Gypsum boards classified to EN 520 and ASTM C1396, plasters to EN 13279, and the metal framing, beads and fixings that complete a system to EN 14195, EN 13658 and EN 13963 — with the classifications, dimensions and typical technical data specifiers need.
Gypsum products are classified by letter codes that describe performance, not brand. Understanding them makes cross-comparison between suppliers straightforward.
A single letter per characteristic. A standard · H1/H2/H3 reduced water absorption · F improved core cohesion in fire · D higher density · I enhanced surface hardness · R enhanced strength · E sheathing · P plaster base. Boards often combine codes — a board marked DFH2IR meets all five.
Designated as subtype / setting time / compressive strength. So B7/50/6 is an enhanced-surface-hardness plaster with ≥50 min working time and ≥6 N/mm² compressive strength. B types are building plasters; C types are for special purposes.
Reaction to fire is classified to EN 13501-1 (gypsum boards typically A2-s1,d0). Fire resistance in minutes is a property of the complete tested assembly — board, framing, insulation and fixings together — never of a board alone.
A gypsum core encased in and firmly bonded to paper liners, for partitions, wall linings and ceilings. All grades are available with tapered edges for seamless jointing or square edges where a board is to receive plaster.
The general-purpose board for dry interiors — partitions, wall linings, ceilings and shaftwalls where no special performance is required.
Applications: residential and commercial partitions, dry-lined masonry, suspended and fixed ceilings.
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Classification | EN 520 Type A; ASTM C1396 gypsum wallboard |
| Thicknesses | 9.5 · 12.5 · 15 mm |
| Width | 1200 mm (900 / 1220 mm on request) |
| Lengths | 1800 – 3600 mm |
| Edge profile | Tapered (TE) or square (SE) |
| Nominal weight | ≈ 7.0 / 8.8 / 10.8 kg/m² by thickness |
| Core density | ≈ 650 – 800 kg/m³ |
| Reaction to fire | EN 13501-1 Class A2-s1,d0 |
| Thermal conductivity λ | ≈ 0.19 – 0.25 W/mK |
| Water vapour resistance μ | ≈ 10 |
Silicone-treated core and water-repellent liners for intermittently humid interiors. The H classification is defined by water absorption: H1 under 5%, H2 under 10%, H3 under 25% by weight.
Applications: bathrooms, kitchens, utility and laundry rooms, humid coastal interiors, tile substrates in non-immersed areas.
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Classification | EN 520 Type H2; ASTM C1396 water-resistant backing board |
| Water absorption | < 10% by weight (H2) · < 5% (H1) |
| Thicknesses | 12.5 · 15 mm |
| Width / lengths | 1200 mm · 1800 – 3600 mm |
| Edge profile | Tapered (TE) |
| Nominal weight | ≈ 9.0 / 11.0 kg/m² |
| Reaction to fire | EN 13501-1 Class A2-s1,d0 |
| Identification | Green liner (regional convention) |
| Note | Moisture resistant, not waterproof — not for permanently wet or immersed conditions |
Glass-fibre reinforced core formulated for improved cohesion at high temperature, so the board stays in place and continues to protect the structure behind it as the gypsum calcines.
Applications: fire-rated partitions and ceilings, protected escape routes, shaftwalls, structural steel and timber encasement.
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Classification | EN 520 Type F; ASTM C1396 Type X |
| Core | Glass fibre reinforced, vermiculite modified |
| Thicknesses | 12.5 · 15 mm |
| Width / lengths | 1200 mm · 1800 – 3600 mm |
| Edge profile | Tapered (TE) |
| Nominal weight | ≈ 10.0 / 12.0 kg/m² |
| Reaction to fire | EN 13501-1 Class A2-s1,d0 |
| Fire resistance | Determined by the tested assembly — see system data, not board data |
| Identification | Pink / red liner (regional convention) |
Both characteristics in a single board — a reinforced fire core with a silicone-treated, water-repellent formulation.
Applications: hospital and hotel wet areas within rated walls, commercial kitchens, plant rooms, rated shaftwalls in humid environments.
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Classification | EN 520 Type FH2 |
| Water absorption | < 10% by weight |
| Thicknesses | 12.5 · 15 mm |
| Width / lengths | 1200 mm · 1800 – 3600 mm |
| Nominal weight | ≈ 10.2 / 12.2 kg/m² |
| Reaction to fire | EN 13501-1 Class A2-s1,d0 |
A denser, harder, stronger board for surfaces that take punishment. Type D denotes density above 800 kg/m³, Type I enhanced surface hardness, Type R enhanced flexural strength — usually combined.
Applications: school and hospital corridors, back-of-house, circulation areas, sports halls, high-traffic commercial interiors.
