Managing Risk on Site

Ceilings are gypsum board, better known as plasterboard. Because of how it’s manufactured it takes on moisture, which makes it sag and reduces both board strength and the holding capacity of the fixings.

A sagging plasterboard ceiling should come down quickly to lower the collapse risk. Removing it also speeds up drying of the structure behind the lining. Linings can collapse during drying, so act fast.

Make safe procedure

1. Electrical safety first. Isolate the affected area at the mains or disconnect power to the whole building, then remove the plasterboard carefully.
2. Create a small weep hole in the sagging board to drain excess water. Have a bucket ready to catch it.
3. Have an extraction unit ready to help pull water and moisture out of the area.