Gypsum Fibre Board

Installation Guide
 Before Starting
 Before starting installation, ensure all shop
drawings are COMPLETE
and SIGNED OFF by the appropriate authority!

 Review the PROJECT PACK provided, and

understand the DATA SHEETS, TECHNICAL
DRAWINGS and BUILD DETAILS. Ask Project
Manager for this if you have not received.

 If you have any questions, get the answers before

you start any work. “Measure twice, cut once!“
Storage and Handling

Store boards FLAT and OFF THE GROUND COVER and PROTECT boards from the weather

LIFT boards UP and OFF Pallet Carry Boards Vertically

Fermacell System
Basic Components
1. Fermacell Perimeter Strips 2. Tracks and Studs

3. Fermacell Board 4. Fermacell Screws

5. Fermacell Jointstik Glue 6. Fermacell Mesh Jointing Tape

8. Fermacell Fine Surface Treatment (Optional)

7. Fermacell Joint Filler

* You MUST have these components on site before starting!!!

Tools Required
Step 1. Layout

• Coordinate with build

details, looking at
doors, corners and
junctions.

• Use a level, preferably

a laser level.

• PLAN AHEAD!
Step 2. Perimeter strip

• Install Fermacell Perimeter strip under foot tracks, above head

tracks and at all vertical junctions.

• Check Technical Drawings for junction details!

1. Perimeter Strip under 2. Perimeter Strip Above 3. Perimeter Strip at

Foot Track Head Track Vertical Junction
Step 3. Head and Foot
Track Installation

• Install Head and Foot tracks as per layout.

• Check build details and plan ahead for junctions,
openings and corners

1. Lay tracks 2. Overlap track joining by 3. Overlapped Corner 4. Completed

over Perimeter 100mm by removing flange track join (refer to corner Track Layout,
Strips of track detail for more ready for anchors
information)
3a. Anchor Spacing
• Anchors are to be spaced at maximum:
– 600mm Horizontally
– 1000mm Vertically
– 100mm From Ends

1. Drill holes at proper 2. Install Anchors AS PER

spacing for SUITABLE MANUFACTURERS
APPROVED ANCHORS, size SPECIFICATION AND
and depth as per anchor INSTRUCTION
manufacturer’s instruction
3b. Suitable Anchors

• Head and foot track Anchors on steel frame should be

min. 40mm, and subject to approval.
Examples of Track Anchors:

45mm RAWL Plug and HILTI 40mm Hammer 40mm DBZ type 20mm Nail Pin
Screw Screw Wedge Anchor (NOT ACCEPTABLE!)
(RECOMMENDED)
3c. Head and Foot
Track Installation

Repeat the previous steps for Head Tracks:

1. Install Perimeter Strips 3. Install Anchors as per

2. Drill holes for anchors
above Tracks. manufacturer instruction.
as per manufacturers
Install Tracks straight and
specifications at max
true, with 100mm overlap
600mm Spacing.
at joins.
3. Track Installation
Do’s and Don’ts
• DO install tracks with Fermacell Perimeter Strips.
• DO NOT install tracks without perimeter strips. You WILL be made to remove tracks
and install these strips!

• DO make sure you install tracks straight and true.

• DO make sure you check BUILD DETAILS before installing tracks and PLAN AHEAD
for these details.

• DO use suitable length anchors.

• DO NOT use anchors without approval.

• DO follow specified spacing.

• DO NOT install anchors at wrong spacing.

• DO follow anchor manufacturer specifications and instructions for depth, size and
installation.
• DO NOT install anchors without checking product data sheets.

• If you require clarification, check with Fermacell Technical

Department before proceeding!
Step 4. First Studs/ Junctions

• Ensure Fermacell
Perimeter Strips are
installed between
STRUCTURE and STUD.

• Install first studs to

structure using suitable
anchors and spacing,
max 1000mm.

• Check BUILD DETAIL

DRAWINGS provided by
FERMACELL for
Partition to Partition
Junctions and install as
per these. Do not forget
PERIMETER STRIPS!
4a. Vertical Fixing Spacing
and Deflection Allowance
• Fixings are to installed at maximum 1000mm spacings
• Fixings are to be 100mm from ends of stud
• Allow 10mm space at top of stud for Deflection
• Do not fix Stud to Tracks!

-Fixings less than 1000mm - 10mm Deflection Allowance

-Perimeter Strip Installed - Stud NOT fixed to Head Track
-Stud NOT fixed to Foot Track
4. First Stud Do’s and
Don’ts
• Do install Perimeter Strip
• DO NOT install tracks without perimeter strips. You WILL be made to remove
studs and install these strips!

• DO make sure you install studs straight and plumb.

• DO allow 10mm Deflection at top of stud.

• DO NOT fix studs to Head or Foot Tracks.

