Asbestos Content in Canadian GLA Drywall

Canada Gypsum Lime &
Alabastine Limited Gyproc

GLA - Gypsum Lime and Alabastine Corp.

Use of Asbestos in Canada Gypsum and Alabastine Limited Gyproc Fireproof Wallboard: not found

Some basic facts:

GLA's Gyproc was described as fireproof wallboard, but the product description makes no mention of asbestos.

GLA Alabastine, described by the Gyproc advertisement above, is a gypsum board product, not a wood-based or plant-based fiberboard product.

The producing company GLA Canada Limited, who described their product as Gyproc Sheathing, is identified as

• Gypsum, Lime & Alabastine Canada, Limited, 50 Maitland St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with facilities in Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal Canada
  

No Asbestos in GLA Gyproc?

Two InspectApedia readers, Andrew (6/23) and Kathy (12/24), report having had Canadian GLA GYPROC samples tested for asbestos: both test results were negative, that is, asbestos was not detected.

We have not found mention of use of asbestos in this GLA brand product itself in expert research citations, and we have not received an independent asbestos test lab report with results documenting the presence or absence of asbestos. Readers who find out otherwise are invited to post that information at the bottom of this page.

Watch out: where a gypsum board product itself may not contain asbestos, where used either as a plaster lath base or as a finish drywall surface, those drywall systems still may contain asbestos - at least in finishes, taping joint compounds, skim coats, or in systems that applied plaster over gypsum board date from about 1910 through the early 1980's in North America (1982 in Canada).

So if your GLA Gyproc Lath or wallboard is or was coated in plaster or joint compound you may need more-careful asbestos testing before performing any messy demolition.

Taping drywall joints dates from as early as the 1920's.

Asbestos-use in plaster overlaps this period.

In Canada most provinces classify the asbestos hazard associated with drywall removal as a "low risk or type 1" hazard requiring normal dust control. (Pinchin 2011).

Because of the joint compound abestos possibility, If you have to demolish or remove this material then you should treat the dywall or rock lath as presumed to contain asbestos, or have representative samples tested.

No Asbestos found in GLA GYPROC LATH in a 1911 Vancouver BC home.

We found GLA gyproc lath in the basement of our 1911 house in Vancouver BC.

Likely installed in the 1950s or’60s. No mud at all, was covered by wood paneling. Tested NEGATIVE for asbestos. -- On 2024-12-05 by Kathy

No Asbestos Found in my GYPROC Lath in a 1969 Home.

I just had a "GYPROC LATH" sample tested that looks very similar to the one posted at InspectApedia.com. Date codes are different, of course.
House was built in 1969.

Happy to report no asbestos found in the sample. - Andrew  June 30, 2023 -

Is the Alabastine Used in GLA Gyproc Dangerous or an Asbestos Hazard?

No. Alabastine is not considered a harmful substance.

For example this ALABASTINE FILLER SAFETY DATA SHEET [PDF] (2019) from Polycell at Aknobel - local copy saved as Alabastine_filler-SDS.pdf

This Safety Data Sheet states (excerpting)

The product is not classified as hazardous according to Regulation (EC) 1272/2008 as amended.

The full title of the EU regulation cited is: Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 - classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (CLP) (2024)

Excerpt:

The CLP Regulation establishes uniform requirements for the classification, labelling and packaging of chemical substances and mixtures, with the aim of ensuring a high level of protection of human health and the environment, as well as the free movement of substances, mixtures and articles.

Really? Well yes but ... in our OPINION if you are performing demolition of any drywall or gypsum board or plaster materials in a building, proper personal protective equipment, including HEPA rated respirator would be smart along with steps to control the spread of dust. Even something inert as silica itself is a health hazard if breathed in any quantity.

The company we cite above agrees. This Safety Data Sheet also states (excerpting)

Respiratory Protection:

Based on the hazard and potential for exposure, select a respirator that meets the appropriate standard or certification.

Respirators must be used according to a respiratory protection program to ensure proper fitting, training, and other important aspects of use.

Dry sanding, flame cutting and/or welding of the dry paint film will give rise to dust and/or hazardous fumes.

Wet sanding/flatting should be used wherever possible.

If exposure cannot be avoided by the provision of local exhaust ventilation, suitable respiratory protective equipment should be used.

Wear a Approved/certified disposable particulate dust mask.

Gyproc Identification Photos

Above: this GLA Gyproc Lath was found in a Vancouver BC home built in 1911. We think the GLA rock-lath was installed the 1950's or 1960s.

Our contributing reader, Kathy, reports that the product shown above was tested: asbestos was not detected in that product.

The name Gyproc "lath" was intended to signify a gypsum board intended for use as "rock lath" - a base for plaster walls and ceilings that was an alternative to wood lath or expanded metal lath.

For more about rock lath see GYPSUM BOARD ROCK LATH SYSTEMS.

The two Gyproc images below, also Gyproc Lath, were provided courtesy of Inspectapedia reader Geoff and incorporate holes that improved the adhesion of plaster over the Gyproc.

These particular products were examples of fireproof gypsum wallboard whose trademark is registered in Canada. These gyproc products were patented in 1959 and in 1962 (Thanks to reader Rick).

The blue inked production code on the back of this Gyproc may indicate Month 11, Year 1965.

Below: courtesy of reader Neilbelland in 2024, is a Yellow Gyproc Fireproof Wallboard sticker citing: "Paint, Paper, Panels, Alabastine" from Canada Gypsum and Alabastine Limited. So we know this product is likely to date from before 1959 when the company's name changed to Kamic.

GLA Canada History

Gypsum, Lime and Alabastine Canada Limited was incorporated in Canada in 1927.

Gypsum, Lime and Alabastine Canada Limited changed its name to Kamic Ltd. in 1959 and it was acquired by Domtar Limited, 1959 In 1977, Domtar Limited’s name changed to Domtar Inc.

The company's industry is described as a gypsum product manufacturer operating gypsum mines and operating in the lime industry.

GLA, now Kamic, Ltd., now owned by Domtar, links these company and product names in that some Domtar products contained asbestos - this does not mean that GLA necessarily would contain asbestos.

See DOMTAR CEILING TILES where we discuss the use or non-use of asbestos in some Domtar products. Domtar products containing asbestos focused on those using vermiculite.

For readers who asked about both GLA Gyproc and vermiulite insulation asbestos hazards, also

see VERMICULITE INSULATION