🔥 Fire-Rated Drywall: Type X vs. Type C

Type X Drywall.

What it is: The standard fire-resistant gypsum board most people are familiar with.

Key features:

• Contains glass fibers mixed into the gypsum core

• Typically 5/8 inch thick

• Provides about 1-hour fire resistance when installed as part of a tested assembly

Common uses:

• Garages (especially walls/ceilings adjoining living space)

• Furnace rooms

• Multi-family buildings

• Fire-rated walls and ceilings required by code

Pros:

• Widely available

• Less expensive than Type C

• Accepted by nearly all building codes

Type C Drywall

What it is: An enhanced fire-rated drywall, designed to perform better than Type X.

Key features:

• More glass fibers than Type X

• Includes vermiculite or similar additives that expand under heat

• Improves core stability during a fire

• Same typical thickness: 5/8 inch

Fire performance:

• Can achieve longer fire ratings than Type X

• Often used to meet 2-hour fire ratings or reduce the number of layers needed

Common uses:

• Commercial buildings

• Shafts, stairwells, corridors

• High-rise construction

• Anywhere stricter fire ratings are required

Pros:

• Higher fire resistance

• May allow thinner or fewer layers for the same rating

Cons:

• More expensive

• Not always stocked at big-box store