May. 20, 2024
Machinery
Manufacturers of gypsum panel products are continually pushing boundaries to develop innovative solutions tailored to the ever-evolving needs of architects, builders, and owners. This innovative spirit isn't new; it dates back to the foundation of the gypsum board itself. When Augustine Sackett founded the Sackett Plaster Board Company in 1906, he built on his success by creating a machine for producing building papers. Sackett's initial product, composed of layers of felt paper and gypsum, laid the groundwork for modern drywall and ultimately, he patented both the product and the equipment for its production.
Upon establishing his company, Sackett launched a major advertising campaign to promote the benefits of his fire-resistant board in renowned publications like The House Beautiful, Country Life, and the Saturday Evening Post. The advantages of the material were made clear: it could be applied effectively in various construction scenarios. A full-page ad in the July 1906 edition of The House Beautiful stated, "Every architect owes it to his clients, every owner owes it to himself, to investigate this material before making old-style specifications."
Building upon Sackett's initial concept, further advancements led to the development of wallboards that now dominate interior walls. Recent years have seen the introduction of specialized performance panels by gypsum board manufacturers, targeting specific design challenges. Products made by every member of the Gypsum Association include exterior gypsum sheathing, impact-resistant panels, mold/moisture resistant panels, and gypsum shaftliner.
These materials add substantial value, increase resilience, and reduce lifecycle costs while maintaining notable fire-resistant properties. Moreover, newer performance panels offer features like mold and moisture resistance, weather durability, and enhanced strength. Specialized products such as exterior gypsum sheathing and gypsum shaftliner even serve as viable alternatives to wood and masonry.
Additionally, these panels maintain the ease of installation inherent to traditional gypsum boards, requiring only standard tools and trades. Nonetheless, some within the Gypsum Association noticed that these innovative panels were perhaps being overlooked, likely due to the preference for what Sackett's peers might have termed "old-time specifications." To test this hypothesis, the Gypsum Association conducted a survey in 2015 to gauge the awareness and usage of these specialized performance boards among the architecture, engineering, and construction (A/E/C) community.
Targeting architects and specifiers, the survey also aimed to capture views from engineers and general contractors. Garnering 567 responses, the majority (77 percent) being architects and specifiers, with engineers (8 percent) and other construction specialists making up the remainder. This extensive response provided a confidence level of 95-96 percent and a margin of error of 4-5 percent.
Survey participants spanned the complete range of vertical construction sectors, including single-family homes (28 percent), multifamily residential (33 percent), K-12 education (26 percent), and higher education (27 percent). Additionally, 67 percent reported involvement in commercial construction (retail, office, warehouse), and 30 percent in healthcare facilities design. Government projects (local, state, and federal) were another significant area of practice (38 percent).
Responses indicated that while there was awareness of specialized performance panels, their usage was not optimized across various building types. Participants primarily learned about products through industry shows, sales reps, educational seminars, advertising, and peer recommendations. Interestingly, 92 respondents provided open-ended feedback, revealing insights about their past and future use of these innovative boards.
While some designers were familiar with and utilized performance boards, detailing their benefits in hospitals and schools, others expressed a lack of performance specifications and knowledge. A recurring theme was the need for continuous information streaming and educational efforts.
Complementing the survey, the Gypsum Association also conducted informal interviews at industry events like GreenBuild 2015, revealing valuable qualitative data. One senior specifier from a top U.S. architecture/engineering firm acknowledged the existence of new gypsum panels but admitted to lacking sufficient information to use them effectively. This highlights a critical gap in knowledge among professionals, emphasizing the need for educational initiatives.
By addressing this gap, the Gypsum Association can help design and construction professionals fully benefit from these advanced products. The association has therefore made significant efforts to educate the community, with new website sections dedicated to specialized gypsum panels for multi-family and commercial construction. Each panel type is illustrated, with physical descriptions, advantages, limitations, and frequently asked questions. References to pertinent ASTM Standards and technical documents are also provided.
