Just found out fire-rated rock can go bad on the shelf

Was stocking up on 5/8 type X for a commercial job yesterday and my supplier warned me to check the date codes. Said if it sits in a damp warehouse too long the gypsum core can degrade and it won't hold up in a fire test. Never even thought about that lol. Anyone ever had a failed inspection because of old board?

3 comments

3 Comments

diana_black17d ago

Huh, I actually think old board is way more forgiving than people give it credit for. I’ve pulled type X that was sitting in a humid garage for two years and it passed fire caulking inspections just fine. The key is to check for physical damage like crumbling edges or soft spots, not just the date code. A lot of inspectors are looking for proper installation and UL listing, not the manufacturing date, so I’d push back on the idea that it’s automatically bad.

wendyk5617d ago

Wait, is this really that big of a deal?

mark_price7d ago

Diana makes a fair point about checking for physical damage instead of just the date code. From what I've seen, old board that's been stored properly usually passes inspection as long as the edges and faces are still solid. But I'd still be careful with board that's been sitting in a humid warehouse for more than a year or two, because moisture can soak into the core without showing any obvious signs until you try to screw into it.