Gypsum Board Types — Regular, Moisture and Fire

What it is

A gypsum core faced with paper liner, produced in grades that vary the core additives and the liner to suit different duties.

The grades

Grade	Identifying colour (typical)	Use
Regular	Ivory / grey liner	General partitions and ceilings
Moisture resistant	Green	Pantries, humid areas, wet-area backing
Fire resistant	Pink / red	Within tested fire-rated systems
Impact resistant	Varies	Corridors, schools, high-traffic areas
Acoustic / high density	Varies	Where partition sound rating matters

Colours vary by manufacturer and should never be the basis of specification — the grade and standard reference should be.

The system, not the board

A partition's fire rating, acoustic rating and structural performance are properties of the complete tested assembly:

• Board type, thickness and number of layers
• Stud gauge, depth and centres
• Insulation type and density in the cavity
• Screw type, length and spacing pattern
• Joint staggering between layers
• Head, base and junction detailing

Substituting any one of these breaks the test. On a fire-rated wall that is not a paperwork issue — it is the wall not doing what the fire strategy assumes.

Where projects go wrong

• Fire board in an untested arrangement, assumed to give a rating.
• Moisture resistant board inside showers, where cement board is required.
• Screw spacing widened to save time, changing the tested system.
• Joints not staggered between layers in double-layer systems.
• Boards installed before the building is dry, so they absorb moisture and sag.

Standards referenced

Gypsum plaster boards under IS 2095 (Part 1) and EN 520. Fire and life safety provisions under NBC 2016, Part 4.