Fire Resistant Drywall Around Fireplace

The 5 8 inch fire code drywall called type x increases a wall s fire rating to a minimum of 1 hour from the 30 minute rating for standard inch drywall.

Fire resistant drywall around fireplace. And it s not just thickness. Drywall typically comes in 1 4 inch 3 8 inch and 1 2 inch thicknesses. There was the space between unit and walls according to code. In order to properly protect the fireplace against heat you will now need to place a heat resistant caulking around the fireback.

The drywall on both fireplaces went right up to the edge with tile surround. I d certainly pay a premium over standard drywall to have a more fire resistant structure. Other than code distances for your studs i would think the drywall is fine. In addition to the usual gypsum found in regular drywall fire rated drywall contains glass fibers to form a super tough core.

This will help to prevent the heat from traveling through other parts of the fireplace and keep the fireback in the right place. Instead it was designed to be a subfloor or backing material for another material installed on top of it. Steve miller sylvan lake mi. Finally the gypsum and fiberglass are packed tighter and denser than with regular drywall.

Leave this caulk to dry and then reinstall the electric fireplace into the wall. Hardiebacker board is not designed to take the place of stone drywall or other materials used near or on your fireplace. My new zero clearance has framing within inches of the box and drywall will go right over the studs.