Where To Buy Fire-Rated Plasterboard In Australia?

Fire-rated plasterboard, also known as fire-resistant or fireproof plasterboard, is a specially designed building material that offers enhanced protection against fire. This type of plasterboard is commonly used in areas where fire safety is a priority, such as commercial buildings, public spaces, and residential homes. 

What is Fire-Rated Plasterboard?

Fire-rated plasterboard is made from gypsum and includes special additives that improve its fire resistance. The core of the board may contain glass fibers, vermiculite, or other non-combustible materials that help to slow the spread of fire. The surface paper may also be treated to resist ignition. Fire-rated plasterboard is available in various thicknesses, with the fire rating typically increasing with thickness.

Key Benefits of Fire-Rated Plasterboard

1. Enhanced Fire Safety: Fire-rated plasterboard is designed to resist the spread of fire, providing a critical barrier that can help to contain flames and smoke. This can slow the progress of a fire, giving occupants more time to evacuate and allowing firefighters more time to respond.

2. Compliance with Building Regulations: In many regions, building codes require the use of fire-rated materials in certain areas, such as stairwells, corridors, and between shared walls in multi-unit dwellings. Using fire-rated plasterboard ensures compliance with these regulations.

3. Structural Integrity: Fire-rated plasterboard helps maintain the structural integrity of a building during a fire, reducing the risk of collapse and providing additional protection for the building's occupants.

4. Versatility: Available in various thicknesses and finishes, fire-rated plasterboard can be used for walls, ceilings, and partitions, making it a versatile option for different applications.

Applications of Fire-Rated Plasterboard

• Residential Buildings: Used in areas such as garages, kitchens, and between floors in multi-story homes to enhance fire safety.
• Commercial and Public Buildings: Commonly installed in corridors, stairwells, and other escape routes to help contain fires and protect exit paths.
• Industrial Settings: Utilized in factories, warehouses, and other industrial facilities where fire hazards may be present.
• Educational and Healthcare Facilities: Used to protect critical areas in schools, universities, hospitals, and clinics.

Types of Fire-Rated Plasterboard

1. Standard Fire-Rated Board: Typically pink in color, standard fire-rated plasterboard is used in general applications requiring a fire-resistant barrier.
2. Moisture-Resistant Fire-Rated Board: Combines fire resistance with moisture resistance, making it suitable for bathrooms, kitchens, and other wet areas.
3. Acoustic Fire-Rated Board: Offers both fire resistance and enhanced acoustic properties, ideal for soundproofing applications in addition to fire safety.

Installation Considerations

• Thickness and Layers: The fire rating of plasterboard depends on its thickness and the number of layers used. For example, a single layer of 13mm fire-rated plasterboard may provide 30 minutes of fire resistance, while two layers may provide 60 minutes.
• Joints and Seals: Properly sealing joints, edges, and penetrations is crucial to maintaining the fire resistance of the installation. Use fire-rated jointing compounds and sealants as specified by the manufacturer.
• Compliance: Ensure that the plasterboard used meets local building codes and fire safety standards. Consult with a building inspector or fire safety specialist if unsure about the requirements.

Where To Buy Fire-Rated Plasterboard

    Hume Building Products is the largest privately owned Australian distributor of plasterboard and complementary products. We are an authorised distributor of USG Boral and supply GTEK and other leading brands.

    Wall Board is regular plasterboard encased in a strong 100% recycled paper liner, ideal for a wide range of residential and commercial internal wall and ceiling applications where fire resistance ratings, impact and water resistance are not required.

    Ceiling Board is 10mm thick plasterboard used as a ceiling lining where framing members are spaced at up to 600mm centres.

    Water resistant plasterboard is ideal as an internal lining used in wet areas such as bathrooms, showers, laundries and toilets

    Fire resistant plasterboard must be used in partition wall and ceiling systems where specific fire-resistance ratings are required.

    Sound proof plasterboard both of 10mm and 13mm plasterboard are specifically developed to control room noise levels, improving living comfort in both residential and commercial environments.

    Flexible plasterboard is a 6.5mm thick plasterboard, ideal for curved surface applications such as curved walls, arches, ceilings and feature panels. Flexible Plasterboard produces a smooth flush finish when jointed, providing a superior surface that accepts a wide range of decorative finishes

    Fire moisture plasterboard was developed specifically for use in wet area fire-rated partition systems.

    Shaft wall panels are specially manufactured fire Resistant plasterboard panels, developed to provide fire protection for elevator shafts, vertical ducts and other applications where installation is possible from one side only.

    Perforated plasterboard is a sound absorptive perforated plasterboard with recessed edges available in either square, round or slotted design perforations. Perforated plasterboard is recommended for use as wall or ceiling lining where sound absorption is required and is also ideal for decorative applications.

    Multi-function plasterboard includes a range that can provide resistance to factors such as fire, impact, sound and water: from Multistop™ 3 (impact, fire & acoustic), and Multistop™ 4 (impact, fire, acoustic & water) to Multistop™ 5 (impact, fire, acoustic, water & mould). Multi-function plasterboard is suitable for hospitals, schools and similar environments