Important: how much weight can a plasterboard wall support??

Ever ponder the maximum weight that a plasterboard wall can sustain? Whether you intend to hang TVs, shelves, or other heavy objects from your walls, it is imperative that you are aware of their weight limitations. Due to its low cost and ease of installation, plasterboard, commonly referred to as drywall or gypsum board, is frequently used for interior walls.

Plasterboard is used extensively, but it can only support a certain amount of weight. Plasterboard walls have a limited weight capacity due to a number of factors, including board thickness, the framing behind it, and the way the weight is distributed.

When installed correctly, standard plasterboard can typically support 15 kg per square meter, or about 30 pounds per square foot. This means that, if the weight is distributed evenly, a single sheet of plasterboard, which is typically 1.2 meters by 2.4 meters (4 feet by 8 feet), can support up to about 36 kilograms (80 pounds).

It’s crucial to remember that these are only broad recommendations. You’ll need to take into account additional support options if you intend to hang something heavy, such as a large TV or a heavy shelving unit, to make sure the plasterboard wall can safely support the weight without failing or being damaged.

Sheet density

Present-day manufacturing companies create five primary varieties of plasterboard sheets, which vary in terms of the density of the material, the physical and mechanical characteristics, and the presence of polymer additives:

1. Standard plasterboard sheets – gypsum plasterboard. Average density of the material – from 900 to 1050 kg/m3 .
2. Moisture resistant – GKLV, 950 – 1100.
3. Fire resistant – GKLO, 950 – 1150.
4. Moisture-resistant and fire-resistant – GKLVO, 970 – 1200.
5. Acoustic – GKLA, 900 – 1000.

Regulation documentation states that plasterboard sheets, regardless of composition and performance characteristics, cannot have a density greater than 1250 kg/m 3.

Since each plant follows a different recipe, the density indicators above are averages rather than exacts for the types of plasterboard sheets under consideration. Subject to GOST compliance, the specifications are based on the precise proportions of the components.

Vital. Following extensive testing, the product is granted a state certificate of conformance, granting the manufacturer the authority to print the material’s technical properties in the quality certificate.

Strength of gypsum plasterboard

The mechanical strength of gypsum plasterboard sheets assembles the following indicators based on the volumetric weight, adhesion force of particles in the drywall composition, and product thickness:

1. Standard plasterboard sheets – gypsum plasterboard – from 4.5 to 8.5 MPa, with thicknesses from 9 to 12.5 mm.
2. Moisture resistant – GKLV, 6.5 – 9.5 MPa.
3. Fire resistant – GKLO, 6.7 – 9.8 MPa.
4. Moisture-resistant and fire-resistant – GKLVO, 7.5 – 10.0 MPa.
5. Acoustic – GKLA, 7.0 – 9.5 MPa.

The international system of units defines 1 MPa as an indication of a material’s bearing capacity, meaning that every cm 2 can support a static load of 10 kg.

It should be noted that drywall sheets have a much lower bending strength indicator. As a result, a frame device with a cell formed by the intersection of mutually orthogonal profiles 400 x 400 – 600 x 600 mm is required.

Additionally, two layers of cladding with a ligation between them are frequently arranged when erecting partitions from GKL sheets to increase strength. As a result, the bending element’s working height rises and its free span between adjacent rigid supports decreases.

Note: Accurately calculating the required span between the partition’s vertical and horizontal load-bearing profiles and figuring out the ideal number of cladding layers require knowledge of the strength limits.

GOST 6266-97 regulates all real strength indicators for gypsum board sheets, irrespective of the manufacturer.

How many kg can the partition support??

In addition to other technical details, a lot of suppliers and manufacturers also state the maximum weight that a gypsum plasterboard partition can support, contingent on the kind of supporting frame and category of drywall:

1. Vertical load at 1 m. P. walls made of plasterboard, up to 3 m high, provided that racks made of galvanized profiles with a cross-sectional dimension of 60 x 27 mm are used, with a pitch of 400 mm, can withstand up to 75 – 120 kg, provided that there are no dynamic loads higher than the stamp in question.
2. The same vertical load, when using a pine beam with dimensions 40 x 40 – 50 x 50 mm, with similar geometric design parameters, can reach up to 150 – 250 kg per 1 p. m., which wave is enough to place a light wooden floor in a country house.
3. When using a gypsum board dowel of the "butterfly" type, installed in a single-layer wall, the maximum pull-out load is 25 kg. Thus, when using 4 fasteners, hanging furniture weighing more than 100 kg can be placed on the wall.
4. When using an "umbrella" dowel and a single-layer cladding of the partition, this fastener can be loaded up to 20 kg, with 2 layers of gypsum board – up to 35 kg, provided that the product itself is at least 12 mm thick.
5. In the case of mounting hanging objects on a gypsum board wall with a sheet thickness of 12 mm or more, you can use classic expansion dowels, which will provide a load-bearing capacity of up to 15 kg with one layer and up to 25 kg with 2 layers of cladding.
6. All objects that provide a pull-out load of more than 25 kg, based on each fastening element, must be fixed to the supporting frame made of profiles. The best solution would be to use combined racks made of galvanized steel filled with a wooden rectangular block.

Vital. It is advised that partitions composed of gypsum plasterboard sheets only be used as enclosing structures, even though they have the capacity to support loads. This is because laying floors on them increases the risk of the profiles deforming.

