Liquid · 5–18 mm
Laminate — indicative fig. C·22
Fire Euroclass B-… Euroclass B-…Embodied carbon Data pending Per-m² sourceCompressive 200–280 MPa (perpendicular to face)MPa StructuralDesign life 25yr
Self-supporting solid phenolic panel with density ≥1,350 kg/m³, flexural strength ≥80 MPa and modulus ≥9,000 MPa; weather-resistant, hygienic and UV-stable for external facades, wet areas, laboratory benches and toilet partitions.
01 Physical
Density 1,350–1,500 kg/m³ (minimum ≥1,350 kg/m³ per EN ISO 1183)kg/m³
Specific gravity 1.35–1.50
Porosity <0.1% (non-porous surface)%
Water absorption ≤2% mass gain (boiling water resistance test, EN 438-2); cold water absorption typically <0.5% in 24h immersion at 23°C%
Hardness Barcol 60–70; surface highly scratch-resistantMohs / Shore
UV resistance Excellent (exterior grade) — ΔE <2 per 10 years; standard interior grades moderate UV resistance only
Chemical resistance Excellent — Grade 1 resistance to most chemical and biological agents per EN 438-2
pH tolerance pH 2–12 (service range)pH
Surface roughness Ra 0.1–2.0 μm depending on surface finishμm Ra
02 Mechanical
Tensile strength ≥60 MPa longitudinal; ≥50 MPa transverse (EN ISO 527). Premium exterior products typically 70–90 MPa longitudinal.MPa
Compressive strength 200–280 MPa (perpendicular to face)MPa
Flexural strength ≥80 MPa longitudinal; ≥70 MPa transverse (EN ISO 178). Products typically achieve 90–130 MPa longitudinal at standard thicknesses.MPa
Shear strength 30–50 MPa (interlaminar shear)MPa
Poisson's ratio 0.25–0.35
Impact resistance ≤10 mm indentation depth (EN 438-2 falling ball impact test, 1 kg ball 1 m drop height). Charpy impact: typically 25–45 kJ/m² for 10 mm panel.
Creep resistance Excellent — minimal creep at temperatures below 70°C; negligible deformation at design service loads
03 Thermal
Thermal conductivity 0.28–0.35 W/mKW/mK
Specific heat 1,200–1,400 J/kgKJ/kgK
Thermal expansion 14–20 ×10⁻⁶/K (longitudinal); 20–30 ×10⁻⁶/K (transverse)×10⁻⁶/K
04 Compliance & Fire First question
Combustibility class Euroclass B-s1,d0 to B-s2,d0 (EN 13501-1); NCC Group 2–3Euroclass / NCC Group
Fire resistance level No standalone FRL — system compliance via AS 5113 external wall testminutes
Ignition temp ~350–400°C (flash ignition); ~480–520°C (self-ignition)°C
Flame spread index SFI 0–1, FI 0–3 (AS 1530.3); Group 2–3 (NCC external wall classification)FSI
Smoke dev. index s1–s2 (EN 13501-1); SDI 3–6 (AS 1530.3)SDI / s-class
Heat release rate Peak HRR 80–150 kW/m² (cone calorimeter, ISO 5660) — reduced by high char yieldkW/m²
05 Sustainability & Health
Embodied carbon ~12–18 kgCO2e/m² (10 mm, cradle-to-gate, per Trespa EPD)kgCO2e/m²
Carbon footprint 2.5–4.5 kgCO2e/kg (estimated cradle-to-gate)kgCO2e/kg
Embodied energy 70–100 MJ/kg (estimated; manufacturing energy-intensive)MJ/kg
Water footprint 50–150 L/kg (estimated cradle-to-gate)L/kg
Recyclability 0% (commercial recyclability); energy recovery possible via incineration%
Recycled content 0–20% (pre-consumer recycled kraft paper content, product-dependent)%
Renewable content 50–60% renewable (cellulose fibre from sustainably managed forests); 40–50% petrochemical resin (non-renewable)%
Circular score 2/10 — thermoset matrix is non-recyclable; limited end-of-life options/10
VOC emissions Formaldehyde ≤0.1 mg/m³ (E1 class, EN 717-1); many products E0 or GREENGUARD Gold certifiedμg/m³h
Toxicity rating Low (installed product); moderate hazard from machining dust — dust extraction and P2 respirator required during cutting/drilling
LEED contribution Up to 3–4 points (EPD + low VOC + FSC certification — product dependent)LEED v4 points
06 Durability · Cost · Logistics
Expected lifespan 25–50 years (exterior); 30–50 years (interior wet areas)years
Maintenance interval 12 months (annual wash exterior); as needed (interior)months
Warranty period 5–10 years (manufacturer warranty, application dependent)years
Material cost (range) $80–200/m² supply only (AUD, 2025)AUD/m²
Material cost (per unit) $80–200/m² (supply only, AUD 2025)AUD/m²
Lead time 5–15 business days (stock); 8–16 weeks (special order from Europe)days
Lifecycle cost $200–400/m² total life cycle cost over 50 years (AUD, 2025)AUD/m²
Annual maintenance $0.50–2.00/m²/year interior; $2–5/m²/year exterior (AUD 2025)AUD/m²/year
Market availability Good — nationally available through established distributor networks; exterior-grade products lead time 1–4 weeks from stock
