Fire-rated plasterboard — Type F and DF gypsum boards reinforced with glass fibre and a higher-density core (Placo Pregyfeu, Knauf Fireboard, Glasroc F, Lafarge Prégyflam) — maintains its firebreak function for 30, 60, 90 or 120 minutes depending on the system. It is mandatory under CTE DB-SI §3.2 "Fire resistance of the walls, ceilings and doors that bound fire sectors" — the fire-safety document of the Spanish building code, broadly the counterpart of Approved Document B in England and Wales — in compartmentation and fire sectorisation.
In Mallorca it is critical in hotels in Playa de Palma, Magaluf, Alcúdia and Cala Millor, holiday apartments (ETV), residential buildings with a garage, service risers and public-assembly premises. This guide explains when DB-SI §3.2 requires it, which board to use (Placo Pregyfeu, Knauf Fireboard, Glasroc F, Lafarge Prégyflam), how the test classifies the system and what it costs installed.
What Fire-Rated Plasterboard Is
Every gypsum plasterboard has a degree of natural fire resistance because gypsum contains ~21% crystallised water. When fire strikes, that water evaporates, absorbing energy and slowing propagation. A standard 15 mm board provides up to 30 minutes.
Type F and DF boards add glass fibre to the core to maintain cohesion at high temperatures, preventing the board from crumbling. The DF type (densified with fibre) combines higher gypsum density and fibre, and is the reference for EI-60 to EI-120.
The commercial references most used in Mallorca:
- Placo Pregyfeu (Saint-Gobain): DF 15/18/25 mm.
- Knauf Fireboard / Diamant GKF/DF: 12.5/15/18/20/25 mm. Specifically for EI-60 to EI-120 sectorisation.
- Glasroc F (Saint-Gobain): firebreak board with a reinforced gypsum core and glass fibre on both faces, 13/15 mm formats. Ideal for junctions with floor slabs and singular points in hotels.
- Lafarge Prégyflam: DF 13/15/18 mm.
Fire-Resistance Classification: EI Ratings and Euroclasses
EI (UNE-EN 13501-2) measures the fire resistance of the building element: E for integrity (no flames or hot gases pass through) + I for thermal insulation (temperature does not cross). It is expressed in minutes:
- EI-30: Type F or DF board, 15 mm, on one side of the frame.
- EI-60: 15 mm DF board on one side, or 25 mm DF.
- EI-90: double 15 mm DF on one side, or double 12.5 mm DF on both sides.
- EI-120: double 15 mm DF board on both sides of the frame.
- EI-180 / EI-240: special systems with triple board and reinforcements.
Euroclasses (UNE-EN 13501-1) classify the material's reaction to fire — the same EN 13501 European classification used in the UK: A1 (non-combustible, DF/F board), A2, B, C, D, E, F. Gypsum plasterboard: A2-s1,d0 as standard; DF is A1.
If noise worries you as much as fire, see soundproofing prices in Mallorca and the Spanish CTE DB-HR acoustic regulations in the Balearics.
CTE DB-SI §3.2 Requirements: When It Is Mandatory
The Spanish building code (Código Técnico de la Edificación), in its Basic Document on Fire Safety (CTE DB-SI), requires compartmentation and sectorisation in its §3 "Compartmentation into fire sectors" and especially in §3.2 "Fire resistance of the walls, ceilings and doors that bound sectors", according to use and occupancy.
Dwelling-Garage Separation: EI-120
The most common requirement in residential buildings in Mallorca. The wall or ceiling separating a dwelling from the communal car park: 120 minutes of resistance. With plasterboard: double 15 mm DF board on both sides of a Knauf/Placo metal frame.
Car Parks: Sectorisation Every 100 m² with EI-120
Car parks (Parking use) are sectorised every 100 m² with EI-120 elements (CTE DB-SI Section 1). The usual solution in refurbishments: a double 15 mm DF wall lining + tested 48/70 mm metal framing.
Dwelling-Commercial Premises Separation
- Low-risk premises: EI-60.
- Medium-risk premises: EI-90.
- High-risk premises: EI-120 (commercial kitchens, storage with a fire load > 850 MJ/m²).
Service Risers: EI-60 Minimum
Where pipes, cables and ducts run. Prevents the chimney effect in a fire.
Boiler Rooms and Electrical Panels
- Gas boiler: EI-90 (low risk) / EI-120 (medium-high risk).
- Main electrical panel: EI-90.
Hotels and Holiday Apartments (Public Residential Use)
EI-60 or EI-90 sectorisation depending on evacuation height. Protected evacuation corridors in buildings with a height ≥ 15 m.
Public-Assembly Premises
Restaurants, bars, function rooms and nightclubs: specific compartmentation according to occupancy. Balearic sectoral regulations can be more restrictive.
