NGC Introduces Sound-Reducing Gypsum Board
Gold Bond^® BRAND SoundBreak™ Gypsum Board Offers Simple, Reliable Installation

National Gypsum today introduced Gold Bond^® BRAND SoundBreak™ Gypsum Board, a cost-effective, acoustically enhanced panel that answers the growing demand to reduce the transmission of airborne sound between living spaces within buildings such as apartments, condominiums, townhouses, schools, hospitals and home theaters.

SoundBreak Gypsum Board debuts this week at the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry (AWCI) Convention and INTEX EXPO 2007 in Orlando, FL.

“SoundBreak is a more reliable, less complicated way to achieve higher sound transmission class (STC) ratings,” said Chris Pinckney, product manager, gypsum systems for National Gypsum. “Mass and constrained-layer damping play an important role in a wall’s ability to decrease sound transmission. SoundBreak is unique in that it has a viscoelastic polymer that offers constrained-layer damping sandwiched between two pieces of high-density gypsum board that provide increased mass.”

STC ratings indicate how well wall partitions resist airborne sound. An STC of 55 or higher is a realistic goal for acceptable sound insulation, according to the National Research Council of Canada. The higher the STC rating, the more likely a partition will eliminate typical noise from an adjoining room, such as normal or loud conversation, a baby crying, dogs barking or sounds made by kitchen appliances.

All SoundBreak Gypsum Board designs have been tested by Riverbank Acoustical Labs or the National Research Center of Canada using full scale ASTM E90 test procedure.

“SoundBreak installs and finishes like traditional gypsum board. It’s an alternative to existing sound-damping solutions like double and staggered stud walls and sound clips or channels that can be difficult to install,” said Pinckney. “And while the depth of other solutions can detract from valuable floor space, SoundBreak allows installers to build a wall with a high STC rating and still maximize valuable square footage.”

SoundBreak Gypsum Board can be used as a single-layer application or as a component of multi-layered wall assemblies anywhere there’s a concern about sound transmission between rooms or dwelling units. It is available in 4’ wide sheets that are 8, 9, 10 and 12 feet in length.

Though SoundBreak cannot be used as a substitute for 5/8” Type X board in a fire-rated assembly, it can be used as an additional layer in all UL fire-rated assemblies without compromising the fire rating. For example, upgrading a UL U465 with an additional layer of SoundBreak can increase its STC rating by 7 to 10 points.

SoundBreak Gypsum Board was developed combining technology from National Gypsum and from Quiet Solution, a division of Serious Materials.

About National Gypsum
Based in Charlotte, NC, National Gypsum Company is a fully integrated manufacturer and supplier of building and construction products worldwide. Our primary emphasis is on Gold Bond^® BRAND gypsum board, ProForm^® BRAND drywall finishing products and PermaBase^® BRAND cement board, in addition to an XP^® family of abuse, impact, mold and moisture-resistant products.

April 4 , 2007