How do You Know if Drywall is Fire Rating?

The real fire rated drywall has to be certified by a third party. This is usually an independent testing and listing company to confirm it meets the fire performance requirements as set down in regulation to ensure fire protection. The most common drywall considered to be fire rating is referred to as type X. It is 5/8 inches thick and is installed on each side of 2 by 4 inch wood studs spaced 16 inches. In the case of steel the studs are 3.5 by 8 inches and spaced at 24”o.c. Type X drywall has a minimum fire rating of one hour which is the requirement for many building codes. At home the drywall is usually placed between the garage and the rest of the home.
This is because the garage, with the combustible materials and chemicals often stored there, is an area where fires are likely to happen. The type X can also be used in other high risk areas depending on your budget.

Aside from type X there is type C fire rated drywall which is an improvement on the type X. It is available in 1/2-inch and 5/8-inch thicknesses. While constructed in the same manner as type X, type C makes use of more fiber glass and other components added to the gypsum core which increases its fire resistant qualities. Next is the Type X Shaftliner which has even greater fire resistant qualities. It is one inch thick and is used in shaft walls and area separation firewall assemblies.

The idea behind fire rated drywall is to provide time for people in a building to safely exit them during a fire and make it to the fire assembly point. It is thus a requirement by many building codes for the fire rated drywall to be used especially in high risk rooms. The fire rated drywall is costly and the higher the resistance time the higher the cost. The more specialized designs are available with special order.