Re-imagining commercial space with Gyproc’s thin wall solutions

Thin drywalls, around 95 mm wide have been used in the commercial office environment for many years. A challenge faced by interior designers, developers and occupants has been the acoustic performance and rigidity of these walls, specifically the ‘knock-knock’ or hollow sound and lack of privacy as a result of acoustic flanking. Gyproc however, has over many years developed thin walls that provide both rigidity and brick equivalent acoustic performance that additionally provide the additional benefits of speed, sustainability and design flexibility.

The backbone of the Gyproc thin-wall solution is the Gypframe® UltraSTEEL® 51 mm stud and track wall-frame. Manufactured from the highest grade light gauge steel, using the patented UltraSTEEL® process, it is possible to convert spaces previously occupied for large open plan commercial use into smaller units when paired with either the 63,5 or 102 mm Gypframe® UltraSTEEL® wall frames as dividing walls between tenants.

Key to the rigidity of the wall system the stud must offer two key performance attributes, resistance to deflection and high screw retention. The UltraSTEEL® process, only available in Gypframe® stud and track products offer both. This process creates a dimpled effect across the surface of a pre-hot dipped galvanized sheet of steel.

This new dimpled sheet of material demonstrates performance enhancing characteristics for the base strip steel, providing higher strength capacity from lighter gauge material. The process effectively work-hardens the steel with two mating rolls and has the benefit of increasing the load carrying capacity of the flat sheet. During the process, the effective thickness of the material is increased to that of the original thickness, plus the depth of the ribbing. Other benefits include an ability to resist deformation within fire tests, improved screw retention and the production of an attractive and aesthetic component.

The eventual acoustic performance of the installed wall is determined to a significant extent at design stage, ensuring that the wall extends from floor to soffit or roof purlin and truss structure, incorporating deflection heads where required ensures that backbone will provide the performance demanded when re-imagining the usage of the space.

Drywalls installed without the appropriate and high-performance insulation, typically in ‘office space’ perform poorly from an acoustic perspective, with a cavity that amplifies sounds and offers little privacy. Isover’s Cavitylite® glasswool insulation, supplied in 51 mm thick rolls provides a solution that does not promote corrosion of the frame, is non-combustible and does not sustain vermin.

Cladding the insulated wall frame provides the base for the finished wall; Gyproc’s extensive range of RhinoBoards® provide fire, moisture, fixibility and impact resistance aligned with the intended use for the space.

The correct fixing of the boards to the wall-frame is the next crucial aspect in ensuring a high-performance thin wall. Stiffness and associated acoustic performance combines the characteristics of wall-frame, board and drywall screws. Spacing of fixing and appropriate screw type is crucial and must follow the technical detail guidelines in order to deliver the ultimate thin wall.

Jointing and final aesthetic finish is typically influenced by space use. Flush plastered, tape and joint or tiling finishes all rely on RhinoLite® plasters to fill the board joints and provide a suitable base for a final painted or papered finish.

As conversions and adaptation of commercial and residential spaces is increasingly considered and adopted, Gyproc wall systems offer a low-mess, quick and high performance solution. The Gyproc technical team provide installers with project specific-technical details, supporting successful execution of thin-wall, low-weight internal wall solutions.

Syndicated content from Leading Architecture & Design

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