Typical Applications in Mallorca
Hotels and Licensed Holiday Lets (ETV)
DB-SI §3.2 sectorisation between rooms and common areas in boutique hotels (Palma, Port de Sóller, Alcúdia, Port d'Alcúdia), beach hotels (Playa de Palma, Magaluf, Palmanova, Cala Millor, Port d'Alcúdia) and converted holiday-rental properties (ETV). Standard solution: a double-board Knauf Fireboard / Glasroc F wall lining on CW70 framing + Rockwool Confortpan mineral wool (Euroclass A1) — it replaces masonry partitions without overloading old floor structures. In 2025 we delivered several interventions of this type in Playa de Palma hotels (public residential sector with an evacuation height >15 m, EI-90 sectorisation).
Buildings in Palma's Old Town
Historic centre with timber or old-joist floor structures: fire-rated plasterboard delivers the EI rating without excess weight. Additional heritage requirements apply (Consell de Mallorca).
Dwelling-Garage Separation in Communities of Owners
Bringing communal buildings up to CTE DB-SI without demolishing the existing wall: a double-DF-board lining fixed alongside it achieves EI-120.
Boiler Rooms and Electrical Panels
The standard solution for new gas boilers in homes and centralised electrical installations.
Types of Fire-Rated Board and Installed Prices (Mallorca 2026)
- Type F board, 15 mm (glass fibre, EI-30): board €8-12/m², installed €38-50/m².
- Type DF board, 15 mm (densified with fibre, EI-60): board €12-18/m², installed €48-65/m².
- Double DF board, 2x15 mm (EI-90 to EI-120): board €24-36/m², installed €60-85/m².
- High-density DF board, 18-25 mm (EI-90 with a single board): €18-25/m², installed €55-70/m².
Prices exclude VAT. They include metal framing, fixing, joint treatment with fire-rated compound and tape, and a finish ready to paint. They do not include intumescent sealing of service penetrations or fire doors.
Installation: What Makes Fire-Rated Plasterboard Different
Execution determines whether the test certificate remains valid. Critical points:
- Joints between boards: specific fire-rated compound and tape. Staggered joints in double-board systems.
- Service penetrations: cables, pipes and ducts crossing the fire wall are sealed with approved intumescent sealant or fire collars. One unsealed opening voids the entire sectorisation.
- Metal framing: the one specified in the test (48 mm, 70 mm, 90 mm). Lighter profiles are not allowed, nor is increasing the stud spacing beyond the test (typically 400-600 mm).
- Cavity insulation: rock wool (Euroclass A1) as per the test. Polystyrene is not permitted.
For installations in Mallorca requiring certified fire-rated plasterboard, see fire-rated plasterboard in Mallorca and drywall installation in Mallorca.
Typological Case: Sectorising a Mid-Size Hotel (30-50 Rooms) in Magaluf and Playa de Palma
A common pattern in 3-4 star hotels in Magaluf, Playa de Palma and Cala Millor: 30-50 rooms over 2-3 floors, where the walls separating rooms from common areas (reception, restaurant, service zone) do not reach the fire resistance the CTE DB-SI requires to renew the tourist activity licence.
Regulatory requirement: EI-120 sectorisation under CTE DB-SI §3.2 between the room sector and the common-areas sector, on both floors.
Typological solution:
- Wall lining with double 15 mm DF board (Placo Pregyfeu or Knauf/Lafarge equivalent) on both sides of 70 mm metal framing. Usual areas: 250-400 m² depending on hotel size.
- Sealing of every service penetration (cables, air conditioning, plumbing) with approved intumescent sealant and fire collars.
- EI-60 fire doors at the crossing points between sectors (typically 6-12 points).
- Joint treatment with fire-rated compound and tape, staggered joints between boards.
- Framing as per the manufacturer's test (Placo W115 or equivalent) with 400 mm stud spacing.
Usual results:
- Duration: 3-5 weeks, scheduled out of season (January-March).
- Indicative cost of the fire-rated package for a mid-size hotel: €22,000-35,000 depending on area (intumescent seals and coordination with the fire-door installer included).
Documentation the installer must hand over:
- Certificate of correct execution of the system.
- Technical data sheets for board and framing.
- Fire-resistance test of the complete system (UNE-EN 1364-1, ENAC-accredited laboratory).
- Euroclass classification to EN 13501-1.
- Photographic record of the process (joints, sealed penetrations, junctions with the floor slab).
This is the documentation the Consell de Mallorca requests in the tourist-activity-licence renewal file.
One mistake in sealing a service penetration, or one board that does not match the test, invalidates the entire sectorisation. For projects in hotels in Mallorca, documentary traceability matters as much as the execution itself.
Next Step
To install fire-rated plasterboard in a home, commercial premises, garage or hotel in Mallorca, visit fire-rated plasterboard in Mallorca for board types, regulations and detailed documentation. Or request your free quote: we send a fixed written quote within 24-48 hours.
