Class Code 5446
Wallboard Installation – Low Wage
Class Code 5446 covers workers who install and finish wallboard (drywall/gypsum panels) in residential and light commercial jobs where wages are at the lower end of the trade. The approved California pure premium rate for September 1, 2026 is $6.233 per $100 of payroll — a key input when budgeting workers' comp costs.
What Class Code 5446 Covers
This classification applies to crews and individual workers who measure, cut, hang, fasten and perform basic finishing (taping, mudding and sanding) of gypsum board, plasterboard and similar panel products on interior walls and ceilings. Typical operations include staging or ladder work to position large panels, screwing or nailing panels to wood or metal studs, installing corner bead and trim, and performing sanding and touch-up of joint compound. It generally covers lower-wage installers and helpers who do routine hang-and-finish tasks rather than specialty plasterers, high-end finishers or interior lathers. Work on small residential remodels, tenant improvements and light commercial interiors performed by local drywall subcontractors falls squarely under this code. Activities that shift the work into a different classification include heavy plastering, sprayed-on finishes, or operations involving extensive powered equipment beyond standard drywall tools.
Who It Applies To
- Drywall hangers and helpers on residential or light commercial jobs
- Small remodeling contractors performing interior wallboard installation
- Subcontractor crews installing gypsum board for tenant improvements
- Apartment and condominium renovation crews handling hanging and taping
- Entry-level installers and laborers who perform basic finishing duties
Common Job Duties
- Measuring, cutting and fitting gypsum panels to walls and ceilings
- Lifting and carrying 4'×8' (and larger) wallboard sheets into position
- Fastening panels with screws or nails to wood or metal studs
- Applying joint tape and joint compound, plus sanding and touch-up
- Installing corner bead, casing and trim around openings
- Using screw guns, utility knives, straightedges, sanders and stilts
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $6.233 Rate
The pure premium rate of $6.233 per $100 of payroll represents the expected cost of losses for the classification before insurer expenses, profit, and policy-level adjustments. To estimate a premium, multiply your payroll for Code 5446 by $6.233 and divide by $100, then apply your insurer's experience modification, schedule credits/debits, policy fees and any state or carrier adjustments. Final premiums vary based on accurate payroll reporting, correct classification, your experience modification (EMR), claim history, and participation in loss-control or group-rating programs.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Wallboard work is governed by Cal/OSHA construction and general industry safety orders: employers must control fall hazards with proper ladder, scaffold and fall-protection systems, implement respiratory protection and dust-control measures for sanding and silica exposure, and maintain hazard communication for joint compounds and adhesives. Employers should provide training on ladder and scaffold safety, respiratory protection programs when needed, PPE (eye, hand, hearing), and use wet or mechanical dust suppression to limit airborne particulates to Cal/OSHA limits.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 5446
A PEO like Key HR helps employers in Class Code 5446 by ensuring correct classification and payroll reporting, administering workers' comp claims and return-to-work programs, and providing construction-specific safety templates and training to reduce incidents. Key HR can also leverage pooled purchasing, preferred carriers, and safety coaching to improve your EMR and lower the effective premium you pay.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does Class Code 5446 include taping and sanding or only hanging panels?
Yes — 5446 typically covers both hanging and the routine finishing tasks such as taping, applying joint compound and sanding when performed by lower-wage installers and helpers. Highly specialized finishers or plasterers who perform textured or specialty finishes may fall under a different classification.
What practical steps reduce workers' comp costs for wallboard crews?
Focus on accurate payroll and classification reporting, invest in manual-handling aids (panel carts, lifts), enforce ladder and scaffold safety, implement wet sanding or HEPA dust collection to reduce silica exposure, provide PPE and training, and maintain timely claims reporting and light-duty return-to-work to limit lost-time claims and EMR impact.
What specific PPE and training should employers provide for this work?
Provide and enforce safety glasses, cut-resistant gloves, hearing protection where needed, and appropriate respiratory protection for sanding or high-dust tasks. Train employees on ladder and scaffold safety, proper lifting techniques, respirator use and maintenance, hazard communication for joint compounds, and safe tool operation.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 5446
- Classification
- Wallboard Installation – Low Wage
- Pure Premium Rate
- $6.233 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
Manage Workers' Comp Through a PEO
Key HR provides pay-as-you-go workers' comp for California employers — no large deposits, no audits, better rates.
Get a Quoteor call (800) 922-4133Ready to Simplify Workers' Comp for Class Code 5446?
Key HR provides California employers with pay-as-you-go workers' comp, HR compliance support, and payroll — all through one PEO partnership.