The fire resistance of genuine fire-resistant gypsum board stems from its special materials and manufacturing process. Counterfeits can only imitate surface features but cannot replicate the core performance. The key differences are as follows:

For procurement scenarios in regions like Africa and Southeast Asia (lacking professional testing equipment), the following simple and practical identification methods are recommended for preliminary judgment without instruments:

1. Look: Color, Markings, and Appearance

   Genuine board has a uniformly saturated red paper surface with no brush marks or color differences. Edges are neatly cut, and the paper is tightly bonded to the gypsum core with no lifting or delamination. Key check: Look at the markings on the back. They should clearly state "Fire-Resistant," "A1 Class," "ASTM C1396," along with the brand logo and traceable production batch. On counterfeits, the red color easily rubs off, markings are blurry, or there are no fire-related labels at all.

2. Heft: Weight and Density

   A genuine fire-resistant board of the same specification (e.g., 12mm thick) has a moderate weight (8-10 kg/m²), feeling solid due to the dense gypsum core and glass fibers. Counterfeits are either too light (indicating mixed waste materials and a porous core) or too heavy (indicating excessive moisture content, prone to later moisture deformation). Both are signs of quality issues.

3. Tap: Sound to Identify Structure

   Tap the board with your finger. A genuine board produces a clear, crisp, and solid sound, indicating a dense core without air bubbles. A counterfeit produces a dull, hollow sound, often due to internal looseness or a high content of impurities, resulting in very poor strength and easy breakage when bent.

4. Tear: Test Paper Bonding Strength

   Gently tear the paper at the board's edge. On a genuine board, the paper is firmly bonded to the gypsum core and is not easy to peel off. On a counterfeit, due to poor bonding, the paper peels off easily, may tear into pieces immediately, revealing the loose core.

5. Burn: Simple Fire Test (Perform Safely On-Site)

   Apply a lighter flame to a corner of the board for 10 seconds. A genuine board will only show slight blackening of the paper, with the gypsum core showing no sign of burning and producing little smoke. A counterfeit will burn quickly, with the paper charring and falling off, releasing irritating smoke, and may show obvious flame spread.