All gypsum products manufactured in North America are going to be readily identifiable in multiple ways.
1. End Tapes. Most drywall comes packaged as a set of two boards, with the short ends of the boards secured together with what we call “end tapes”. These pieces of paper help keep the two boards together, but also serve to identify the product. The end tapes feature the following information:
a. Name of manufacturer
b. Brand or product name
c. Overall dimensions [thickness and length] as well as a set of lettings describing the edge detail. Most gypsum board is tapered edge, or TE.
d. End tapes are also color coded per product, so they can be readily identified from a distance or when in storage.
2. Tapered Edge. Gypsum board products are stamped with manufacturer and product information along the tapered edge of the boards.
a. Board Date Code: The board date code is printed on the back of all gypsum board. This code lists the month, day, year, plant, and time that the board was manufactured.
i. For example, a board manufactured on October 15, 2005 in Seattle at 10:15, would have a board date code of 10 15 05 S 10:15. The letter is unique for each plant.
ii. ULC & UL labels for fire resistance designs are also printed on the back of the board, if appropriate.
b. GlasRoc Sheathing and Diamondback Tile Backer products have no end tapes, but rather have printing across the entire surface of the boards, with the manufacturer’s name, product name, as well as other relevant information, such as fire testing or product labels
