Bonding thermal boards? Use nailable plugs.

Direct bonding method
If you are bonding the board with an adhesive fix such as Siniat Universal Bonding Compound, you must use a nailable plug in each of the top corners – i.e. two plugs per board. In a fire situation, the heat would melt the insulation before the plasterboard backing would give way, so these nailable plugs ensure the board stays in place.

Framing method
If fixing a thermal board, the substrate dictates which type of screws should be used, namely:

• Timber substrate: use high thread screws
• Metal frames: use self-tapping screws
• Structural metal: use self-drilling screws

We are often asked whether a thermal board can be fixed directly onto a masonry background. This is not good practise and very difficult to level. It would take a lot of pre-drilling, plugging and screwing which is very difficult to do.

Achieving fire performance
Thermal boards are not typically used for fire rating purposes. If a fire rating is required, a separate board should be applied over the top of a thermal board, and both layers need to be mechanically fixed to frame work. As the boards are not as robust, the fixings should be made at reduced centres of 400mm (rather then the standard 600mm) to provide additional stability.