• DO make sure you check BUILD DETAILS before installing tracks and PLAN
AHEAD for these details.

• DO use suitable length anchors and follow manufacturer Data Sheet.

• DO NOT use anchors without approval.

• DO follow specified spacing.

• DO NOT install anchors at wrong spacing.

• If you require clarification, check with Fermacell Technical Department before proceeding!
Step 5. Studwork
Installation
• Studs must be spaced as per Fermacell
Data sheet, usually 600mm unless
otherwise specified

• Studs are to be installed with the opening

of the C stud facing the same direction

• Studs must be installed plumb and true.

• Studs are NOT to be fixed to the Head or

Foot tracks

• Studs should be cut short 10mm and

floated in head track to allow for
deflection.

• If studs must be spliced for length, follow

the splicing technique provided.
5a. Install direction

• Studs are to be installed with the opening of the

C-Channel facing the same direction
5b. Head deflection

• Studs are to be installed 10mm short of ceiling slab

height to allow for deflection.
5c. Stud Splicing

• Studs may need to be spliced to

add extra length:

1. Use piece of track to make splice.

2. Splice length is 10x width of stud (100mm

width= 1000mm length, 75mm width= 750mm
length, etc.)

3. Evenly overlap stud join with splice.

4. Use 4-6 Self Tapping Metal Screws on each

stud section (8-12 total) to fix splice to studs
5. Work on a
solid surface
to ensure
spliced stud is
fixed straight.

*More information will be provided with

Build Detail Project Pack. *
5d. Typical Door framing

-Floor junctions to be formed with

U channel cut and returned 100mm
to secure stud.

-Header formed with U channel and

returned 250mm to stud.

-Studs and lintel must be

completely filled with single piece
of timber and fixed at lintel.

DO NOT use Plywood in

place of timber!

Door Frames differ depending on door weights. Any doors greater

than 50kg should have details reviewed before construction.
5e. MEP- Coordinate!

• Coordinate with MEP

and drawings as much
as possible to assist
each other with
installation.

• Sections of stud or
track channels can be
used for brackets for
sockets.

• MEP must have

Fermacell Installer Cut
and Drill studs and
boards for penetrations.
5f. Framing Around
Letterbox Openings
-Any services that interrupt
studs must be framed with a
letterbox opening detail to
maintain rigidity of wall.

-Openings must be formed

using track sections as shown
at right, and framed before
boarding.

-Openings should be boarded

following same guidelines as
door openings.

-Openings greater than

1200mm should be reviewed
with Fermacell!
Step 5. Studwork
Installation Do’s and Don’ts

• DO make sure you install studs straight and plumb.

• DO allow 10mm Deflection at top of stud.

• DO install stud openings in same direction.

• DO use correct splicing detail.

• DO NOT fix studs to Head or Foot Tracks.

• DO make sure you check BUILD DETAILS before installing tracks and studs. PLAN AHEAD for
these details.

• DO Follow guidelines and build details for door and letterbox openings

• Coordinate with MEP as early in the project as possible.

• .
• It is not allowed to interrupt studs without rectifications!

• DO follow specified spacing.

• DO NOT install studs at wrong spacing.

• If you require clarification, check with Fermacell Technical Department before proceeding!
Step 6. Board installation
Single Layer
• Boards should be installed 10mm up off of floor slab and 10mm
down from ceiling slab to allow for deflection.

• First board installed should be Square Edged into junction and

corners. Do not use Tapered edge!

• Plan Ahead to avoid Cross Jointing and Minimize Cutting

Fermacell Tapered Edge Board Fermacell Square Edge Board

*Only Tapered Edge
Boards are to be butted *Only Square Edge Boards are
tightly together for to be glued and butted to less
jointing using mesh tape than 1mm, OR jointed with a
and Joint Filler. See 5-7mm Gap and filled. See
Jointing section for more Jointing section for more
information. information.
6a. Cutting Boards
Cutting Method A: Circular Saw
Cutting Method B:
Score and Snap

1. Scoring, using straight edge

It is recommended to use a
“PLUNGE CUT Circular Saw
with track guide” to cut 2. Snapping board

boards, as this creates Boards may also be scored using a

straight edge and snapped, but these
edges that can be glued. edges must be cleaned and rasped or
filed, and then jointed with filler using
a 5-7mm gap. DO NOT GLUE!

* Utilize FACTORY CUT EDGES for Glued Joints as much as possible.

6b. Starting board

• Starting Board should be Square Edged,

and spaced 5-7mm from structure.
• Recommended to Rip Fermacell Sheet in
half to do this if using Tapered Edge
board.
6c. Top and Bottom Gap

• Boards must be installed with a 10mm gap up from floor slab,

and 10mm down from ceiling slab.

• This can be done using shims. Gap will be filled with

Fire Rated-Acoustic Mastic during finishing if specified.

