Drywall fire resistance is a topic that's often overlooked by people who are evaluating different building materials. Did you know that drywall is a phenomenal passive form of fire resistance that can ultimately save your life? This isn't something that gets talked about too much, but it really makes sense to know more about drywall fire resistance.
The reason why drywall is considered a so-called "passive fire protection" material has a lot to do with what's actually in drywall. Drywall fire resistance derives its meaning because of what drywall is made of. As you may or may not know, drywall is typically made of gypsum. Well, as it turns out, gypsum contains water. It's true! This water is composed of hydrates that have been crystallized. What does this mean from a drywall fire resistance standpoint?
When the drywall is subjected to heat or fire, the water crystals found in the drywall are vaporized. This dramatically slows down the process through which heat is transferred. This is one of the key ways that drywall fire resistance works. Okay, so what does this mean from a practical standpoint?
Let's say there are two rooms, separated by fire-resistance rated drywall. For the purpose of this example, imagine that a fire is ignited in one of the rooms. As a result of the fact that the drywall is separating both rooms, it is safe to assume that the fire will not spread as quickly as it otherwise would if the fire resistance rated drywall were not in place. This is essentially how drywall fire resistance works.
Something else to keep in mind when thinking about drywall fire resistance is that in addition to containing water crystals, gypsum typically also contains noncombustible inorganic material that is naturally flame retardant. This is yet another factor in explaining drywall fire resistance. The reason why this is so important to point out is because it's not just the water crystals that create a reliable barrier against heat and fire -- it is also these noncombustible inorganic materials. Are you starting to get a better understanding of how drywall fire resistance works? Good! Let's move on.
Needless to say, we live in a world where the cost of a particular building material cannot be ignored. Therefore, it is natural to wonder whether or not the advantages of drywall fire resistance is outweighed by cost considerations. In short, will you have to pay an arm and a leg to get the drywall fire resistance that you're seeking?
The great news is that drywall is very affordably priced. Therefore, you really do owe it to yourself to seriously consider whether or not your building project can be served by having fire resistance rated drywall. The simple fact of the matter is that this type of drywall fire resistance is not only incredibly effective, but it also fits very comfortably within virtually any budget. This is especially true when you compare the costs of drywall fire resistance to some of the other building materials that exist which also provide some degree of fire protection and resistance.
You ultimately owe it to yourself to spend the time necessary getting to know more about drywall fire resistance. You'll be pleasantly surprised by how affordable it can be to use this in your construction.
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