Gyprock ®

Requirements & Procedures for Back-Blocking Joints

What is Where mid-span butt or end joints are not

required but are used to minimise plasterboard

Back-Blocking and wastage, these joints must also be back-blocked.

Why Use It?
Back-blocking is a joint reinforcing system
where pieces of GYPROCK plasterboard are
adhered to the back of the sheets, behind certain
joints.
Back-blocking is an important safety measure,
to reinforce certain joints which often undergo
additional stresses and are therefore more susceptible
to cracking. These stresses can be caused by many
reasons, including subsequent building movement
or by unusual loadings such as heavy bumping of
a wall, or trades people moving about in ceiling
spaces.
The resultant cracking of the finished jointing
often requires a call-out for warranty repair, which
is an avoidable and unwanted additional cost to the
installer/builder.
All mid-span joints must be positioned within
50mm of the mid-span point between the framing
members.
Gyprock®
Back Blocking
Cement.
Gyprock® Back Blocking Cement has been
developed specifically to provide an optimum setting
time, together with superior performance while
reducing the cost of materials to contractors.
Gyprock® Back Blocking Cement has been
tested at NATA approved testing facilities, with
results showing superior adhesion and strength
proper ties when compared to alter native
products.
The 2 hour setting time provides good

When is Back- flexibility to cater for differing work practices,

enabling contractors to back-block as-they-go, or
Blocking Required? to leave back-blocking of ceiling joints until the
completion of a job.
It is important to note that back-blocking of
Along with the superior properties, Gyprock®
joints is a ‘requirement’ in many cases, as defined
Back Blocking Cement also saves on material costs
in AS/NZS2589.1 – Gypsum linings in residential
when compared with alternative products.
and light commercial construction – Application
and Finishing. Gyprock® Back Blocking Cement is supplied
in 20kg bags, and is coloured purple for easy
Refer to a summary of Back-Blocking
identification on-site. It MUST NOT be used
requirements detailed in Table-1.
as a jointing cement.
Butt joints which are to be back-blocked, must be
formed midway between framing members.

Table 1. – Back-Blocking Requirements.

Level Horizontal Framing: Category ‘A’ Timber Framing: Category ‘B’ Timber Framing: Steel
of Wall Sheet Joints to be Back-blocked Joints to be Back-blocked Joints to be Back-blocked
Finish Fixing Ceilings Walls Ceilings Walls Ceilings Walls
Butt Recessed Butt Recessed Butt Recessed Butt Recessed Butt Recessed Butt Recessed

3 ✓ N/A N/A N/A N/A ✓ N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

4 ✓ ✓ # N/A N/A ✓ # N/A N/A ✓ # N/A N/A

5 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ N/A ✓ ✓ N/A N/A ✓ ✓ ✓ N/A

NOTES: ✓ = Mandatory. N/A = Not Applicable.
# = Back-blocking required where 3 or more recessed joints occur in a continuous ceiling area.
Where a butt joint in a wall is less than 400mm long and is located more than 2 metres from the floor, there may be no need to
provide back-blocking.

1.
 Requirements & Procedures for Back-Blocking Joints.

Recommended
FIG 2. BACK-BLOCKING OF
BUTT JOINTS ON CEILINGS.

Back-Blocking Step 1. Forming joint

Procedures. GYPROCK
plasterboard
back-block
Joint 50mm
max. off
centre GYPROCK BACK
BLOCKING CEMENT
Apply Gyprock ® Back Blocking Cement to the
entire face of the back-block with a notched spreader to
form beads 6mm x 6mm at approximately 20mm centres
over the entire face of the back-block.

Temporary batten Packer such as

nail to produce
FIG 1. APPLYING GYPROCK BACK BLOCKING GYPROCK 2 to 3mm depression
CEMENT TO THE BACK-BLOCK. plasterboard of plasterboard
ceiling

Step 2. Ready for setting

GYPROCK
plasterboard
back-block

GYPROCK 2 to 3mm deep

plasterboard depression suitable
ceiling for jointing

FIG 3. BACK-BLOCKING OF
BUTT JOINTS ON CEILINGS.
Butt joint centred
Back-blocking made between framing
from several pieces members
of plasterboard

BACK-BLOCKING OF
BUTT JOINTS ON CEILINGS.
Framing or
• Refer to FIG 2 and 3 for details. battens

• Sheet ends should be neatly cut and butted together

within 50mm of the centre line between the ceiling
joists or other main support members.
• Bend sheet ends upwards using temporary battens and
packing such as nails to form a 2mm deep depression.
Refer to FIG 2. Back-blocking cut to fit neatly
between framing members
• Reinforce the butt joint by back-blocking with pieces and overlap recess joint by
50mm minimum
of GYPROCK plasterboard cut to fit neatly between
the framing. Back-block along the full length of the
joint, extending a minimum 50mm past each end of
the joint over the adjoining sheets. Refer to FIG 3.
• Apply GYPROCK BACK BLOCKING CEMENT
to back-blocks as described in FIG 1, and fit in
place.
• Allow the adhesive to set for a minimum of 24 hours
before removing the temporary battens. A hollow
formation suitable for jointing remains.

