Lexan Reinforced Drywall

[eetrkn'co]

PLEASE READ THIS IS IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US.

http://www.thewatchdesk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=17591

[eetrkn'co]

READ THIS & SHOW IT TO YOUR STAFF !! :eek:

[2EngTrk3]

Does the Lexan increase the fire rating at all??

Or is it just a security measure to prevent breaching?

Two 5/8" (one on each side of the studs)sheets of drywall, I believe gives a two hour rating. (May be 3/4")

Can I now achieve the same rating with thinner sheetrock with the Lexan??

Is the new sheetrock going to be standard in future building codes, or is really just a commodity?

[eetrkn'co]

I think this needs to be posed to the mfg. of said gypsum board. let me reasearch and advise !

[eetrkn'co]

Here Is The Mfg Spec's

[eetrkn'co]

HERE IS THE PRODUCT CUTSHEET AND A LINK TO THIS SECTION ON NAT. GYPSUM WEBSITE

http://www.nationalgypsum.com/products/?query=cat:2&product=10

[mkglgr]

Here is some additional information about Lexan backed wall products posted by National Gypsum Company.

As market requirements for walls with abuse and impact resistant characteristics have increased over time, innovative new products have been developed to address these market requirements. One such product is a new type of gypsum wallboard ("sheetrock") that includes a layer of Lexan laminated to the back of the gypsum panel, the side of the panel that is applied towards the studs. National Gypsum manufactures a product that fits this description called Hi-Impact Wallboard with four levels or thicknesses of Lexan laminated to the back (http://www.nationalgypsum.com/products/?query=cat:2&product=10). A company called CSS Specialty products markets a line of products by the name of Lexcore (http://www.cssystems.us/lexcoreproducts1.htm ). These products are created by laminating Lexan to a number of different building materials including gypsum wallboard.

One of the thicknesses of Lexan that is used in these products is an 80 mil thick sheet. These types of materials are used in areas where extra security or durability is desired, and to prevent a perpetrator from easily kicking through a wall and entering an adjacent area. These products are very expensive, costing over twenty times the price of standard wallboard panels, and as such they are sold in very small quantities to be used in specialized areas of commercial buildings such as hospital, schools and correctional facilities. They are almost never, if ever used in residential construction.

To put their uses into perspective, estimates are that these Lexan backed products accounted for less than .0003 percent of all the gypsum wallboard sold in 2004.

[mkglgr]

2EngTrk3 questions dated 3-26-05:

1- Lexan does not affect the fire rating possitively or negatively. It is for penetration/vandal resistance ONLY.

2- A single layer of 5/8" Type X on BOTH sides of the stud (total of 2 pieces) is a basic one hour wall. Double 5/8" Type X on both sides (total of 4 pieces) is a basic two hour wall.

3- Hi-Impact Lexan backed drywall ('sheetrock') is NOT a new product. As a matter of fact, National Gypsum Company launched a new version, Hi-Impact XP (for X-tra Protection) in 2004 that is Mold/Mildew/Moisture Resistant due to market needs. The new Hi-Impact XP product only costs about 3 times the standard 5/8" Type X costs:

- Hi Impact 1000 = about 5 times the cost of 5/8" Type X
- Hi Impact 2000 = about 6 times the cost of 5/8" Type X
- Hi Impact 3000 = about 7 times the cost of 5/8" Type X
- Hi Impact 8000 = about 20 times the cost of 5/8" Type X

4- Lexan-backed drywall is NOT new and due to the above pricing was never a "standard in building codes". There are several companies that buy Lexan from GE and laminate it to drywall. National Gypsum developed a new product with additional properties for Mold/Mildew/Moisture Resistance in addition to penetration resistance to address multiple issues.

Please call us at 1-800-628-4662 8 AM to 4:45 PM Eastern if you have further questions.

Regards,
Lisa Roberts (mkglgr)
Manager, Technical Services
National Gypsum Company