A partition wall is a non-main wall in a building, so its thickness is thinner. These secondary structures can be made from a variety of materials.
Gypsum concrete partitions have become very popular. But before installing them, you need to understand the technical features, the composition of this material, the nuances of installation.
They are used in projects of 2-storey houses. On the basis of gypsum and other additional fillers, prefabricated large-sized slabs are created. They are used for partitions. Typically, such structures are used in houses with wooden or reinforced concrete floors. If the humidity level is high in the room, then moisture-resistant plates are used, which are treated with water repellents.
Features
There are many varieties of interior partition designs. It is important to make them technologically correct in accordance with the requirements that are intended for certain premises. Vertical structures are represented by load-bearing walls and partitions. The first are the support for the floors androofs. Their location in the building is clearly recorded. They are placed on the foundation, and on the second floor - on the walls below.
But interior partitions are not load-bearing. They are intended to divide the entire internal space of the building into rooms, even in projects of 2-story houses. They are made from both heavy and light materials. Environmental friendliness, sound insulation, appearance and the possibility of redevelopment in the future depend on them. Gypsum concrete partitions have become very popular in recent years. Although they do require some experience to set up.
Gypsum concrete partitions: specifications
Requirements for such structures are as follows:
- Strength and resilience. Interior partitions in the apartment should not pose a danger to people living in the room.
- Long life use. It should be equal to the period of operation of the entire building.
- The absence of cracks and other defects on the surface and in those areas where the inter-apartment partition is attached to other structures. This requirement is due to the fact that various rodents and insects do not find a place to live, and also that moisture does not accumulate.
Other things to consider
In addition, there are special requirements:
- Moisture resistance is important for bathroom partitions. It must not be allowed to enter the structure. The surface must be treated with a waterproof agent. For example, make the cladding waterproofmaterial.
- For the second floor and attic, partitions to be installed on wooden beams should be light, as they can withstand less load than reinforced concrete structures.
- The panel partition, which will separate zones with different temperatures inside, should be massive and with a high thermal insulation index.
- To lay engineering communications, stationary partitions with a large thickness are used.
Usually soundproofing of the room is also required. Massive structures do well with this. Additionally, you can use the lining of soundproof materials.
Gypsum concrete: composition
Gypsum concrete is a special concrete that uses gypsum rather than traditional cement as a binder.
Together with sand (or as its replacement), various organic and mineral type fillers are used:
- Slag. It is a waste of metal production.
- Ash. It is obtained during the combustion of wood, coal.
- Peat. It is a sedimentary rock with a loose structure.
- Straw. This is a product of agriculture.
- Textile rags. In other words, ordinary unnecessary rags.
- Waste paper. Waste paper.
Still organic fillers of gypsum concrete blocks are shavings, sawdust, reeds, cellulose, waste from the processing of hemp and flax. Mineral fillers are expanded clay, pumice,aggloporite, fuel slag, sand, crushed stone of dolomite, granite, limestone, tuff.
Features of the composition
Due to organic fillers, the strength of the material (in compression or tear) is reduced, but at the same time it becomes much more elastic, and resistance to impact increases. Due to this, nails can be driven into the gypsum concrete partition. Also, thanks to organic fillers, thermal insulation properties are improved. But at the same time, the composition is very popular, which contains not only gypsum, but also sand and sawdust. It is quite durable, technologically advanced, has excellent thermal insulation characteristics.
The strength of gypsum concrete is from 1100 to 1500 kg per cubic meter. m. Moisture absorption ranges from 10 to 25% for material with mineral fillers and up to 65% - with organic. As for frost resistance, the latter can withstand up to 5 cycles, and with mineral additives - up to 15.
Benefits
The advantages of gypsum concrete partitions include the following:
- Light weight. Thanks to this, partitions made of such material can even be placed on a wooden floor.
- Good sound and heat insulation performance. Thanks to this, the partitions do not let in cold and noise.
- Easy handling. For example, for chasing capital walls, you will need a chisel, a hammer. For cutting, diamond wheels are used, and for fittings, an ordinary abrasive is used. But for gypsum concrete structures, just a light hammer and chisel is enough. In addition, drilling holes in conventionalconcrete is much more difficult than drilling drywall. The first requires diamond-coated nozzles, and the second requires a conventional metal drill. Due to the fact that there are no solid inclusions, and the density of the material is low, it is easy to process.
Flaws
But at the same time, gypsum concrete partitions also have disadvantages. These include the following:
- Limited mechanical strength. This is the flip side of the ease of processing this material. It is because of this that it is not used to create capital walls. As a result, the scope of use of gypsum concrete is limited only to unloaded partitions.
- Low moisture resistance. This is due to the properties of gypsum. Because of this, the material is completely unsuitable for decorating partitions in bathrooms and other rooms with a high level of humidity. In any case, the material is not used for the construction of walls that are in contact with water.
