What is the fire rating of drywall?

Fire-rated drywall, known as "one-hour drywall," can stand up to one hour of fire in laboratory conditions without combusting. Standard, or "half-hour drywall," can stand up to 30 minutes of fire under the same conditions.

Type X drywall, a type of fire-rated drywall, contains gypsum strengthened with a fiberglass core. While standard drywall is 0.5-inch thick, fire-rated drywall is 0.63-inch thick and much denser than standard drywall. Most building codes require that fire-rated drywall be used in areas near furnaces, wood-burning stoves and garages. Fire-rated drywall is commonly available, and contractors and homeowners can purchase it from most retailers that sell drywall.