British Gypsum vs Siniat Plasterboard: Gyproc and Siniat Boards Compared
British Gypsum (Gyproc) and Siniat are the two big UK-made plasterboard brands we stock, alongside our own unbranded boards. Both make the same four everyday boards: standard, acoustic, fire and moisture resistant. In the same colours too, so on site they look almost identical. This guide puts them side by side using each manufacturer's datasheet figures, with live prices, so you can see where the differences really are.
Quick answer
- For standard walls and ceilings, Siniat Standard Board and Gyproc WallBoard are like-for-like. Both are BS EN 520 Type A boards, A2-s1,d0 for reaction to fire, with tapered edges and an ivory face.
- The acoustic, fire and moisture boards differ slightly in board type and weight. If a system has been designed around one manufacturer's tested data (for a fire or acoustic rating), stick to that brand.
- Price: at the time of writing, Siniat is the cheaper of the two branded boards in every type in the table below.
Side by side: 12.5mm boards
Board types, weights and fire classes are from the British Gypsum and Siniat datasheets and declarations of performance. Prices are per 2400 × 1200mm sheet, ex VAT, at the time of writing.
| Board | British Gypsum | Siniat |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (ivory) | Gyproc WallBoard: Type A, min. 7.7 kg/m², £10.87 | Siniat Standard Board: Type A, approx. 8.0 kg/m², £9.09 |
| Acoustic (blue) | Gyproc SoundBloc: Type D, min. 10.3 kg/m², £16.98 | Siniat dB Board: Type DI, approx. 11.0 kg/m², £14.62 |
| Fire (pink) | Gyproc FireLine: Type F, min. 9.7 kg/m², £16.00 | Siniat Fire Board: Type DF, approx. 10.2 kg/m², £14.08 |
| Moisture resistant (green) | Gyproc Moisture Resistant: Type H1, min. 8.3 kg/m², £18.61 | Siniat Moisture Board: Type H2, approx. 8.4 kg/m², £16.65 |
All eight boards are A2-s1,d0 for reaction to fire. 15mm versions of every board are also available.
What the board types mean
BS EN 520 gives each plasterboard letters that describe its properties:
- Type A: standard board, with a face suitable for plaster or decoration.
- Type D: controlled density, a denser core. That's what improves sound insulation in acoustic boards.
- Type F: improved core cohesion at high temperatures. Glass fibres help the board hold together for longer in a fire.
- Type H1 / H2: reduced water absorption. Both are moisture-resistant grades; H1 limits absorption more tightly than H2.
- Type I: enhanced surface hardness.
So Siniat's dB Board (DI) is rated for surface hardness as well as density, and its Fire Board (DF) carries the density rating as well as fire. Gyproc Moisture Resistant is the tighter H1 grade. For kitchens and bathrooms, see moisture resistant vs vapour plasterboard.
Does the brand matter?
For a standard wall or ceiling that you'll tape and joint or skim, not really. Both standard boards are Type A, the same size and the same face colour. Where it matters is tested systems. A fire-rated or acoustic partition gets its rating from the whole build-up tested by the manufacturer: the board, studs, insulation, screws and sealant. If your drawings call up a British Gypsum or Siniat system, use that brand's boards (and ideally its framing) so the rating holds.
We also stock unbranded boards for general use. For example, 12.5mm tapered edge plasterboard is £9.16 a sheet. See plasterboard sizes UK for every size and thickness.
Screws, framing and finishing
Both brands make their own screws and framing. We stock Gyproc drywall screws, Siniat GTEC self-tapping screws and the metal studs and track to build the wall. For which screw length to use, see what size drywall screws do I need. For skimming, Thistle MultiFinish works on either brand.
Frequently asked questions
Is Siniat as good as British Gypsum?
Both are UK-made boards to BS EN 520 and both publish full datasheets and declarations of performance. For standard work they're interchangeable. For tested fire or acoustic systems, use the brand the system was tested with.
Can I mix British Gypsum and Siniat boards in the same room?
For ordinary walls and ceilings, yes, as long as the boards are the same thickness and edge type. Don't mix brands within a fire-rated or acoustic-rated system.
Why are both acoustic boards blue?
The UK industry uses the same face colours: ivory for standard, blue for acoustic, pink for fire and green for moisture resistant. It makes boards easy to identify on site, whatever the brand.
How many boards do I need?
One 2400 × 1200mm board covers 2.88m². Our plasterboard and fixings calculator works out boards, screws and tape for your room.
Order plasterboard
Browse our British Gypsum, Siniat and full plasterboard ranges. Prices are shown ex VAT. We are delivery only (no collection) and deliver to mainland England. Insulation, plasterboard and drylining orders have a £400 ex VAT minimum and free delivery (see delivery information). Call us on 03330 908479 (Mon–Thu 8am–5pm, Fri 8am–12pm), email sales@insulationwarehousedirect.co.uk, or order online.
Sources: British Gypsum product data sheets and declarations of performance for Gyproc WallBoard, SoundBloc and FireLine; Siniat Standard Board datasheet, Siniat dB Board datasheet and Siniat declarations of performance; BS EN 520. Figures are indicative and correct at the time of writing.