Plasterboard Types from Poland to Ireland: Standard, Fire, Moisture and Acoustic Boards Compared

At a glance: plasterboard types

• 📋 Four board families: standard (type A), fire (DF), moisture-resistant (H2) and acoustic boards each solve a different problem on site.
• 🔥 Pick by room, not by price: stairwells, party walls, bathrooms and bedrooms next to plant rooms rarely share the same specification.
• 📦 Order by the pallet: a pallet of 12.5 mm board is 64 sheets, so the mix of types per truck matters as much as the total area.
• 🚛 One consolidated load: boards, profiles and fixings can travel together from Poland to your Irish site.

Choosing the right board before you order

In our earlier guides to drywall systems and dry lining solutions we looked at the system as a whole. The next question a contractor ordering by the pallet asks is more specific: which type of board goes on which wall?

Mixing them up is costly. A standard board in a wet room fails early, and a fire or acoustic requirement missed at the order stage means a second delivery. This guide sets out the four families we supply from Norgips and when each one belongs on the BOQ.

1. The four board families and what they are for

• Standard (GKB, type A): for general interior lining, partitions and ceilings in rooms with relative humidity not exceeding 70%. Available in 9.5 mm and 12.5 mm. See Norgips S GKB 12.5 mm.
• Fire (GKF, type DF): a denser board used where a fire-rated partition or ceiling is specified. Declared for build-ups reaching up to EI 180 as part of a suitable system. See Norgips S GKF 12.5 mm and the 15 mm version.
• Moisture-resistant (GKBI, type H2): a hydrophobic additive in the core for kitchens and bathrooms where humidity may exceed 70% for short periods, but not above 85%. See Norgips S GKBI 12.5 mm.
• Acoustic: a heavier core for better sound insulation in partitions. See Norgips S Acoustic 12.5 mm and the combined Acoustic Super DFH2IRE, which adds fire and moisture properties.

The fix: mark every room on the drawings with its required board type before you build the order. One combined board such as Acoustic Super can replace two separate layers in some build-ups, but only if the system supplier confirms it for your design.

2. Weight and pallet quantities

Heavier boards mean fewer square metres on the truck. Typical 12.5 mm figures for 1200 x 2000 mm sheets, from the product data sheets:

• Standard: 64 sheets per pallet, about 153.6 m², pallet weight around 999 kg.
• Fire (DF): 64 sheets, about 153.6 m², around 1,551 kg.
• Moisture-resistant (H2): 64 sheets, about 153.6 m², around 1,075 kg.
• Acoustic Super: 64 sheets, about 153.6 m², around 1,797 kg.

Longer sheets (2600 and 3000 mm) cut horizontal joints on tall walls but are heavier to handle and need clear access on site. Plan unloading with a forklift or telehandler, because boards are not hand-balled off a truck.

3. Specifying and ordering without surprises

Match the board to the system. Fire and acoustic performance depends on the whole build-up: board layers, profiles, insulation and fixings. Always confirm with the system supplier's data, not the board alone.

Check the paperwork. Request the CE marking and Declaration of Performance (DoP) for each board type. Norgips publishes DoPs and technical sheets for each product in the shop.

Store boards flat and dry. Keep pallets off the ground, under cover and on a level base. Wet or bowed boards are hard to finish.

Combine the delivery. Boards, metal profiles, fixings and mineral wool for the cavity can go on one consolidated truck, so you receive a matched set rather than several part-deliveries.

Which board does your project need?

Actitrade supplies the full Norgips range in wholesale quantities from Poland to Ireland. Browse dry lining in the shop, or contact Actitrade with your board schedule for a quotation. Trade prices on request.