Gypsum Boards: RG, FR, MR and FMR Plasterboards Made in Saudi Arabia

Gypsum board, also called plasterboard, gypsum wallboard or drywall panel, and known in the Saudi market as جبس بورد, جبسون بورد or جبسن بورد, is the standard sheet for interior walls, partitions, linings and suspended ceilings. The names differ; the product is the same. What really differs between boards is the type, thickness and edge.

Jawdah Industrial Co. Ltd. manufactures its boards in the Kingdom and supplies them directly to contractors in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and other cities. This page holds the full board specification, the type-selection table, the standards as stated, the approved project references and the RFQ checklist. For how boards are assembled into ceilings, partitions and linings, see drywall systems.

A gypsum board is a building panel made from a gypsum core between strong paper liners. It is light compared with masonry, quick to cut and fix, and gives a smooth surface for paint and decoration once the joints are treated. That combination is why it is used in offices, schools, hospitals, hotels, villas, commercial buildings, factories and homes across Saudi Arabia.

Board performance is set by its type. A Regular board is for dry interiors; additives and reinforcement in the core give Fire Resistant and Moisture Resistant versions; FMR combines both. Choosing the type for each room is the single most important specification decision, and the table further down sets out Jawdah's guidance.

Each board has three parts: the gypsum core, a natural-finish face paper and a strong liner paper on the back. The face paper folds around the long edges to protect the core and strengthen the edge, and the ends are square-cut so boards butt neatly end to end.

The long edges are recessed, also called tapered. When two tapered edges meet they form a shallow channel that takes joint tape and compound, so the finished joint sits flush with the board face and disappears under paint. Square edges are also available for applications where a flush taped joint is not required or the design calls for them.

Jawdah's selection guidance links each type to the areas it is intended for. Specify the type per room on the drawings, not once for the whole project.

Jawdah gypsum systems have been supplied to these Saudi projects, each with its stated scope: Riyadh Military Hospital, Riyadh (2013) — gypsum tiles with suspension systems; King Abdullah Financial District, Riyadh (2014–2017) — gypsum tiles and aluminium strip ceilings; Sahool Mall, Jubail (2017) — gypsum tiles with suspension systems; Saudi German Hospital, Dammam (2018) — gypsum systems and access panels.

Documents available from the Jawdah team: the Gypsum Plasterboard Technical Data Sheet and the Gypsum Ceiling System Catalogue, plus the Installation Manual and Tests, available in hard copy.

ASTM C1396 is the American specification for gypsum board, and EN-520 is the European standard for gypsum plasterboards; Jawdah states that its board material complies with both. ASTM C473 is the standard set of test methods for physical properties of gypsum panel products; Jawdah states testing to ASTM C473-06a, clauses 11, 12 and 13, as per the gypsum manufacturer's specifications.

These references describe the board as a product. They are not a fire-resistance classification or an acoustic rating for a wall or ceiling built with the board, and they should not be quoted as such in specifications or marketing material.

As general guidance, thinner boards suit light-duty ceilings and curved or low-load work, mid-range thicknesses cover most partitions and ceilings, and the thicker boards are used where more stiffness, impact tolerance or mass is wanted, or where a fire-separating build-up calls for them. The project specification and the system design decide the exact thickness and number of layers.

Use tapered edges wherever joints will be taped and finished flush for paint. Use square edges where the design leaves joints expressed, covers them with trims, or where boards are used as a substrate under another finish. Avoid mixing the two on one flush surface.

Inspect each delivery before boards are distributed around the site.

Jawdah lists a wide application range for its boards: bathrooms, kitchens and wet areas, hospitals, shops, offices, airports and exhibition centres, halls, computer rooms and utility rooms, with the board type matched to each area.

Store boards flat, off the ground and under cover, and keep them dry until installation, including MR and FMR types. Carry boards on edge to avoid snapping, and protect the long edges, which form the joints.

Boards are screwed to galvanised framing: Stud and Runner for walls and Omega, C-Channel and L-Angle for ceilings, using Jawdah gypsum board screws from 25 mm up to 38 mm. The Installation Manual is available in hard copy from Jawdah.

These errors appear frequently in tenders and are easy to avoid at the specification stage.

Gypsum board prices in Saudi Arabia are given by quotation rather than a fixed public price, because they depend on the project. The main variables are board type, thickness, fire or moisture resistance, board size and total quantity, the ceiling, wall or partition application, framing and suspension requirements, transport and delivery location, and the project's technical and installation requirements.

For an accurate quotation, send the board type, thickness, dimensions, total quantity, project location and any drawings or technical specifications. Large orders are priced according to technical specifications, total quantities, production requirements and delivery schedule.

Jawdah describes its boards as non-combustible, mechanically stable, quick to install and decorate, and environmentally friendly and recyclable. The core is asbestos-free. Weight and core density are not single figures: both vary according to thickness and type, and are confirmed for the boards ordered.

The table reproduces Jawdah's product specification for gypsum boards. Use it directly in specification clauses and submittal checks.