Division 09 - Gypsum Board Assemblies

  1. This information provides guidelines for gypsum board assemblies. Temporary facilities and controls are covered in other parts of these standards or are available from the WWU project representative. 
  2. Washington State encourages green building design and construction. The University seeks to reduce negative effects on natural resources and the environment, while providing a productive and healthy environment for building occupants. 
  3. WWU project representative, Facilities Maintenance (FM) and Environmental Health and Safety Office shall approve selection of materials, colors and sizes, means, and methods. The design intent is to select materials that blend with the existing or adjacent campus building features.  Unless otherwise approved, the design intent requires means and methods that provide minimal disruption to adjacent building activities and operations. 
  4. When working on or adjacent to occupied buildings, require means and methods that protect occupants from exposure to noises, dust, traffic, odor, and other hazards.
  5. When integrating steel stud framing with older wood framing verify dimensions (35/8" or 3½" steel stud).
  6. Coordinate with throat opening of steel door frames, or with jamb detail for wood door frames.
  7. Metal studs, joists, channels, accessories:
    • 16-gauge and heavier units: 40,000 psi structural quality steel sheet.
    • 18-gauge and lighter units: 33,000 psi commercial quality steel sheet.
    • Galvanize all metal studs, channels, joists and accessories. 
    • Provide standard factory punched load-bearing units with 1-3/8” minimum leg.
  8. Studs: 
    • Standard C-section, minimum 3½" deep, minimum 20 gauge. 
    • Frame at 16" o. c. unless noted otherwise. 
    • Provide 16-gauge double studs at door jambs.
  9. Interior gypsum wall board:
    • Standard: Type “X”, tapered edges, ⅝" thick. (Delaminates when wet.)
    • Cementous backer board: Provide backing board with aggregated Portland cement slurry and reinforced with woven glass fiber mesh embedded in both surfaces. Use at wet conditions.
    • Glass-mat gypsum board (treated, high-density gypsum core with fiberglass mats embedded on both sides): Acceptable in wet locations.
    • Finish one skim coat joint compound trowel applied plus one prime coat prior to painting or texturing. (Level 4 finish level)
    • Reference ASTM C 840, Standard Specification for Application and Finishing of Gypsum Board; and GA-216, Gypsum Association Recommended Specification for Application and Finishing of Gypsum Board.
  10. Isolation joints: Install where structural elements such as slabs, columns or exterior walls can bear directly on non-load bearing partitions.
  11. Control joints: Install in long expanses of partitions at 30' intervals, from floor to ceiling. 
    • Install at doorjambs, extending from door head to ceiling. 
    • Control joints in ceilings limit areas to 2,500 square feet. 
    • Install control joints in ceilings to limit dimensions in either direction to 50'. 
    • Install control joints where ceiling framing or furring changes direction.
    • Reference ASTM C 840, Standard Specification for Application and Finishing of Gypsum Board; and GA-216, Gypsum Association Recommended Specification for Application and Finishing of Gypsum Board.
  12. Joints and corners: 
    • Reinforce inside corners.
    • Use metal corner bead at external corners.
    • Use L-metal or J-metal at edges. 
  13. Framing:    
    • Install stiffeners in joist or stud system at not more than 4'6" o. c.
    • Provide 6" wide 20-gauge sheet metal blocking for casework and specialty items as required. Not required for standard shelving.
  14. Gypsum wallboard:
    • Commencement of gypsum board installation implies gypsum board installer’s acceptance of framing or substrate.
    • Install with gypsum board power-driven screws. DO NOT nail over wood framing.

Latest update

2023-11-06