January 24, 2005—United States Gypsum Company Fiberock Brand Aqua-Tough Interior Panels offer protection from moisture and mold. They are engineered to provide increased resistance to abuse while outperforming paper-faced or glass-mat-faced panels, according to USG. Their Aqua-Touch formulation provides water resistance through the core, and the panels are approved for use in wet areas, including tub surrounds. Independent laboratory tests confirm that the panels provide superior mold resistance when they are tested per ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) D327300 standards.
Designed to be installed and finished like traditional wallboard, the new panels feature a smooth surface that can either be painted or finished with ceramic tile. They are available in – and 5/8-inch thicknesses, with the 5/8-inch-thick panels earning UL classification for fire resistance (Type X).
USG says the panels are ideal for use in high-traffic areas where resistance to abuse, moisture, mold, and fire are especially important qualities, such as in schools, healthcare facilities, and homes.
The Fiberock panels are made from 95 percent recycled materials. They also earned the “Green Cross” certificate from Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) and are considered an option in LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System applications.
USG recently entered a multi-year contract with Gypsum Recycling International, a Scandinavian wallboard recycling company, to purchase reprocessed gypsum for production of new wallboard. Under terms of the agreement, Gypsum Recycling International will collect gypsum wallboard scrap from commercial construction sites and prepare the material for the wallboard production process at three of USG’s manufacturing plants in the Northeast during 2005.This is following USG’s history of recycling: USG points out that Sheetrock gypsum wallboard has been made using 100 percent recycled paper for more than 30 years, and most USG paper mills and all ceiling tile plants have almost zero water discharge.
For more information, contact USG.
