A tested Fire-Board system can be rated for 120 minutes, but if it’s installed incorrectly, it can fail in under 15. The fire rating of an assembly does not come from the board itself; it comes from the *entire system* being installed exactly as it was tested. Even the smallest deviations—the wrong screw, incorrect jointing, or a gap at the perimeter—will void the certification and create a fatal weak point for fire to exploit.

In Saudi Arabia, Civil Defense inspectors are trained to spot these errors. This is why specialist installation is not just a recommendation, but a mandatory requirement for achieving compliance and life safety.

Critical Detail 1: Staggered Board Joints

This is the most basic and most important rule of fire-rated boarding. Fire will always attack the weakest point, which is the joint between two boards. A specialist installer ensures:

• On the Same Side: Vertical or horizontal joints are staggered, so they are not one continuous line.
• Between Layers: In a 2-hour, double-layer system, the joints of the outer layer *must not* align with the joints of the inner layer. This creates a “baffled” path, forcing the fire to work much harder to get through.
• Opposite Sides: The joints on one side of a partition must be staggered from the joints on the other side.

Critical Detail 2: The Correct Fixings

A non-specialist may use any screw they have. This is a critical failure. A tested system specifies the *exact* type, length, and spacing of fixings. Why?

• Fire-Rated Screws: They are designed not to melt or lose strength quickly.
• Correct Length: The screw must penetrate the metal stud to a specific depth to ensure it has enough “grip” to hold the board as the gypsum or board material calcines and weakens in the fire.
• Correct Spacing (Centers): A tested system (e.g., 200mm centers) ensures there are enough fixing points to hold the entire board sheet in place and prevent it from “pillowing” or falling off, which would expose the entire cavity.

Critical Detail 3: The Perimeter & Head-of-Wall

A wall is only as good as its connection to the rest of the building. The gap at the top of the partition (the “head-of-wall”) is a major junction for fire spread, especially as the floor slab above deflects in a fire. A specialist, as part of our fire protection services, will install the correct, tested detail, which is typically a fire-rated acoustic sealant over a backing rod to create a flexible, fire-rated seal.

Why a Specialist Installer is Non-Negotiable

As our past projects demonstrate, our teams are trained and certified by the manufacturers of these systems. We understand the “why” behind these details. A specialist provides:

• Compliance & Certification: We provide documentation and installer certification to prove to the consultant and Civil Defense that the system is installed 100% as tested.
• Knowledge of Tested Systems: We have access to the manufacturer’s technical manuals (the “recipe book”) and know which system to apply for each specific rating.
• Quality Control: We conduct internal quality checks to ensure these critical details are not missed.

“In passive fire protection, ‘close enough’ is ‘completely non-compliant.’ The details are not recommendations; they are the entire basis of the system’s fire rating.”

Conclusion: Installation is the System

You are not just buying Fire-Boards; you are buying a professionally installed, certified life-safety system. The value of a specialist contractor is the peace of mind that comes from knowing the job has been done correctly, that it will pass inspection the first time, and that it will perform as designed to save lives and protect your asset.

Ensure your fire-rated systems are installed 100% correctly and are fully compliant.

Contact Our Certified Installation Team Today