Internal walls & partitions

Which screw should I choose for dry construction?

Last updated: 14 October 2026

Which screw for which board and which framework: TN or TB, XTN for Diamant and Ultra Board, alkali-resistant screws for cement board, length, density and the 5

The system at a glance

Solutions & Applications · Dry Construction

The screw is the cheapest component in a dry construction system — and the most common point of failure. The wrong type, the wrong length or the wrong screw density negates the fire resistance, sound insulation and mechanical strength you have paid for in the boards. The answer comes down to three questions: which panel am I fixing, to which frame, and in which environment.

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The 3 questions that determine the screw

What should I use to fix them? Standard CW/UW/CD/UD profiles are made of sheet metal up to 0.7 mm thick → use a pointed screw. Heavy-duty framing (e.g. UA 2 mm) or double profiles, 0.7–2.25 mm → self-tapping screw.
Which board should I screw into? Standard plasterboard, high-density board (Diamant, Ultra Board), perforated acoustic board, fibre-reinforced plasterboard or cement board. Each type requires a different head, thread and coating.
In what environment? Dry or damp indoor areas, or outdoor/alkaline environments. This determines whether a corrosion-resistant or alkali-resistant coating is required.

Quick reference table: slab → screw

Slab	Frame up to 0.7 mm	Frame 0.7–2.25 mm
Type A · H2 · DF · DFH2 · Piano DF · Silentboard	TN (sharp)	TB (self-tapping screw)
DIAMANT DFH1IR · ULTRA BOARD	XTN 3.9	XTB 3.9
Perforated acoustic panels (Cleaneo Akustik)	SN 3.5×30
Fibre-reinforced gypsum board	Vidin
AQUAPANEL Indoor / Outdoor	Anti-alkali maxi SN	Anti-alkali maxi SB
GUARDEX (exteriors)	Exterior GMR NP	Exterior GMR DP
Profile-to-profile (not slab)	LN	LB

In fire-rated systems (FIREBOARD, DF), radiation protection systems (SAFEBOARD) and sound insulation systems (SILENTBOARD), the screw specified on the certified sheet is mandatory.

The main types of screws

TN — pointed plasterboard screw. The ‘everyday’ screw for sheet metal up to 0.7 mm thick. A trumpet-head screw that sinks in without tearing the paper.
TB — self-tapping screw. For sheet metal 0.7–2.25 mm: UA profile, double studs. The tip slips there and does not grip.
XTN / XTB 3.9 — for high-density boards. Reinforced so as not to crack on the hard core; Diamant and Ultra Board — the standard TN ‘slips’ there.
SN 3.5×30 — for perforated acoustic panels. It does not damage the perforations and is not visible in the finished product.
Vidin — for fibre-reinforced gypsum boards, with a threaded connection for a homogeneous, paperless core.
Alkali-resistant maxi — for cement boards. Alkaline cement corrodes standard screws: without an alkali-resistant coating, the screw rusts inside the board.
LN / LB — metal-to-metal. 4.2 mm flat head that does not protrude below the panel; LN pointed, LB self-tapping.
Anchors. Expansion anchors for fixing the framework to concrete; metal M6/58 and M6/71 for suspending loads on single or double plasterboard.

Screw length

The rule: slab thickness + ~10 mm within the metal.

Cladding	Indicative length
1 layer, 12.5 mm	25 mm
2 layers, 2 × 12.5 mm	35–45 mm
3 layers, 3 × 12.5 mm	55 mm

In a double-layer system, the inner layer is fixed with shorter screws at wider intervals; the outer layer with longer screws at the standard spacing. Screws are fixed more densely in ceilings than in walls — as the load is suspended there. The exact distances are specified in the system’s technical data sheet and are mandatory for fire-rated and sound-insulating constructions.

The 5 most common mistakes on a building site

Incorrect	What’s happening?
Sharp-pointed screw for thick sheet metal	It twists, it heats up, it doesn’t anchor — it requires a self-tapping screw
Standard screw for cement board	Corroded by the alkaline environment; rust visible on the surface
TN on Diamant or Ultra Board	The screw breaks or does not screw in properly
Overlapping	The print head tears the paper — the pull-out strength is lost
Screw fastening close to the edge; incorrect density	The slab cracks; fire resistance or sound insulation is compromised

ARGYNET Note

The screw is not a consumable — it forms part of the certified system. In fire-rated, sound-insulating and radiation-shielding constructions, the type and density of fastenings are included in the test that leads to certification. By changing the screw, you change the system.

Please send us the slab type, the framework and the number of layers — we will recommend the exact screw type, length and quantity per m².