Residential Glass Mat Gypsum Sheathing
Providing Safety and Resilience to Residential Construction
With the goal of designing safe and resilient homes, architects and specifiers turn to the commercial segment for proven and cost-effective solutions like Glass Mat Gypsum Sheathing. With its unmatched resistance to fire, moisture, and mold, and lack of appeal to pests, Glass Mat Gypsum Sheathing is the alternative to traditional sheathings that the design community is embracing for safety and resilience.
Fire Resistant
Mold & Moisture Resistant
Unappealing to Pests
Quick Facts
Glass Mat Gypsum Sheathing:
- Is suitable for use with virtually any cladding material
- Is widely available nationwide
- Is a recognized sheathing material per the International Residential Code (IRC)
- Plays a leading role in passive fire resistance
- Can be used where fire-resistant construction is required, making it ideal for construction in areas governed by the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC) due to the risk of wildland fire
- Highly resistant to expansion and contraction when exposed to variable and extreme environments
- Is unappealing to pests, as it does not contain cellulosic material that attracts wood-boring insects and rodents
Download the Glass Mat Gypsum Sheathing Design Guide for Residential Construction
Explore the technical requirements for using Glass Mat Gypsum Sheathing on residential structures and more.
GET THE DESIGN GUIDE
Read More About Gypsum Sheathing in Walls & Ceilings
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the use of Glass Mat Gypsum Sheathing require additional bracing?
The average one- to two-story production home in non-seismic or
non-high wind zones generally does not require additional bracing.
Larger and more complex homes may require supplemental bracing.
Contact the Gypsum Association for technical assistance.
Is Glass Mat Gypsum Sheathing code approved?
Glass Mat Gypsum Sheathing is prescriptive to the International
Residential Code (IRC). The Gypsum Association can work with local
code officials to provide relevant technical data. You can also
reference our Residential Design Guide for Glass Mat Gypsum Sheathing.
This product is new to me. Will it slow down the engineering process?
No, Glass Mat Gypsum Sheathing can be designed with the same standard
methods as typical gypsum panels or wood structural panels and will
take the same amount of time to design as a lateral system using these
methods.
Can Glass Mat Gypsum Sheathing be used to resist lateral forces on a building?
Yes, Glass Mat Gypsum Sheathing can be used as an exterior wall
sheathing instead of a wood structural panel, with lateral force
resisting values comparable to standard gypsum wall panels. Consult a
structural engineer. The gypsum lateral force resisting values can be
found within the Glass Mat Gypsum Sheathing Design Guide and can be
applied with the standard IRC prescriptive design method.
I design homes for areas prone to wildfires. Does the use of Glass Mat Gypsum Sheathing improve the fire resistance of a home?
It can be used where fire-resistant construction is required, making
it ideal for construction in areas governed by the International
Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC) due to the risk of wildland
fire. Glass Mat Gypsum Sheathing that is listed through a third-party
agency can typically be used in one of the hundreds of partition
assemblies in the GA-600 Fire Resistance and Sound Control Design Manual. Contact the Gypsum Association or any member company for
information on an assembly and products that may be suitable.
I design homes in hot and humid climates. How does Glass Mat Gypsum Sheathing perform in this environment?
Glass Mat Gypsum Sheathing is ideal for hot and humid climate zones.
Unlike traditional sheathings, the product is highly resistant to
expansion and contraction when exposed to variable and extreme
environments. Gypsum expands and contracts negligibly, per the
National Research Council of Canada (NRCC), while OSB will expand
0.15% per 1% change in the moisture content of the material.
My standard specification calls for OSB sheathing. Why should I change my spec to Glass Mat Gypsum Sheathing?
There are many reasons to switch, but the most compelling is Glass
Mat Gypsum Sheathing’s ability to enhance fire, mold, and moisture
resistance.