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Classification | EN 520 Types D, I, R (commonly combined, e.g. DFH2IR) |
| Core density | > 800 kg/m³ (Type D) |
| Thicknesses | 12.5 · 15 · 19 mm |
| Width / lengths | 1200 mm · 1800 – 3000 mm |
| Nominal weight | ≈ 11.5 / 13.5 / 17.0 kg/m² |
| Reaction to fire | EN 13501-1 Class A2-s1,d0 |
| Benefit | Higher resistance to surface indentation and through-penetration; improved mass for acoustic assemblies |
Lighter-handling board optimised for overhead fixing and reduced sag across ceiling framing centres.
Applications: suspended and fixed ceilings, false ceilings, soffits, bulkheads.
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Classification | EN 520 Type A (Type D for wider centres) |
| Thicknesses | 9.5 · 12.5 mm |
| Width / lengths | 1200 mm · 1800 – 3000 mm |
| Edge profile | Tapered (TE) |
| Framing centres | Per system data — typically 400 – 600 mm |
| Reaction to fire | EN 13501-1 Class A2-s1,d0 |
Water-repellent core and liners for use as external sheathing behind a rainscreen or cladding, providing temporary weather exposure during construction.
Applications: external wall sheathing behind ventilated façades, soffits to sheltered external areas.
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Classification | EN 520 Type E |
| Thicknesses | 12.5 mm |
| Width / lengths | 1200 mm · 2400 – 3000 mm |
| Edge profile | Square (SE) |
| Exposure | Temporary construction exposure only — must be covered by the permanent façade; refer to system data for the permitted period |
| Reaction to fire | EN 13501-1 Class A2-s1,d0 |
Premixed gypsum building plasters for walls and ceilings inside buildings, classified to EN 13279-1 as subtype / setting time / compressive strength.
The classic hand-applied skim coat — the pink finishing plaster that takes a wall to a polished, paint-ready surface. Long open time and easy workability for a flawless closed finish.
Applications: skim finishing over plasterboard and undercoat plasters, patch repair, final coat in dry interiors.
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Classification | EN 13279-1 Type C6 (thin coat / finishing product) |
| Application thickness | 2 – 5 mm in two passes |
| Coverage | ≈ 0.9 kg/m² per mm of thickness |
| Working time | ≈ 60 – 90 min |
| Water : plaster ratio | ≈ 0.6 – 0.7 : 1 by weight |
| Finish | Polished, paint-ready; no further skim required |
| Reaction to fire | EN 13501-1 Class A1 |
| Packing | 25 kg bags |
Machine-applied lightweight plaster for single-coat application to masonry and concrete. Lower density means faster coverage per bag and less load on the structure — the productivity grade for volume sites.
Applications: machine plastering of block, brick and concrete walls and soffits; one-coat internal wall finishing.
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Classification | EN 13279-1 B4/50/2 (lightweight gypsum building plaster) |
| Application thickness | 8 – 15 mm (up to 25 mm in build-ups) |
| Coverage | ≈ 0.85 kg/m² per mm of thickness |
| Working time | ≈ 50 – 150 min depending on grade |
| Compressive strength | ≥ 2 N/mm² |
| Flexural strength | ≥ 1 N/mm² |
| Application | Continuous mixer-pump; hand application possible |
| Reaction to fire | EN 13501-1 Class A1 |
A high-strength plaster formulated for surfaces exposed to mechanical stress, where a standard finish would mark or indent.
Applications: corridors, stairwells, schools, hospitals, public buildings and any interior subject to knocks and trolley traffic.
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Classification | EN 13279-1 B7/50/6 (enhanced surface hardness) |
| Compressive strength | ≥ 6 N/mm² |
| Surface hardness | Enhanced per EN 13279-1 Type B7 requirement |
| Application thickness | 8 – 15 mm |
| Working time | ≈ 50 min |
| Application | Machine or hand |
| Reaction to fire | EN 13501-1 Class A1 |
Undercoat plaster that builds out and levels uneven backgrounds before the finish coat, with good adhesion to dense and low-suction substrates.
Applications: levelling coat to blockwork, brick and concrete; background preparation ahead of Gypelle Finish.
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Classification | EN 13279-1 B1 or B4 (setting time and strength to designation) |
| Application thickness | 8 – 20 mm |
| Coverage | ≈ 0.9 – 1.0 kg/m² per mm of thickness |
| Working time | ≈ 45 – 90 min |
| Compressive strength | ≥ 2 N/mm² |
| Substrates | Block, brick, concrete; low-suction backgrounds require a bonding agent |
High-whiteness casting plaster with rapid set and crisp edge retention, for the production and assembly of moulded and fibrous gypsum work.