*DO NOT FIX SCREWS INTO TOP OR BOTTOM TRACK!

6d. Staggering layout

• It is important to AVOID CROSS JOINTS! Boards must

be installed as shown below in order to avoid this:

6 7 8 9 10

or
1 2 3 4 5

Example of INCORRECT
Example of cracking
CROSS JOINT during
due to Cross Joints
installation
after finishing.
6e. Screws

• Use only Specified Fermacell Screws

• Boards are NOT to be screwed into tracks

* Do NOT use
regular
TRUMPET
HEAD
DRYWALL
SCREWS with
Fermacell
Board
Only use screws from these boxes! Installation!
6e. Screws: Fixing
Sequence

1. Screws should be fixed to closed side of stud first;

2. then to open face (on 60mm Flange studs as provided).

Ensure boards are attached tightly to stud, and that

screws are fully seated!
6e. Screws: Spacing and
Fixing Order
• Screws are to be spaced at max 250mm apart.
• Boards must be fixed using order shown below:

Screw Spacing
6e. Screws: Fixing Order
Do’s and Don’ts
6e. Screws: Fixing and
Depth
• Screws should be
installed using a min.
3500rpm drill whenever
possible. A Depth Gauge
is recommended also.

• Screws are to be sunk

into board 2-3mm. These
will be filled and sanded
during finishing.

Example of cordless High Speed

Gypsum Board Screw Gun with Depth
Gauge

• Screws can be fixed min.

10mm from board edge.
6f. Mirrored Joints

• Ensure that board joints on both sides of the wall are

mirrored on the same studs.

Joints
Mirrored On
Same Stud
6g. Boarding Around Doors
and Letterbox Openings

+200mm

Do Not Joint at
Overlap Board
corner Planes of
Joints at least doors and
200 mm from openings!!!
corner planes!

Note: Letterbox openings should be boarded following these guidelines

6h. Corners
• Fermacell Boards do not require
corner beads or taping if formed with
the following method:

Inside Corners:
1. Use Machine Cut or
Factory Square cut
boards.
2. First board (1) of the
Suggested track layout
corner should be
for correct corner
installed dry butted to formation
the outer board (3).
3. The second board (2)
is to be mounted Outside Corners:
5-7mm short of the
first board. 1. Use Machine Cut or
2
4. The 5-7mm gap will be Factory Square cut boards.
filled using Fermacell 3 1 2. First board (1) of the
Joint Filler and corner should be installed
sanded to finish, or 5-7mm back from the
with flexible paintable corner.
mastic. 3. The second board (2) is to
be mounted flush with the
outside edge of the first
board.
1
4. The 5-7mm gap will be
2 filled using Fermacell Joint
Filler, and sanded to finish.
Step 6. Single Layer Board
Installation Do’s and Don’ts

• DO install boards with correct spacings from slabs and floors (10mm) and
corners and structure (5-7mm).

• DO ensure joints are staggered.

• DO ensure correct screws and screw spacing.

• Do follow guidelines for screw installation to avoid tension.

• DO NOT fix corners of boards and then fill in spaces as this creates
tension.

• Do Ensure mirrored joints

•
• DO NOT install boards with Cross Joints!

• If you require clarification, check with Fermacell Technical Department before

proceeding!
Step 7. Jointing

Fermacell Partitions use three jointing methods:

1. Jointstick Glued Joints

- Factory or perfect Machine Cut Square Edge
Board to same ONLY.

2. Mesh Taped and Filled Joints

- Tapered Edge To Tapered Edge Board joints
ONLY. DO NOT CREATE TAPERS!

3. Filled Joints with 5-7mm Gap and Backing

Board
- Square Edge to Square Edge joints, or Square Edge
to Tapered Edge joints ONLY.

ALL JOINTS MUST BE COMPLETELY FILLED TO BACK OF JOINT!!!

Glue vs. Silicon vs. Filler
Jointstick Glue: GLUE is only for
STICKING things together
TIGHTLY. Is not for sealing, is not
flexible when cured.

Silicon and Mastic Sealant: SILICON

and MASTIC is for SEALING gaps and
spaces. It is not for sticking, and is
still flexible when cured.

Joint Filler: FILLER is for FILLING

gaps that are too big for gluing, more
than 1mm.

Use these products correctly, or they will

be removed and repaired!
7a. Fermacell Jointstick
Glue Application
3-5mm

1. Use tip supplied! 2. Apply 3-5mm bead in

centre of boards to be joined

Less than 1mm

3. Install Boards using Glued 4. Let cure 18-36 hours before

Joint to Less than 1mm Gap! scraping excess, DO NOT TOUCH!
7a. Glued joints: Do’s and
Don’ts

Bad Joint 1:
-Too much Glue
-Glue has been used as filler

Good Joint:
-even bead of glue, correct amount
-less than 1mm gap
-completely filled

Bad Joint 2:
-Joint not filled
-Over 1mm gap
7b. Fermacell Joint Filler
and Mesh Tape
-Mix 1kg Filler to 0.6L water
-Surface must be dry, clean and dust free

-Must be used within 35minutes of mixing

-DO NOT APPLY ONCE FILLER BEGINS TO

HARDEN!