2.
 Requirements & Procedures for Back-Blocking Joints.

BACK-BLOCKING OF
BUTT JOINTS ON WALLS.
• Refer to FIG 4 for details.
• Sheet ends should be neatly cut and butted together
within 50mm of the centre line between the studs.
• Nail strips of GYPROCK plasterboard to the sides of
the studs to support the back-blocking over the full
length of the joint. Position so that the face of the
back-block will finish 5mm to 9mm behind the stud
face.
• Cut back-blocking to fit neatly between the studs and
fix by skew-nailing the edges back to the studs.
• Apply GYPROCK BACK BLOCKING CEMENT
to back-blocks as described in FIG 1.
• Fix GYPROCK plasterboard wall sheets in place.
• Depress sheet ends at butt joint with battens
and packing such as nails to form a 2mm deep
depression.
• Allow the cement to set for a minimum of 24 hours
before removing the temporary battens. A hollow
formation suitable for jointing remains.
BACK-BLOCKING OF
BUTT JOINTS ON WALLS.
(Alternative Method)
• Refer to FIG 5 for details.
• Sheet ends should be neatly cut and butted together
within 50mm of the centre line between the studs.
• Cut back-blocking to fit neatly between the studs and
apply GYPROCK BACK BLOCKING CEMENT
to back-blocks as described in FIG 1.
• Fix one plasterboard sheet to the wall framing.
• Install back-block and fix with temporary laminating
screws.
• Fix second plasterboard sheet to the wall framing and
fix to back-block with temporary laminating screws.
• Depress sheet ends at butt joint with battens
and packing such as nails to form a 2mm deep
depression.
• Allow the cement to set for a minimum of 24 hours
before removing the temporary battens and screws. A
hollow formation suitable for jointing remains.

FIG 4. BACK-BLOCKING OF FIG 5. BACK-BLOCKING OF BUTT JOINTS ON WALLS

BUTT JOINTS ON WALLS. (ALTERNATIVE METHOD).

Step 1. Forming joint

GYPROCK plasterboard back-block
set back 5 to 9mm from stud face
and held with skew nail into stud Step 1. Forming joint
Strip nailed to
stud to support GYPROCK BACK Temporary Gyprock GYPROCK BACK
back-block Joint 50mm Laminating Screws Joint 50mm BLOCKING CEMENT
BLOCKING CEMENT max. off centre
max. off centre

Temporary GYPROCK Temporary

GYPROCK batten
plasterboard batten Packer such as nail to produce plasterboard Packer such as nail to produce
wall lining 2 to 3mm depression of plasterboard wall lining 2 to 3mm depression of plasterboard

Step 2. Ready for setting

Step 2. Ready for setting
GYPROCK plasterboard back-block GYPROCK plasterboard back-block

GYPROCK plasterboard 2 to 3mm deep depression GYPROCK plasterboard 2 to 3mm deep depression
wall lining suitable for jointing wall lining suitable for jointing

3.
 Requirements & Procedures for Back-Blocking Joints.

BACK-BLOCKING OF FIG 6. BACK-BLOCKING OF

RECESSED JOINTS ON CEILINGS. RECESS JOINTS ON CEILINGS.

• Refer to FIG 6 for details.

• Cut back-blocks of at least 200mm width and long
enough to fit loosely between the framing members.
Framing or
• Apply GYPROCK BACK BLOCKING CEMENT battens
to back-blocks as described in FIG 1, and fit in
place.
• Apply GYPROCK sheets with the long edges at right
Plasterboard back-
angles to joists or battens. Place back-blocks along the blocking at least 200mm
width and centred over
full length of the sheet edge. As soon as all the blocks recess joint
are in position, install the adjoining sheet.
Recess joint
• Back-blocks may also be applied by working above
the ceiling after the sheets have been fixed.
Back-blocking cut to
• Back-blocks must be adhered in position before the fit loosely between
framing members
joints are finished.

CSR Gyprock Web Site

www.gyprock.com.au
CSR Gyprock Sales Support
Tel: 13 17 44 Fax: 1800 646 364
CSR designLINK® Technical Support Service
Telephone: 1800 621 117

REGIONAL SALES CENTRES

New South Wales and ACT
376 Victoria Street, Wetherill Park NSW 2164

Queensland Western Australia

768 Boundary Road, Coopers Plains QLD 4108 21 Sheffield Road, Welshpool WA 6106
Victoria Tasmania
277 Whitehall Street,Yarraville VIC 3013 PO Box 61, Glenorchy TAS 7010
South Australia Northern Territory
Lot 100 Sharp Court, Mawson Lakes SA 5095 Lot 800 Stuart Highway, Berrimah NT 0828

GUARANTEE
CSR Building Products guarantees its Gyprock® products to be free of defects in materials and manufacture.
If a CSR product does not meet our standard, we will, at our option, replace or repair it, supply an equivalent product,
or pay for doing one of these.
CSR recommends that only products, components and systems recommended by it be used.
If this is not done, CSR will need to be satisfied that any defect in its product is attributable to our failure to meet our standard
(and not another cause) before this guarantee applies.
This guarantee excludes all other guarantees and liability for damage or loss in connection with defects in CSR's product,
other than those imposed by legislation.

HEALTH & SAFETY.

Information on any known health risks of our products and how to handle them safely is on their package and/or the documentation
accompanying them. Additional information is listed in the Material Safety Data sheet. To obtain a copy, telephone 13 17 44.
© CSR Gyprock®, CSR Building Products Limited. ABN 55 008 631 356.
The following are trade marks of CSR Limited and are under license. CSR™, Gyprock®, designLINK®.

GYP119 July 2004 4. GYP119.BMS8043.0704