Applications: cornices, mouldings, ceiling roses, GRG panels, decorative and heritage restoration work.
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Classification | EN 13279-1 Type C1 (plaster for fibrous plasterwork) |
| Mix ratio | ≈ 65 : 100 water : plaster by weight |
| Setting time | ≈ 8 – 15 min |
| Early strength | High — supports rapid mould turnaround |
| Whiteness | High; takes fine detail and sharp arrises |
| Reaction to fire | EN 13501-1 Class A1 |
EN 13279-1 defines a separate C-series for plasters engineered to do a job beyond finishing — absorb sound, resist heat transfer, protect structure in fire, or bond masonry.
Open-textured, low-density plaster that absorbs sound energy rather than reflecting it — a seamless alternative to tiles and panels where the ceiling must stay monolithic.
Applications: auditoria, atria, lobbies, museums, places of worship, restaurants and any volume where reverberation must be controlled without visible acoustic panels.
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Classification | EN 13279-1 Type C3 (acoustic plaster) |
| Performance measure | Sound absorption coefficient αw to EN ISO 11654 — system dependent |
| Application thickness | Per system, typically 10 – 30 mm over an absorbent substrate |
| Substrate | Usually applied over a porous acoustic backing panel |
| Finish | Seamless, monolithic, matt textured |
| Reaction to fire | EN 13501-1 Class A1 / A2 by formulation |
| Note | Absorption is a property of the complete build-up — substrate, cavity and coat thickness — not the plaster alone |
Lightweight insulating plaster with expanded aggregate, adding thermal resistance to a wall while remaining a plaster finish. Useful where insulation boards cannot be accommodated — heritage interiors and irregular substrates.
Applications: internal insulation upgrades, retrofit of solid-wall buildings, thermal bridge treatment at reveals and soffits.
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Classification | EN 13279-1 Type C4 (thermal insulation plaster) |
| Thermal conductivity λ | Typically 0.06 – 0.10 W/mK by formulation |
| Density | ≈ 300 – 600 kg/m³ |
| Application thickness | 20 – 60 mm, built up in coats |
| Finish | Receives a C6 finishing coat |
| Reaction to fire | EN 13501-1 Class A1 / A2 by formulation |
| Note | Declared λ must come from the specific product's test data; ranges above are indicative of the category |
Sprayed or trowelled plaster for the passive fire protection of structural elements — an alternative to board encasement where geometry is complex.
Applications: structural steel and concrete protection, complex sections, service voids and areas where board encasement is impractical.
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Classification | EN 13279-1 Type C5 (fire protection plaster) |
| Reaction to fire | EN 13501-1 Class A1 |
| Fire resistance | Stated in minutes against a section factor and required thickness — from the product's own assessment |
| Application | Spray or trowel, thickness per fire engineering schedule |
| Density | ≈ 400 – 800 kg/m³ by formulation |
| Note | Specification thickness must be taken from a valid fire assessment for the actual section — never generalised |
Gypsum mortar for laying and bonding gypsum blocks and lightweight partition units, giving thin, fast-setting joints.
Applications: gypsum block partitions, non-loadbearing internal walls not exposed to water.
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Classification | EN 13279-1 Type C2 (gypsum mortar) |
| Joint thickness | ≈ 2 – 5 mm |
| Working time | ≈ 40 – 60 min |
| Compressive strength | ≥ 2 N/mm² |
| Limitation | Non-loadbearing partitions only; not for areas exposed to water |
Gypsum-based adhesive for direct-bond dry lining — fixing boards and insulated composite panels to solid backgrounds without framing.
Applications: dot-and-dab dry lining of masonry, bonding insulation composite panels, levelling minor background irregularity.
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Classification | EN 14496 (gypsum based adhesives for composite panels and gypsum boards) |
| Working time | ≈ 30 – 60 min |
| Coverage | ≈ 4 – 6 kg/m² depending on background flatness |
| Substrates | Brick, block, concrete; dusty or low-suction backgrounds require priming |
| Reaction to fire | EN 13501-1 Class A1 |
A board or plaster is only ever as good as what holds it and finishes it. Metal framing, ceiling grid, beads and fixings are the frame and trim behind every Gypelle installation — sold as a system, not a shelf of unrelated parts.
Cold-formed galvanised steel track and stud for non-structural drywall partitions — track at floor and head, studs between, noggin for horizontal bracing and fixture support.
