TL;DR: Professional fire-rated drylining for commercial buildings, flats, and public spaces across Edinburgh. 30-120 minute fire ratings with certified British Gypsum and Knauf products. Scottish Building Standards Section 2 compliant with full documentation.
What Is Fire-Rated Drylining?
Fire-rated drylining is a specialist construction system that provides timed fire protection for walls and ceilings. The fire rating — measured in minutes — indicates how long the partition can resist fire without allowing flames or extreme heat to pass through. In a fire, every minute counts, and fire-rated drylining gives people crucial time to evacuate and firefighters time to respond.
At Drylining Edinburgh, we supply and install fire-rated drylining systems using certified materials from British Gypsum and Knauf. Our installations are designed to meet or exceed the fire resistance requirements specified in Scottish Building Standards Section 2 (Fire), and we provide full documentation with every project. This is essential for Edinburgh's dense urban environment, where multi-storey tenements, student accommodation, and regeneration projects like the NCC Engine Shed and Sighthill developments all require certified fire protection systems.
Our Fire-Rated Drylining Services
- 30-minute fire-rated drylining for residential properties
- 60-minute fire-rated partitions for commercial buildings
- 90 and 120-minute fire-rated systems for high-risk areas
- Fire-rated wall and ceiling installations
- Cavity barrier installation at floor and ceiling levels
- Intumescent sealant application around edges and penetrations
- Fire-rated door frame integration
- Upgrading existing drylining to fire-rated specifications
Where Fire-Rated Drylining Is Required
Scottish Building Standards Section 2 specifies fire resistance requirements for most building types. In Edinburgh and the Lothians, we regularly install fire-rated drylining in:
- Multi-storey apartment blocks across Edinburgh (EH1–EH36 postcodes)
- Student accommodation — Edinburgh is a major student city with thousands of halls and HMOs
- Hotels along Princes Street, George Street, and the New Town area
- Office buildings in the Financial District, St James, and Leith Walk
- Schools and education facilities across the City of Edinburgh council area
- Healthcare and care home refurbishments
- Retail and leisure complexes including St James Quarter, Orchard Brae, and Staling Mall
- Multi-unit housing developments and townhouse conversions
Materials & Specifications
We use premium fire-rated materials from trusted manufacturers to ensure your drylining delivers the fire performance and durability you need.
- British Gypsum Gyproc Fireline fire-rated plasterboard
- Knauf Diamant fire-rated plasterboard for high-performance applications
- Cavity barriers (steel, mineral wool, and intumescent types)
- Intumescent sealants for joints, edges, and service penetrations
- Metal C-studs and U-tracks (50mm, 70mm, 92mm profiles)
- Fire-rated floor-ceiling edge details
- Manufacturer fire test certificates and system approvals
Applications & Use Cases
Our fire-rated drylining services are suitable for a wide range of building types and project sizes across Edinburgh and the Lothians.
- Multi-storey residential flats and apartments
- Student accommodation and HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation)
- Hotels and hospitality venues (Edinburgh has over 100 hotels)
- Office buildings and commercial fit-outs
- Schools, colleges, and university buildings
- Healthcare facilities and care homes
- Retail and leisure complexes
- Warehouse and industrial unit fire compartmentation
How It Works
- Free Quote: Call or fill in our form. We will assess your fire safety requirements and provide a detailed, no-obligation quote with fire performance specifications.
- Detailed Plan: We confirm the required fire rating, materials, construction method, and certification. We coordinate with other trades and building control.
- Professional Installation: Our CSCS-registered team works cleanly, efficiently, and to the highest standards with regular progress updates.
- Quality Check & Handover: We inspect every detail, ensure compliance with Scottish Building Standards Section 2 (Fire), and provide full documentation for your completed work.
Fire-Rated Drylining Across Edinburgh
We provide fire-rated drylining services in the following areas:
Related Services
Clients who book fire-rated drylining often also require:
Ready for a Free Fire-Rated Quote?
Call us or fill in our quick form. We will arrange a site visit and provide a detailed, no-obligation quote for your fire-rated drylining project.
Frequently Asked Questions about Fire-Rated Drylining
What is fire-rated drylining?
Fire-rated drylining uses specialist plasterboard and construction methods to provide fire protection for walls and ceilings. The fire rating indicates how long the partition can resist fire — from 30 minutes up to 120 minutes — giving people time to evacuate and firefighters time to respond.
Which buildings require fire-rated drylining?
Fire-rated drylining is required in multi-storey buildings, flats, student accommodation, hotels, hospitals, schools, and commercial buildings with more than one storey. Part B of the Scottish Building Standards specifies fire resistance requirements for most building types.
What fire ratings do you provide?
We provide fire-rated drylining from 30 minutes up to 120 minutes, using combinations of fire-rated plasterboard, cavity barriers, intumescent sealants, and specialist framing systems to meet the required fire performance.
Do fire-rated walls look different from standard walls?
No. Fire-rated drylining looks exactly like standard drylining — smooth, professional, and ready for decoration. The fire protection is built into the construction, not visible from the finished surface.
Can fire-rated drylining be used in existing buildings?
Yes. We can upgrade existing drylining to fire-rated specifications or install new fire-rated partitions during refurbishment projects. Our team can assess your building and recommend the appropriate fire rating.
What certifications do your fire-rated installations carry?
All our fire-rated drylining work uses British Gypsum and Knauf products that carry manufacturer certifications. We provide documentation with each installation confirming compliance with Scottish Building Standards Section 2 (Fire).
What areas do you cover for fire-rated drylining?
We provide fire-rated drylining services across Edinburgh, Leith, Livingston, Dalkeith, Musselburgh, Falkirk, and all surrounding Lothians and Central Scotland areas.