BY PETER SKERIS
Over the past FEW years, many articles and training bulletins have been written about Hi-Impact® wallboard that contains Lexan®. Most of these articles were written about the 8000 series drywall that contained 0.08-inch (80mm) thickness Lexan® and how difficult it is to breach. It should be noted that this series was the least commonly sold and that its production was discontinued because of its high cost and low sales. According to David Drummond of National Gypsum, the 8000 series accounted for 0.003 percent of all sales in 2004. He explained that all four drywall/Lexan® series were developed specifically for commercial use in areas with heavy traffic and potential for damage, such as schools, arenas, and retail stores. Because of the high cost, this drywall was generally installed on the lower four feet of the wall, the area most prone to damage, with standard drywall installed above that level. However, it is likely that some Lexan®-backed drywall has made it into residential construction because there are those who will pay for the best.
This article is not intended to downplay the importance of identifying and analyzing issues related to firefighter safety. Although this drywall accounted for a small amount of drywall purchased, it also presented the highest risk to the fire service. I, like many, believe that we should be aware of the potential dangers encountered on incident scenes and their impact on operations.
It is imperative that today’s firefighters stay abreast of changing technologies through formal and informal education, trade magazines, and networking with other firefighters. Remember, whether you are in Los Angeles, Chicago, or Charlotte, you will encounter many of the same hazards.
THE NEW PRODUCT
The Charlotte (NC) Fire Department recently came upon the next generation of strengthened drywall, Hi-Abuse® and Hi-Impact® XP. The Hi-Abuse® has an enhanced core designed to help protect against scuffs and dents. The Hi-Impact® XP product is replacing the Lexan®-backed drywall by using fiberglass mesh instead of Lexan® (photo 1). According to Jennifer Wilson of National Gypsum, the strength of this new wallboard is comparable to the 1000 Lexan® series. The Hi-Impact® XP comes in 1/2- and 5/8-inch thicknesses and contains many of the same features as the old series in terms of strength, indentation, and abrasion resistance. In addition to those qualities, the new product has characteristics that make it mold/mildew resistant; it, therefore, may be found in any area of a structure. The 1/2-inch is available at most do-it-yourself stores and costs only slightly more than standard drywall.
 Photos by Captain Brandon Caputo. |
THE TESTING
With the assistance of National Gypsum’s Technology Innovation Center (located in Charlotte, NC) our department was able to acquire a number of the 5/8-inch sheets for testing in scenario-based training. Our evolutions focused on the firefighter’s ability to breach the drywall using tools readily available on most apparatus: halligan, ax, sledgehammer, officer’s tool, and several types of hooks. We also used some nontraditional methods such as a windshield saw and scoring with a knife and kicking through the drywall. Each tool was used multiple times in the same scenario to get an average effectiveness of the tool’s ability to breach the wall. After breaching the wall, the tester was required to egress through the opening to the opposite side of the wall, thus ensuring a proper-sized opening. During testing, we attached the drywall to a residential wall prop using 2- × 6-inch studs to prevent the studs from breaking during evolutions (photo 2). We connected the drywall to the wall prop using standard connection techniques for 5/8-inch drywall: 1 3/8-inch course drywall screws spaced eight inches apart on the edges and 12 inches apart on all interior studs.
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THE RESULTS
Similar to truss construction, the weakest part of the wall proved to be the connection point. Once the fire department hooks (roof, drywall, and traditional) were able to penetrate the wall and get a firm hold, they were able to pull a large section of the 4- × 8-foot sheet off the wall prop. The difficulty during the evolution was getting the hook to penetrate the drywall. The roof hook proved the most effective (photo 3). Of the other tools used, the fork end of the halligan proved to be the most effective at clearing out an opening large enough to egress through. The halligan was used to make “cuts” down each side of the studs (photo 4), as breaching down the middle still made it difficult for a firefighter to get through. We originally thought that breaching down the middle would allow the firefighter to turn the opening into a “swinging” door, but we found that it was easier and required less effort to breach down each side and clear out the drywall pieces that remained.
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In other evolutions, the ax (blade side), sledgehammer, and officer’s tool worked well enough; I feel comfortable with their ability to breach the drywall in a timely manner. The surprise of the testing was the effectiveness of the windshield saw. It took some effort to create a purchase point, but the saw worked well in creating the overall opening. We tried using a knife to “score” the drywall (similar to cutting during installation) and then kicking through, with little effectiveness. This result reinforces the need for firefighters to carry a tool with them at all times. An additional concern was the fiberglass mesh that remained after the drywall was breached and its ability to become an entanglement hazard when egress is made (photo 5). An entanglement occurred twice during the 26 evolutions conducted.
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Although we do not commonly carry a cordless reciprocating saw during interior operations, we tested one. The saw was powered by an 18-volt battery and used a four-inch demolition blade. This method required the least energy output by the tester. The most difficult aspect of the evolution was creating a purchase point to give the blade access. Once the blade had access, the saw worked well and created a clean opening with little entanglement hazard.
STAY CURRENT ON CONSTRUCTION
It is imperative to stay current on building construction standards and material use. As we know, many building codes and construction standards are not “firefighter friendly” and challenge our ability to operate safely. I cannot stress enough the importance of carrying a tool and wire cutters. Without a tool, it would have taken an extended amount of time and considerable effort to breach the drywall. We consistently encounter incidents that challenge our abilities and efforts. We must not allow complacency to enhance the risk we take.
PETER SKERIS is a captain in the Charlotte (NC) Fire Department, assigned to the Training Division. Prior to being assigned to the training staff, Skeris was the officer of Ladder 16. His current duties include training related to firefighter safety and survival and SCBA. He is a member of USAR NC-TF 3. He has a B.S. degree in fire safety engineering from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
