Board · 6–20 mm
Cementitious — indicative fig. M·02
Fire A1 Non-combustibleEmbodied carbon 0.20kgCO₂e/kg LowCompressive 15-20 MPaMPa StructuralDesign life 50yr
Non-combustible MgO boards with moisture resistance; typical density ~1200 kg/m3 and thermal conductivity ~0.25-0.35 W/mK.
01 Physical
Density 1200 +/- 50kg/m3
Specific gravity 0.85-1.2
Porosity 28-35%%
Water absorption <=10%
Hardness Shore D 65-75
UV resistance Excellent - tested to ASTM G154
Chemical resistance Good resistance to acids and alkalis
pH tolerance pH 9-11 (alkaline)
Surface roughness Smooth face: Ra 3-5 μm, Rough face: Ra 15-25 μmµm
02 Mechanical
Tensile strength 3-5 MPaMPa
Compressive strength 15-20 MPaMPa
Flexural strength >=12MPa
Shear strength 2-3 MPaMPa
Poisson's ratio 0.15-0.20
Impact resistance 20.3-25 kJ/m²
Creep resistance Minimal creep under sustained load <0.2%
03 Thermal
Thermal conductivity 0.0988-0.206 W/(m·K)W/m·K
Specific heat 900-1100 J/(kg·K)J/kg·K
Thermal expansion 8-12 × 10⁻⁶/°C×10⁻⁶/°C
04 Compliance & Fire First question
Combustibility class A1
Fire resistance level FRL 60/60/60 (10mm), 90/90/90 (10mm double), 120/120/120 (12mm)
Ignition temp >1000°C°C
Flame spread index 0
Smoke dev. index 0-3
Heat release rate Negligible
05 Sustainability & Health
Embodied carbon 0.2-0.4 kg CO₂e/kg (varies by transport distance)
Carbon footprint Negative carbon potential through MgO carbonation
Embodied energy 3-5 MJ/kgMJ/kg
Water footprint Low - minimal water use in productionL/kg
Recyclability 100%%
Recycled content 45-50% (MgO is waste product from steel production)%
Renewable content 15-20% (wood fibres)%
Circular score High - fully recyclable, uses waste materials
VOC emissions <0.01 mg/m³ (essentially zero)
Toxicity rating Non-toxic, no harmful emissions
LEED contribution Up to 4 points (low emissions, recycled content)
06 Durability · Cost · Logistics
Expected lifespan 50+ years
Maintenance interval No regular maintenance required
Warranty period 10-15 years typical
Material cost (range) AUD $30-45 per m²
Material cost (per unit) AUD $96-144 per 4'×8' sheet (thickness dependent)
Lead time 2-6 weeks for standard products, 8-12 weeks for custom
Lifecycle cost Lower than alternatives due to durability and fire resistance
Annual maintenance Minimal - essentially maintenance-free
Market availability Good - multiple Australian suppliers
07 Assessment
Advantages
- Non-combustible with exceptional fire resistance (AS 1530.1 certified)
- Completely waterproof and moisture resistant
- 10 times stronger than standard plasterboard
- Resistant to mould, mildew, termites, and bacteria
- 100% recyclable and environmentally friendly
- Lightweight yet structurally robust
- Excellent acoustic properties (STC 53-54)
- No toxic emissions or formaldehyde content
- Suitable for direct tiling without waterproofing membrane
- Long service life with minimal maintenance
Constraints
- Higher initial cost than standard plasterboard ($30-45/m² vs $15-20/m²)
- Chloride-based versions prone to corrosion of metal fasteners in high humidity
- Potential for 'crying' phenomenon in MOC boards above 90% RH
- Limited local manufacturing - primarily imported from Asia
- Requires specialised cutting tools (carbide blades recommended)
- Heavier than gypsum board (10-15% more)
- Quality variation between manufacturers
- High mass loss at elevated temperatures (40-50% at fire exposure)
- Requires careful storage to prevent moisture absorption before installation
- Limited availability of Australian-specific technical data
08 Applications
A1 Fire-rated wall systems (FRL 30/30/30 to 120/120/120)
A2 Bushfire construction (BAL-29, BAL-40, BAL-FZ zones)
A3 External cladding and façade systems
A4 Interior wall and ceiling linings
A5 Wet area construction (bathrooms, laundries)
A6 Acoustic partition walls
A7 Structural insulated panels (SIPS)
A8 Boundary fire walls
A9 Commercial high-rise construction
A10 Healthcare and education facilities
09 Sources & Standards
Sources pending — citations for this material are not yet recorded. Verify all figures against manufacturer data and current standards before specifying.