National Gypsum Unveils SoundBook 2.0™

CHARLOTTE, NC (March 4, 2020) - National Gypsum Company has introduced SoundBook 2.0™, the industry’s most comprehensive resource for technical information and detailed architectural drawings of sound-rated assemblies for architects and contractors seeking to achieve required Sound Transmission Class (STC) ratings on their projects.

The 116-page volume includes details and drawings of 310 sound-rated assemblies for both steel and wood stud construction, as well as for floor-ceiling applications. The book also features acoustical terms, concepts and proper installation methods for optimal sound control. The original SoundBook™, an industry game-changer when it was published in 2015, weighed in at 72 pages and 165 drawings.

Evolving design and construction trends, building code changes and new product introductions have added to the challenges of selecting the proper materials, assemblies and installation methods to meet target sound ratings.

“Acoustical performance is one of the most popular topics covered by our Construction Services Team,” said John Bianchi, gypsum product manager for National Gypsum. “With the market’s increased focus on sound control, SoundBook 2.0 has nearly doubled in size while offering simplified details highlighting the products used to build each assembly and its real-world performance.”

National Gypsum’s goal in publishing SoundBook 2.0 is to provide architects, contractors and others involved in specifying products the most current information and illustrations available today on sound-rated wall, ceiling and floor assemblies.

The guide was developed by National Gypsum’s 1-800-NATIONAL Construction Services Team, an industry-leading resource for technical information, including acoustical performance. The team has over 70 years of accumulated research, on-the-job experience and knowledge of building products and their application.

National Gypsum has introduced several new acoustical gypsum products as part of the company’s SoundBreak XP family of products since the initial rollout of its SoundBreak XP Wall™ Board, including SoundBreak XP Retrofit® Board, designed for use as an extra noise reducing layer over existing wallboard, and its most recent innovation, SoundBreak XP Ceiling™ Board, a 3/4” board for floor-ceiling applications.

The 145 drawings added to SoundBook 2.0 reflect the results of extensive testing of sound-rated assemblies at National Gypsum’s NGC Testing Services in Buffalo, New York, which provides full-scale fire, acoustical, analytical and structural testing in a 50,000-plus-square-foot facility with state-of-the-art laboratories and leading-edge technology. The testing confirms STC ratings on wall and ceiling assemblies incorporating National Gypsum’s acoustical gypsum products and a range of other gypsum board products.

All SoundBreak products are part of National Gypsum’s PURPLE® family of high-performance drywall products that also provide superior moisture, mold and mildew resistance as well as abuse, impact and fire resistance. PURPLE® products are part of National Gypsum’s Gold Bond® family of gypsum products.

SoundBook 2.0™ is now available online at NationalGypsum.com. The new volume is a companion to The Purple Book® II, which includes more than 100 technical drawings, including fire-rated partitions, shaft wall assemblies, penetration details, head-of-wall details, firestopping options and more.

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Media Contact:
Beth Straeten, Corporate Communications Director
beths@nationalgypsum.com
704-365-7327

Cheryl Perry, Corporate Communications Manager
cherylp@nationalgypsum.com
704-365-7636