{"id":68801,"date":"2023-07-14T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-14T08:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/?p=68801"},"modified":"2024-05-09T14:17:40","modified_gmt":"2024-05-09T13:17:40","slug":"what-is-gypsum-in-construction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/what-is-gypsum-in-construction\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Gypsum in Construction?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Gypsum is an important natural mineral used in materials and products for many different industries – particularly in construction. You may not have heard of gypsum before, but you will certainly have come across some of the things it\u2019s used in – in fact, gypsum is all around us. In recent years there have been some misconceptions about the risks associated with using gypsum for construction, particularly whether or not gypsum contains asbestos<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article we\u2019ll outline what gypsum is and the important role it plays in the construction industry. We\u2019ll also explain the risks associated with gypsum powder and the relationship between gypsum and asbestos in construction.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"plasterboard<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

What is Gypsum?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Gypsum is a soft sulphate mineral with a white or grey colour, known scientifically as calcium sulphate dihydrate. It has the chemical formula CaSO4 2H2O<\/strong>, meaning it\u2019s made up of calcium<\/strong>, sulphur<\/strong>, oxygen<\/strong> and water<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is a naturally occurring mineral found in sedimentary rock layers and forms when water evaporates in mineral-rich marine soil environments. As time passes, more water evaporates, more minerals are brought to the surface and a solid deposit forms – this is gypsum. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gypsum deposits are found and mined worldwide, from the US and Brazil to Russia and Thailand. It is most commonly extracted using surface mining, then crushed using industrial machines and screened to sort it into different-sized pieces with different commercial uses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The mineral has been used in society for thousands of years. For example, alabaster – a solid form of gypsum – was used by ancient civilizations to create sculptures, while gypsum powder was used as a building material for the Egyptian pyramids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, gypsum can be found in the walls, floors and ceilings of many buildings, in fertilisers, as a food additive, in toothpaste, in medicine for creating casts and in many other places. Gypsum is hugely beneficial in our modern society, but it has its most significant uses in construction, where its properties, such as sound insulation and fire resistance, have improved the safety and efficiency of construction projects. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"A<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Types of Gypsum in Construction <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you haven\u2019t heard of gypsum before, you may be surprised at the number of building materials made from, or containing, gypsum. When added to building materials, gypsum improves that material’s functional and structural properties, meaning gypsum-based materials are used widely and frequently in construction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When used in building materials for construction, some of the properties gypsum transfers to that material include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n