Panel · 4.5–18 mm
Cementitious — indicative fig. M·24
Fire A1 Non-combustibleEmbodied carbon 0.50kgCO₂e/kg Low–mediumCompressive 38-46MPa StructuralDesign life 50yr
Non-combustible cellulose-fibre-reinforced cement sheet (1250-1300 kg/m3) manufactured to AS/NZS 2908.2, deemed-to-comply non-combustible under NCC C1.9(e), suitable for all BAL ratings per AS 3959, with 50+ year service life and 30-year manufacturer warranty
01 Physical
Density 1250-1300kg/m3
Specific gravity 1.25-1.30
Porosity 28-35%
Water absorption 34-36%
Hardness 40-60HV
UV resistance excellent
Chemical resistance good
pH tolerance Stable at pH 5-13; avoid sustained acid exposure (pH <5)pH
Surface roughness 1-200 (finish-dependent: smooth 1-3, textured 10-25, cedarmill 20-80, roughsawn 100-200)um Ra
02 Mechanical
Tensile strength 2-4MPa
Compressive strength 38-46MPa
Flexural strength 7.0-10.0MPa
Shear strength 4-6MPa
Poisson's ratio 0.2-0.25
Impact resistance ~7 (9mm sheet, 530g/1400mm drop protocol)J
Creep resistance good
03 Thermal
Thermal conductivity 0.23W/mK
Specific heat 840-1000J/kgK
Thermal expansion 0.008-0.010mm/m/degC
04 Compliance & Fire First question
Combustibility class Non-combustible (deemed-to-comply)
Fire resistance level 60-120minutes
Ignition temp Not applicabledegC
Flame spread index 0
Smoke dev. index 0-5
Heat release rate Near zerokW/m2
05 Sustainability & Health
Embodied carbon 0.5-0.8kgCO2e/kg
Carbon footprint 5.7-9.2 (at 9mm reference thickness; scales linearly with thickness)kgCO2e/m2
Embodied energy 6-10MJ/kg
Water footprint 20-40L/kg
Recyclability 10-30%
Recycled content 0-30%
Renewable content 5-15%
Circular score 3/10
VOC emissions Negligible (uncoated)ug/m3
Toxicity rating low
LEED contribution 1-3points
06 Durability · Cost · Logistics
Expected lifespan 50+years
Maintenance interval 6-12months
Warranty period 30years
Material cost (range) $15-45/m2 supply only, varying by thickness (4.5mm lowest, 18mm highest) and product type (HardieFlex lowest, Scyon/Villaboard mid-range)m2
Material cost (per unit) 15-45AUD/m2
Lead time 1-4weeks
Lifecycle cost 145-160AUD/m2
Annual maintenance 1-3AUD/m2/year
Market availability Readily available
07 Assessment
Advantages
- Deemed-to-comply non-combustible under NCC C1.9(e) — no AS 1530.1 testing required
- Suitable for all BAL ratings (BAL-LOW through BAL-FZ) per AS 3959 — universal bushfire zone compliance
- FRL up to 120/120/120 achievable in steel-framed wall systems (James Hardie Fire Rated Application Guide)
- 50+ year expected service life with 30-year non-prorated substrate warranty (James Hardie)
- Complete termite and rot immunity — inorganic cement matrix unaffected by wood-destroying organisms (CSIRO tested)
- Dimensional stability: moisture movement 0.04% (A direction) / 0.03% (B direction) at 30-90% RH (HardieFlex TDS)
- AS 1530.3 indices 0/0/0/0-5 — exceptional early-fire performance
- Supply cost $15-45/m2 — competitive mid-range cladding material in Australian market
Constraints
- Water absorption 34% by mass when immersed — requires moisture management in wall assemblies (ASTM C1186)
- Thermal conductivity 0.23 W/mK — minimal insulation value, requires bulk insulation in wall cavity for NCC energy compliance
- Flexural strength 7.0 MPa saturated — modest; requires continuous support by framing at max 600mm centres
- Crystalline silica dust hazard during cutting — requires water suppression or HEPA extraction per SafeWork Australia WHS
- Weight 13-19 kg/m2 at 9-12mm thickness — heavier than timber weatherboards, requires 2-person handling for large sheets
- Labour-intensive installation — score-and-snap or water-suppressed cutting required, not as fast as vinyl or metal cladding
- Limited recycled content — no post-consumer recycled input in standard James Hardie formulations
- Paint recoating required every 10-15 years for field-applied finishes in high-UV exposure
08 Applications
A1 External wall cladding Non-loadbearing external cladding for residential and commercial buildings. Deemed-to-comply non-combustible per NCC C1.9(e). Suitable for all BAL ratings per AS 3959. Available as flat sheet, lap siding, or panel formats.
A2 Internal wet area lining Villaboard lining for bathrooms, laundries, and kitchens as moisture-resistant substrate for tiles, paint, or wallpaper. Superior impact resistance to plasterboard.
A3 Eave and soffit lining Lightweight 4.5-6mm sheets for eave and soffit applications. Non-combustible classification important for bushfire-prone areas. Resists termite and rot damage.
A4 Fire-rated wall systems Component in fire-rated wall assemblies achieving FRL 60/60/60 to 120/120/120 on timber or steel framing per AS 1530.4 tested systems.
A5 Gable end lining Cladding for gable ends of roof structures. Non-combustible classification meets NCC requirements for upper-level external walls.
A6 Flooring substrate Compressed fibre cement (Scyon Secura, 19-24mm) as structural flooring substrate for wet areas and upper-level floors in timber-framed construction.
A7 Ceiling lining Internal ceiling lining in residential and commercial applications. Can form part of fire-rated ceiling assemblies.
A8 Facade panel system Large-format architectural facade panels for commercial and multi-residential buildings. EQUITONE and Scyon Stria/Axon products provide contemporary aesthetic options.
09 Sources & Standards
References
- AS/NZS 2908.2:2000 — Cellulose-cement products, Part 2: Flat sheets · standard
- AS 1530.1-1994 — Methods for fire tests on building materials, Part 1: Combustibility test for materials · standard
- NCC 2022 Volume One — Part G5 Construction in bushfire prone areas · government
- AS 3959:2018 — Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas · standard
- James Hardie Fibre Cement Products EPD (Australia) — S-P-02052 · database
- CSR Cemintel Prefinished Fibre Cement Products EPD — EPD-IES-0018187 · database
- Cemintel Technical Hub — Design guides, SDS, bushfire-prone area guide · manufacturer
- Cemintel — Fire Performance Guide for Fibre Cement Cladding (White Paper, June 2019) · industry
- Akers, S.A.S. & Studinka, J.B. (1989) — Ageing behaviour of cellulose fibre cement composites in natural weathering and accelerated tests · research
- Liu, Y. et al. (2021) — Research Progress on Durability of Cellulose Fiber-Reinforced Cement-Based Composites · research