The Gypsum Association has announced its 19th edition of GA-600, Fire Resistance Design Manual. Since 1959, the association has regularly published its collection of the latest in fire-resistance rated gypsum building system designs. For the last 50 years, the manual has become the standard industry reference document for architects and design professionals, builders and drywall contractors, and the building code enforcement community.

The FRDM is currently referenced by the International Building Code, the BOCA National Building Code, the Uniform Building Code, the Standard Building Code, and The National Fire Codes, as well as many state and local jurisdictions in the U.S. and Canada as a source document for fire-resistance and sound-control rated designs that incorporate gypsum board in a variety of building systems.

The new edition offers a total of 89 new proprietary building system designs: 51 wall and partition designs, 8 area separation fire wall designs, 17 floor-ceiling designs, 3 roof-ceiling designs, and 10 column designs. Other minor changes to the FRDM include new language in the introduction regarding which provisions prevail when there are differences between code language and other standards, new testing agency listings, and a list showing specific sections in ASTM C 1396 that apply to various gypsum panel products.

In keeping with the gypsum industry’s persistent goal of producing eco-friendly and sustainable products, this edition of the FRDM is printed on stock certified by the Forest Stewardship Council as being produced from Mixed Sources, including well-managed forests, controlled sources, and recycled wood or fiber.

The 19th edition of the FRDM is available at the association’s Web site atwww.gypsum.org.