Gyprock | High performance fire protection with Gyprock Glasroc F

CSR Gyprock has launched Glasroc F, a paperless gypsum board offering high performance fire protection for structural steel columns and beams. Reinforced with glass fibre and providing up to 120 minutes fire protection, Glasroc F is installed in a single, joint-less layer.

Delivered in partnership with worldwide plasterboard specialist Saint-Gobain and forming part of Gyprock’s International Alliance program, Glasroc F meets the needs of the Australian building industry.

High quality, robust and designed for fire rated applications, Gyprock Glasroc F is a 30mm thick paperless, square-edged gypsum board. It features glass fibre tissue immediately below the surface on both sides, and its core is reinforced with glass fibre rovings and paper pulp.

The board’s gypsum content contains nearly 21 per cent chemically combined water or crystallisation, and about 79 per cent calcium sulphate. When Glasroc F is exposed to fire, the chemically combined water is gradually released in the form of water vapour. This is the process of calcination, which commences at the surface exposed to the fire and proceeds gradually through the board thickness. The process becomes progressively slower as the thickness of calcined material increases and means that the unexposed side of the board does not exceed 100 degrees Celsius for a prolonged period.

Once the gypsum layer is completely calcined, the calcium sulphate continues to act as an insulating layer for as long as it remains intact. When Glasroc F is used to encase structural steel columns and beams, the process of calcination helps protect the member from damage.

Recommended for multi-residential and commercial construction projects, Glasroc F minimises the space used due to its frameless system. It also offers build-program flexibility as the inherent moisture resistance of Glasroc F means installation can commence before the building envelope is weather tight.

Glasroc F is installed in a single layer, offering architects, specifiers and designers a simple and labour effective solution to achieve fire ratings for columns and beams – compared to traditional systems which sometimes requires up to three layers of board.

Available in 1200mm x 2000mm panels, Glasroc F is screw fixed to itself without the need for additional framing, adhesive, fillers or jointing, further reducing installation time. Glasroc F is also easy to inspect for continuity, giving greater peace of mind both immediately after installation and during maintenance inspections.