Recognizing the rising importance of indoor environmental quality, the Gypsum Association added content on sound control. Most specialized performance boards can aid in sound attenuation similarly to traditional wallboards, hence the focus on system solutions for noise reduction.
Want to learn more about these specialized gypsum products? Visit gypsum.org for comprehensive details, including where and how to specify these boards, applicable standards, and their benefits in various construction contexts.
Facing challenges in convincing colleagues or clients of these products' value? The Gypsum Association provides impartial information to support your next project. As Sackett's ad from over a century ago proclaimed, "Specialized performance boards can be used to good advantage somewhere in every building." Today, we echo this sentiment— for modern issues like mold, moisture, and durability, remember, "There's a board for that!"
Gypsum, the abundant mineral composing most drywall, is experiencing a resurgence due to increased drywall recycling. Recycled gypsum helps produce new drywall, thus conserving natural resources, but its applications extend beyond that.
Here are ten significant ways that recycled gypsum is improving agriculture, protecting the environment, enhancing animal welfare, revitalizing industrial sites, and more.
Traditionally used as fertilizer, gypsum offers soluble calcium and sulfur, essential for plant growth and increased crop yields. Recycled gypsum makes this process cheaper and more eco-friendly.
“Gypsum can provide a sustained release of sulfur for more than a year. Its use as a sulfur fertilizer has proven effective for various crops, such as corn and soybeans.” – Gypsum as an Agricultural Amendment – Bulletin 945
Additionally, gypsum supplies calcium, which boosts crop production and prevents diseases in crops like peanuts, tomatoes, and apples.
Beyond enhancing plant growth, recycled gypsum conditions soil for optimal growth. It can penetrate deeply, making it more effective than lime for reducing soil acidity.
“Soil scientists note that gypsum is crucial not just as a sulfur and calcium source but also for promoting soil structure changes.” – 2015 Journal of ASFMRA
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Agricultural runoff contributes significantly to water pollution. Studies show that recycled gypsum can reduce soluble reactive phosphorus in runoff water by 55%, indicating its potential to improve water quality and protect ecosystems.
The absorbent properties of gypsum make it ideal for animal bedding, promoting healthier environments for dairy cows, poultry, and horses.
Adding gypsum to dairy bedding keeps it dry, reducing the risk of mastitis and improving cow health.
Gypsum in poultry bedding significantly lowers ammonia concentration, moisture, and pH, leading to a healthier environment for chickens.
“Ammonia concentration, litter moisture, and pH were significantly lower in the gypsum treatment than in the wood shavings treatment.” – University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Gypsum additives in horse bedding absorb odors, extend bedding life, and are safe for hooves.
Gypsum is effective in remediating contaminated soils at industrial sites, addressing issues such as aluminum toxicity and poor soil aggregation.
It's affordable, non-toxic, and safe, making it a preferred choice for soil remediation.
Gypsum is ideal for solidifying industrial liquid waste, converting it into manageable solids for safer storage or disposal.
Recycled gypsum serves as an excellent filler or diluent in products like cement, plastics, adhesives, and paints, enhancing properties such as fire retardancy and tensile strength.
Because it's non-abrasive and inert, it's ideal for:
It also reduces production costs, making it a valuable additive in many industries.
Adding gypsum to ponds helps clarify water by causing clay particles to clump and settle, improving conditions for aquatic life and aesthetic appeal.
Recycled gypsum enhances compost quality by reducing nitrogen loss, improving aeration, and increasing the value of the compost with additional calcium, sulfur, and microbial benefits.
Just as farmers use gypsum to enhance crop growth, homeowners can use recycled gypsum to improve soil quality for lush lawns and gardens. It naturally aerates soil and improves water and air penetration.
Recycled gypsum also effectively addresses acidic and eroded soil conditions and is safe for pets, people, and plants.
With the myriad benefits of recycled gypsum, its production and use are on the rise. This not only conserves natural resources but also provides numerous environmental advantages.
For more information, please visit gypsum board equipment manufacturer.
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