-DO NOT TRY TO ADD WATER ONCE MIXED!

TOOLS REQUIRED:
Fermacell Mesh Joint Reinforcement Tape
is ONLY used on Tapered Edge to Tapered Edge Joints.
7b. Filled Joints

Tapered Edge Board Joint:

1. a.) Apply Mesh Tape to Joint. b.)Fill Joint
completely with fill, pushing through mesh tape.
Spot fill screw holes and cleaned glue joints at this
time.
2. After 6-8 hours, apply 2nd coat to account for
shrinkage and provide finished surface.
3. Sand flush with board surface. Tape Fill

Square Edge Joints:

1. Fill Joint completely with joint filler. Spot fill screw
holes and cleaned glue joints at this time.
2. After 6-8 hours, apply 2nd coat to account for
shrinkage and provide finished surface.
3. Sand flush with board surface.
Spot fill screws and Sand Flush
cleaned glue joints
7c. Non Glued Horizontal
Joints with Backing
• In some cases horizontal joints
must be installed using joint fill
method instead of glue joints.
This is when non machine or
uneven edged boards are used.

• These horizontal joints must be

backed with Fermacell board
strip spanning stud to stud.

• Fix board strip with

FERMACELL screws from outer
face at 250mm spacing.

• Boards should be installed with

5-7mm gap and completely
filled with joint filler.

• DO NOT USE GLUE TO FILL

THIS GAP!!!
Step 7. Single Layer Board
Jointing Do’s and Don’ts
• DO use correct jointing method for correct board edges: glue machine cut edges; tape
and fill tapered edge joints; 5-7mm gap and completely fill all other joints.

• Joints must be CLEAN and all material removed before jointing!

• DO ensure non-supported joints are backed with Fermacell board strip and filled correctly.

• DO ensure JOINTSTICK GLUE is used correctly, with fully filled joint and boards fixed
with less than 1mm gap.

• DO NOT USE GLUE AS SILICON or FILLER, and do not use silicon as glue!!!

• DO ensure joints are COMPLETELY FILLED with Joint Filler

• DO NOT CREATE TAPER/ CHAMPFERS for taping and jointing!!!

• DO use factory made tapers only.

• If you require clarification, check with Fermacell Technical Department before

proceeding!
Step 8. Rockwool
Installation
• Install only specified rockwool! Ensure NO gaps!

• All voids must be completely filled, including into studs and tracks.

• Pins or Tape may be required to hold rockwool in place, use if insulation does not fit and is
held by studs.

• Insulation must be filled as closely as possible to MEP services.

Rockwool installed tight Rockwool installed completely Rockwool installed closely

with studwork into stud cavity around MEP services
Step 8. Rockwool Installation

Incorrect rockwool installation will affect acoustic and fire

rated performance of partition. Common Examples include:

Gap left in rockwool Rockwool not tight

in stud or track

Check Partition Data sheet for specified thickness and

density of rockwool to be used! Check with Fermacell if
unsure.
Step 9. Board installation
Second Layer

• If Installing 2 layers of boards, note the following:

1. First layer of boards are to be TIGHTLY dry butted, NO GLUE OR FILL.

2. First Layer board joints must be 200mm overlapped by Second Layer.

3. Second Layer boards must be fixed with LONGER 40mm Screws.

4. Second Layer is Jointed as previously instructed for Single Layer.

Example of 200mm
overlapping of joints for
Second Layer Installation
Step 10. Finishing

• If specified, a Fine Surface Treatment may be applied

to improve the surface for painting. Apply Fermacell
FST in 0.5mm layers and lightly sand until desired
finish is attained.

Finishes by others should follow the manufacturers method statement and

recommendations, and should be shown by manufacturer to be compatible
with Fermacell Gypsum Fibre Boards. If unsure please consult Fermacell!
Shaftwall Build Details:
Fire sealant and additional Insulation
Shaftwall Build Details:
Shaft Side Horizontal Jointing

Note location of Fire rated Mastic Sealant!

If you need more information, have ANY questions regarding any
detail, or require additional support on your project, please
contact the Fermacell GCC Technical Department at the
details below:

Kevin Davidson
Technical Manager, Fermacell GCC
+971 56 494 6412
[email protected]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yury Khartanovich
Technical Manager/ Specification Engineer
+971 54 345 0738
[email protected]
Please feel free to ask
any questions.

Thank you for your attention!