These nuances must be taken into account before installing gypsum concrete partitions.
Production standards
During production, quality standards are based on GOST 9574-90. By the way, such a document is considered Soviet, but at the same time it was adopted only in January 1992, when the USSR had already collapsed.
What's included
The key points of such a standard are as follows:
- This regulatory document applies to all panels that are produced on the basis of gypsum as a binder used in construction. In particular, the documentthey mention not only gypsum concrete panels, but also gypsum-cement-pozzolanic, gypsum-lime-slag, gypsum-slag.
- If there is no opening on the product, it is marked with the letters "PG". If the hole is made, then "PGP". If there is a cutout, then the marking is “PGV”.
- The presence of grooves, boxes for cables, sockets is not strictly regulated, but is determined only by the conditions of construction.
- Density of panels should be within 1100-1500 kg per cubic meter. m. The moisture content of the product is allowed up to 12% for those where the binder is gypsum, and up to 14%, where other binders.
- You can reinforce panels with wood. Double bars are used to tie the contour of the product and openings. The frame is fixed with rails. For reinforcement, conifers up to the third grade are used. Deciduous trees are also allowed. The exception is the birch material, as it is highly susceptible to decay. But hardwood cannot be used for the lower bars of the frame. Wood moisture should be between 22 and 40%.
- Steel mounting loops are made in the panels. They are embedded along the entire height of the structure. The location of the loops is determined by the project. But panels can be made without them at the request of the customer. In this case, a special grip is required for their transportation.
- There should be no cracks, chips on the material for the panel. The only exceptions are surface ones, in which the width is not more than 0.5 mm.
- Transport and store panels only vertically.
Full markings
Includes the following items:
- Panel type - PG, GWP or PGV.
- Slab dimensions. Write length, height. Designated in decimetres. If required, round to whole numbers. The thickness is also recorded, but in centimeters.
- Concrete grade. It determines the compressive strength of the material.
- Full list of binders: G - gypsum, GI - gypsum-lime-slag, GS - gypsum-slag, GC - gypsum-cement-pozzolanic.
Groups of symbols are written through a hyphen.
Production technology
Internal gypsum concrete partitions are erected by two methods. First, they are poured into the formwork. This method is used very rarely. Secondly, you can assemble from already made panels. This variant is more common.
The most popular in residential construction are panels that are made from gypsum, sawdust and sand, taken in equal parts. The production method is continuous molding on a rolling machine. This suggests the following:
- The required ingredients are dosed into the mixing container. There they are converted into a homogeneous dried mass.
- Water is added and a special agent that slows down the process of setting the gypsum. Usually use animal glue.
- Pre-made frames are placed on the machine tape. The gypsum concrete substance is poured directly there through the dispenser, and then evenly distributed.
- The formed and fixed mass goes to the department where the panel is dried. There she has contact with flue gases for a dayand air at 130°C.
- Finished and dried panels are transported to the warehouse for storage.
Usually, gypsum concrete partitions are 80-100 mm thick. Double rooms are made between apartments, where there is an air gap of 50 mm.
Installation
If you install partitions with your own hands, then use plates, the dimensions of which are small.
Structures with an area of several square meters are mounted only at the construction stage, before the floor slabs and roof are fixed. The instruction here is as follows:
- If necessary, level the base with a cement pad.
- Waterproof concrete from the future partition with 2 layers of roofing material.
- Put order along the edges of the partition. These are vertically arranged slats with marks that correspond to the rows of panels. Then you need to pull the mooring. This is a horizontal cord.
- First row of panels dry.
- Prepare the binder for the seams. Gypsum is used, to which an agent is added that slows down its drying. To fill the seams, you can use ready-made gypsum plaster or mix it with alabaster. In the latter option, the cost of 1 kg of solution will be less. But you will have to spend time experimenting with the selection of the optimal ratio for setting the material.
- Fill vertical joints with a binder. Install armature. In the place of the upper horizontal groove in the wall, make 2holes. Drive pieces of reinforcement there. Attach several pieces of reinforcement to them, fixing them with wire.
- Put a plaster mortar on top of the groove. Install the next row of panels on it. Be sure to tie up the vertical seams. From row to row, they should shift by about a quarter of their length.
The following rows should be laid out in the same way.
To cut gypsum concrete, experts advise using a grinder with a regular stone cutting wheel. A circular saw, a jigsaw will also work. But they dull quickly.
Conclusion
Choosing gypsum concrete partitions, the owner can always be sure of the reliability of the structure being built. But given the variety of products, it is first recommended to consult with a specialist who will not only give practical advice on the purchase of products, but also answer any question of interest regarding the installation work.
Only if the technology is observed, the construction will be durable and well arranged. Or the products will simply be used as a decorative wall.
