Fire Taping

Fire taping drywall is a basic level 1 finish where all drywall seams, corners, and penetrations are taped and sealed with joint compound (mud) to create a fire and smoke barrier, often in garages, mechanical rooms, or behind fireplaces, without the sanding and multiple coats needed for a painted finish. It slows fire spread by sealing gaps, meeting building codes for areas requiring fire separation, and can be done quickly with regular mud and paper tape or with specialized self-adhesive "mudless" fire tapes.

Key Aspects of Fire Taping

• Purpose: To seal gaps between drywall sheets to prevent or slow the spread of fire and hot gases, meeting *fire-resistance ratings (like 1 or 2 hours).
• Finish Level: It's a "Level 1" finish, meaning just tape and one coat of mud over seams and inside corners; *no sanding, skim coats, or painting is typically done.

Application:

• Apply mud to seams and press paper or mesh tape into it, or use self-adhesive fire tape directly.
• Cover screw heads and any gaps with mud (or specialized fire-rated caulk/foam).
• Exterior corners get metal corner bead, but don't need taping over.
• Locations: Common in garages, attics, basements, utility rooms, behind firewalls, and elevator shafts where appearance isn't the priority, but fire safety is.
• Materials: Can use standard joint compound and paper/fiberglass tape, or specialized products like Trim-Tex *Fire Tape or 3M Fire and Water Barrier Tape that offer faster, sometimes mud-free, application and superior fire stopping.