance and Sound Control Design Manual
ICC Evaluation Service, Inc.
ESR-1338 recognizes gypsum panel products for specific interior and exterior applications and references the Association’s GA-600 Fire Resistance and Sound Control Design Manual for various load-bearing and nonload-bearing fire-resistance-rated wall, floor-ceiling, and roof-ceiling gypsum board assemblies. Some assemblies are also recognized for sound transmission control.
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ESR-1338
NOTE: Code Service Evaluation Reports are only available in Adobe Portable Document Format. If you do not already have the Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can download it free from Adobe right now by clicking the Adobe icon below.
Engineering Evaluation: Utilities in the Flanking Walls of Gypsum Area Separation Fire Walls
NOTE: This engineering report substantiates the GA’s position statement, “Gypsum Area Separation Firewalls and Utility Placement.”
International Building Code
Published by International Code Council, Washington, DC
Footnotes m to Table 721.1(1); o to Table 721.1(2); and q to Table 721.1(3) of the 2012 International Building Code state “Generic fire-resistance ratings (those not designated as PROPRIETARY in the listing) in the GA-600 shall be accepted as if herein listed. Table 2508.1 of the 2012 International Building Code lists “GA-216? (Specification: Application and Finishing of Gypsum Panel Products) as a reference standard to be followed in the application and finishing of gypsum board.
NOTE: ICC has issued an errata to Section 403.2.2.1 of the 2021 International Building Code. This errata clarifies that only the exterior walls of interior exit stairways and elevator hoistway enclosures need to meet a Soft Body Impact Classification Level of 2. The code had incorrectly implied both the inside and outside needed to meet this criteria. Download the errata .
International Residential Code For One- And Two-Family Dwellings
Published by the International Code Council, Washington, DC
Footnote h to Table 602.3(1) of the 2012 International Residential Code references Specification: Application of Gypsum Sheathing, GA-253, in stating “Gypsum sheathing shall….be installed in accordance with GA 253…..”
National Fire Codes
Published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Quincy, MA
The National Fire Codes also reference the GA-600 Fire Resistance and Sound Control Design Manual. For example, NFPA 90A, Installation of Air Conditioning and Ventilating Systems, 2006 Edition, 5.3.4.4.1 mandates that “Gypsum board systems shall be constructed in accordance with the Gypsum Association (GA) Fire Resistance Design Manual.”