Maximum permissible loads

The owner of the space where repair and finishing work are being done can precisely ascertain the maximum weight of buildings and furniture that are affixed to the gypsum board sheets based on the analysis of allowable loads on plasterboard partitions provided above:

1. Vertical load for a metal frame – up to 120 kg/m. P.
2. Vertical load for wooden frame – up to 250 kg/m. P.
3. The maximum pullout force of a dowel-nail is 15 kg for one layer, 25 kg for 2 layers.
4. The maximum pullout force for the umbrella dowel is 20 kg for one layer, 35 kg for 2 layers.
5. Ultimate pullout force for a butterfly dowel is 25 kg for one layer, 40 – 45 kg for 2 layers.

In order to guarantee a multiple margin of strength and stability of the structure, it is advised to provide ahead of time for strengthening the racks and framing future locations for hanging furniture, subject to the availability of a 3D model and design project of the room.

Calculation example

This comprehensive computation of the bearing capacity of a material on its strength, density, and other physical and mechanical parameters can help you avoid mistakes when selecting the best kind of plasterboard sheets and designing partitions constructed from them:

1. In the kitchen there is a partition made of 4 layers of gypsum board sheets with a thickness of 12.5 mm on a supporting frame made of galvanized metal profiles with cross-sectional dimensions of 60 x 27 mm. It is required to place a wall-hung furniture kitchen set at a length of 3 meters, the weight of which in running order will be 250 kg. Furniture pieces are divided into 6 sections, with 2 fastening points on each, with cabinet heights of 1200 mm.
2. To install the described pieces of furniture, the installation of a “butterfly” dowel is required, which can withstand up to 45 kg with a 2-layer cladding of the partition.
3. In total it is supposed to install 6 x 2 = 12 dowels.
4. The maximum load-bearing capacity of the wall, provided that 12 dowels are installed, will be 12 x 45 = 540 kg, which is more than 2 times the total weight of the furniture.
5. Provided that the upper suspension for the kitchen unit is placed, the lower part of the cabinets through the shoulder of a force of 1.2 m will exert horizontal pressure on the gypsum board sheets.
6. Taking the magnitude of the force equal to the mass of the cabinets when decomposing it into horizontal and vertical components in equal proportions, it turns out that at 3 m a transverse linear load will be applied 250 / 2 = 125 kg x arm 1.2 m = 150 kg, or about 50 kg / m p.
7. GKVL sheets with a thickness of 12.5 mm have a material density of 950 – 1100 kg/m 3, which corresponds to a compressive strength of 6.5 – 9.5 MPa, or from 65 to 95 kgf/cm 2, which also fully satisfies the requirements for placement of these pieces of furniture.
8. Conclusion – on a wall made of 2 layers of gypsum board with a thickness of 12.5 mm for each cladding element, it is allowed to install wall cabinets for kitchen units of the specified weight.

Note: If you intend to construct an extended wall higher than three meters without the addition of supports, bends, niches, or pilasters—all of which contribute to greater structural rigidity—you must perform this calculation.

Why should these indicators be taken into account??

The most crucial factors that influence the following associated indicators and performance traits are the strength and load-bearing capability of plasterboard sheets and the completed partitions constructed from them:

1. Selecting the cross-section of frame profiles.
2. Selecting the pitch of profile elements to form a cell with the required dimensions.
3. Determining the number of layers of partition cladding with gypsum board sheets.
4. Determining the thickness of each sheet in the wall.
5. Checking the possibility of placing furniture, TVs, shelves, consoles and other hanging structures using different categories of hardware.
6. Checking the possibility of installing floors or other span structures over the partition.
7. Determining the maximum flexibility of the vertical structure, as well as the need to place reinforcing ribs to increase the stability of the wall.
8. The possibility of a rational approach to the selection of materials when constructing a partition to achieve maximum savings, without losing the load-bearing capacity of the structure.

Vital. The risk of overspending when ordering materials increases if the property owner fails to ascertain the strength characteristics of plasterboard structures. Additionally, the structure may be overly flexible and unstable, which could result in collapse or the formation of cracks.

Knowing how much weight plasterboard walls can support is essential for any remodeling or building project. Although these walls are adaptable and simple to erect, they are limited in their ability to hold heavy items such as TVs, cabinets, and shelves.

The thickness of the wall, the kind and quantity of fasteners used, and the way the weight is distributed over the wall surface all matter when figuring out how much weight a plasterboard wall can sustain. Overdoing these bounds may result in harm, instability, and possible safety risks.

It is advised to seek professional advice or consult the manufacturer’s instructions to guarantee correct installation and weight distribution. By doing this, the plasterboard is kept from being overloaded, which could eventually erode its integrity.

You can make sure that your plasterboard walls not only look fantastic but also work safely and effectively to support the intended loads for your space by being aware of these limitations and taking the appropriate safety measures.

Knowing how much weight a plasterboard wall can support is essential for both safety and practicality in the construction industry. Understanding the boundaries of your plasterboard wall will help you properly install fixtures without running the risk of damage or collapse, whether you’re planning to hang shelves, artwork, or even kitchen cabinets. The thickness of the wall, the caliber of installation, and whether or not it is reinforced are all important factors in determining how much weight it can support. This article will assist you in planning your interior spaces by providing a clear exploration of these factors.

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