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Finishing Gypsum Board: Appearance and Indoor Air Quality

Continuing Education


Learning Objectives - At the end of this course you will be able to:

  1. Identify the significance of ASTM C840, “The Standard Specification for Application and Finishing of Gypsum Board.
  2. Discern the differences between the “Five Levels of Finish” (GA-214-10), and explain the terms and operations associated with each level.
  3. Assess the ways that interior gypsum board finishing applications meet sustainable design criteria for indoor air quality.
  4. Define the ways that interior gypsum board finishing contributes to an Indoor Air Quality Management Plan.
  5. Determine appropriate gypsum board products to specify so a project meets or exceeds sustainable design

AIA logo Credits: 1 AIA LU/HSW
Gypsum board is the common finish material of choice for a wide variety of building types and styles. As such, it has a notable impact on the interior appearance of a space depending on the degree of finish applied to it. Further, because of its prevalence in buildings, finished gypsum board can have a significant impact on the indoor environmental quality of the spaces inhabited by people, both during construction and subsequent occupancy. Architects that specify and design gypsum board into projects are best served when they understand the differences between the different standardized levels of finish and the corresponding approach to having positive impacts on the indoor environmental quality.

This presentation will review some of the basic relevant standards and the common materials and terminology used for gypsum board finishing work. Further, the 5 standard levels of finish will each be defined and discussed followed by an equally detailed discussion on indoor environmental quality standards and procedures.

Course Outline:


This test is no longer available for credit


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