07 Assessment
Advantages
- Weatherproof and UV-stable — suitable for external facades without protective coating
- Self-supporting panel requiring no substrate — reduces installation weight and cost
- Excellent chemical resistance to a broad range of acids, alkalis, solvents and disinfectants
- Hygienic non-porous surface with very low water absorption — ideal for wet areas and food-contact environments
- High impact and abrasion resistance — highly durable in high-traffic public spaces
- Colour-stable decorative surface (melamine face) retaining appearance for 25–50 years
- Graffiti-resistant surface — most graffiti cleanable with solvents without surface damage
- Available in wide range of colours and surface textures — matte, satin, gloss, woodgrain, stone
- Very low maintenance — periodic cleaning with mild detergent sufficient for interior and exterior use
- Long service life of 30–50+ years in exterior applications reduces whole-of-life cost
Constraints
- High material cost ($80–200/m² supply, $150–350/m² installed) compared to fibre cement or aluminium cladding
- Combustible — organic thermoset resin; does not achieve non-combustible rating required for some NCC applications above certain building heights
- Brittle at thin gauges (5–6 mm) — susceptible to cracking if panels are not adequately supported or impacted
- Irreparable surface damage — scratches and deep impacts cannot be repaired; full panel replacement required
- Non-recyclable thermoset matrix — cannot be remelted or chemically broken down; limited end-of-life options
- Cutting and machining generates phenolic dust requiring respiratory protection and dust extraction
- Edges require sealing for external and wet-area use — unsealed edges allow moisture ingress into kraft paper core
- Limited flexibility — panels are rigid and cannot be cold-bent to tight radii; only thermoformable with specialist equipment
- Long lead times for non-standard colours and finishes from European manufacturers (8–14 weeks to Australia)
- Coefficient of thermal expansion requires allowance for movement joints in large facade panel installations
08 Applications
A1 External ventilated facade cladding Rainscreen cladding system on commercial, institutional and residential buildings using concealed aluminium carrier systems; UV-stable exterior-grade panels span between horizontal rails.
A2 Balustrade infill panels 10–18 mm self-supporting panels used as balustrade infill on balconies, stairwells and elevated walkways; through-bolted with stainless steel fixings to structural posts.
A3 Toilet cubicle and sanitary partition systems Standard specification for commercial and institutional toilet partitions; prefabricated systems using 13–16 mm panels with stainless hardware.
A4 Laboratory and scientific benchtops Grade 1 chemical-resistant work surfaces for university, hospital, TAFE and research laboratories; 13–16 mm on supporting framework with post-formed or banded edges.
A5 Hospital and healthcare fitout Cubicle screens, headwall panels, nurse station benchtops and sterile area partitions; anti-bacterial surface variants; non-porous surface supports infection control protocols.
A6 School and institutional locker rooms Locker cladding, changing room benches and wet-area wall linings; durability and graffiti resistance preferred in high-use institutional environments.
A7 Outdoor furniture and public realm Tabletops, seating panels and shelter linings for parks, transport interchanges and public spaces; UV and weather resistance maintain appearance without maintenance painting.
A8 Food service counters and canteen serveries EN 1186-compliant food-contact surfaces for counters, serving stations and commercial kitchen surfaces; easy clean, disinfectant-compatible.
A9 Architectural screens and louvres CNC-routed privacy screens, sun louvres and perforated facade elements for commercial buildings; anodised finish or raw phenolic surface used as design feature.
A10 Engraved wayfinding and signage panels Laser-engraved and CNC-routed directional signage using through-colour core; contrasting core revealed by engraving for tactile wayfinding in NCC-compliant accessible environments.
09 Sources & Standards
Sources pending — citations for this material are not yet recorded. Verify all figures against manufacturer data and current standards before specifying.