Applications: stud partitions, shaftwalls, framing for fire- and acoustic-rated wall systems.
| Component | Typical data |
|---|---|
| Track (U-profile) | Widths 50 / 70 / 92 / 146 mm · 0.50–0.60 mm base metal thickness · fixed to floor and head to receive studs |
| Stud (C-profile) | Matched widths 48 / 70 / 92 / 146 mm · friction-fit into track at 400/600 mm centres |
| Noggin channel | Horizontal bracing between studs — supports switch boxes, board joints and fire-rated partition detailing |
| Standard | EN 14195 (metal framing components for gypsum plasterboard systems) |
Suspension and grid components carrying board from the structural soffit — the framework behind every suspended and fixed ceiling.
Applications: suspended ceilings, fixed and bulkhead ceilings, soffits.
| Component | Typical data |
|---|---|
| Perimeter channel | Fixed around the room perimeter; receives the ends of ceiling sections |
| Ceiling section (furring) | Primary board-carrying member, typically 3.0–3.6 m; board is screw-fixed directly to this |
| Intermediate channel | Suspension member connecting hangers to ceiling sections via clips |
| Ceiling / wall angle | Perimeter support and detailing at abutments |
| Standard | EN 14195 |
Metal trims for corners, edges and movement control in plastered and boarded finishes — where a wall is judged as closely as the joint.
Applications: external corners, exposed board edges, architectural shadow gaps, large plastered elevations subject to movement.
| Product | Description |
|---|---|
| Angle bead | Perforated flange for reinforced 90° external corners |
| Stop bead | Clean termination where plaster meets an abutting surface or material change |
| Shadowline bead | Architectural reveal / shadow gap at ceiling, wall and opening junctions |
| Control / movement joint | Accommodates structural and thermal movement in large plastered runs, reducing cracking |
| Standard | EN 13658-1 (metal lath and beading for internal plastering) |
Mechanical fasteners and anchors for board-to-frame and frame-to-structure fixing.
Applications: board fixing to steel or timber framing, frame fixing to concrete and masonry, ceiling grid suspension.
| Product | Description |
|---|---|
| Drywall screws | Self-tapping / self-drilling, fine or coarse thread for steel or timber framing |
| Metal-to-metal screws | Self-drilling wafer or countersunk head for framing connections |
| Anchors & plugs | Mechanical fixing of track and channel to concrete or masonry |
| Suspension rods & hangers | Ceiling grid suspension from the structural soffit |
| Standard | EN 14566 (mechanical fasteners for gypsum plasterboard systems) |
Compounds and tapes for filling, embedding and finishing board joints to a seamless surface.
| Product | Description & typical data |
|---|---|
| Filling compound | EN 13963 Type 3B — setting-type powder for first-fill and embedding of tape; working time by grade (20 / 45 / 90 min) |
| Finishing compound | EN 13963 Type 4B — ready-mixed, air-drying, for second and third coats; easy sanding |
| All-purpose compound | Combined fill and finish for lower-spec work |
| Paper joint tape | Creased paper tape for flat joints and internal angles |
| Fibreglass mesh tape | Self-adhesive; used with setting-type compound |
| Corner tape | Paper tape with metal or composite strips for external angles |
| Finish levels | Specify to the applicable finish-level standard (e.g. Q1–Q4 / Level 1–5) — critical for critical-lighting areas |
Concealed, removable access to services within a board ceiling or wall — electrical, plumbing and HVAC maintained without cutting the finish.
Applications: service risers, ceiling voids, shaftwalls.
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Standard sizes | 300×300 / 450×450 / 600×600 / 600×1200 mm — custom sizes on request |
| Frame | Galvanised steel; picture-frame or beaded-edge to suit board thickness |
| Insert | Board-faced, for a flush finish decorated to match the surrounding surface |
| Fire-rated option | Available where the panel forms part of a rated assembly — specify against the tested system, not the panel alone |
Every figure on this page is a typical or indicative value for the product category, given so that specifiers can compare like with like. They are not a warranty of the performance of any particular consignment.
Certified values for a given batch are stated on that product's technical datasheet and test certificates, which govern in the event of any difference. Request current documentation before specifying.
A board or plaster does not have a fire resistance rating or a sound reduction index on its own. Those figures belong to the complete tested assembly — the board type and layers, the framing type and centres, cavity insulation, fixings, joint treatment and perimeter detailing together.
Always specify from a valid test report or assessment for the actual assembly. Substituting any component of a tested system invalidates the rating.
Liner colours — green for moisture-resistant, pink or red for fire-rated — are widely used conventions rather than requirements of EN 520 or ASTM C1396. Always confirm the product type from the board's printed marking and datasheet, not its colour.
A track or stud's nominal size tells you little on its own — base metal thickness (BMT) and zinc coating weight are what determine load capacity and corrosion life, and both are where under-specified profiles most commonly fall short of what's printed on the label. Ask for the mill certificate, not just the catalogue dimension.
Product datasheets, system details, test certificates and specification support are available on request for any project.