RigiStabil, the strong board system for timber construction

Whether we're talking about timber construction - solid wood, timber frame or prefabricated panel houses - or buildings such as sports arenas, water parks or construction buildings, all are chosen for their countless advantages. Among the most important are reduced construction time compared to traditional houses, high energy efficiency, clean construction site, lower construction costs. In addition to the wooden structure that forms the skeleton of the house, a range of other materials are used to ensure good thermal and sound insulation (such as ISOVER mineral wool or ISOVER VARIO® system, which we have talked about in previous articles), for stiffening walls, interior partitioning or ceiling cladding. What kind of tiles are used? Here are some of them:

• OSB
• Gips-carton
• Plasterboard with fibres
• Cement tiles

Manufacturers are continually trying to find the best solutions for the strongest and most durable constructions. For the partitions in timber-framed houses, Saint-Gobain Rigips recommends RigiStabil.

What is RigiStabil

RigiStabil is a gypsum plasterboard specially designed to meet special strength requirements in dry wall and plaster construction (cladding). Designed to be fixed to wooden or metal structures, RigiStabil can also be used for the manufacture of partitions on production lines due to its special characteristics. RigiStabil can successfully replace traditional materials such as plywood, OSB or fibre-reinforced plasterboard, with the resulting structure having at least as good mechanical strength. In addition, it offers high resistance to bending, with a high degree of resistance to mechanical load bearing.

The board can be used in partitioning and ceiling systems to increase their rigidity and durability, while increasing fire and moisture resistance, all combined with improved acoustic performance. RigiStabil meets the requirements of SR EN 520+a1:2010 and is classified as DFRiEH2, i.e.:

• D: with controlled density;
• F: with improved core adhesion at high temperatures;
• A: high strength;
• i: with increased surface hardness;
• E: with increased resistance to water vapour diffusion;
• H2: low water absorption.

RigiStabil contains no harmful substances and remains inert, with no harmful emissions, throughout the life of the building. The manufacturing process protects the environment, as plaster is a material that can be recovered and recycled and can be used in several manufacturing-use cycles. The slab has a long service life, aligning with future requirements for sustainable living, raw material consumption, climate, sustainability and, above all, environmental protection.

Use of RigiStabil tiles in the construction of walls on wooden structure

RigiStabil is a gypsum plasterboard with a structural role and versatile use. It is ideal as a construction board for new buildings, but also for rebuilding walls and ceilings in the recompartmentalisation or remodelling of old buildings. It is suitable for areas with high humidity (bathroom, kitchen) and solves special requirements related to the mechanical and fire resistance of structures. Despite its lower weight, which is appreciated due to its impact on the total weight of the construction and therefore on the seismic resistance, the slab has a high load-bearing capacity. The bending strength is also high, and the RigiStabil plate can be used where there are conditions of high mechanical stress.

Thanks to these features, RigiStabil can be used for both interior and exterior wall construction. Interior partition walls on wooden structure made with RigiStabil take on the superior mechanical characteristics of the boards, resisting high impact or perforation stresses and providing fire protection. Below you can see the scheme of such an interior wall in whose structure RigiStabil boards have been used.

For external closures, hybrid walls are recommended, which consist of RigiStabil tiles for the inner face of the wall and fibre-reinforced plaster tiles (e.g. Rigidur®) towards the outer face, as can be seen in the picture below.

In the case of false ceilings or wall cladding, RigiStabil is installed similarly to any other gypsum board. The boards can be fixed to the wooden structure with wood screws or metal clamps. A bead of Rigidur® Nature Line adhesive is applied to the joint area of adjacent boards, excess material is removed after drying.

RigiStabil slabs have been used for a long time for construction in Europe. In Romania, after a timid start, the special qualities of the slab have begun to convince more and more builders. Those interested in further information on the characteristics of the slab and how to use it, can contact Saint-Gobain Rigips, either by email at office.rigips@saint-gobain.comor by telephone on +40 21 207 57 50 or +40 21 207 57 51.

Photo source: Saint Gobain Media Library