mineral / Silicate / Board Product
Calcium Silicate Board (6mm, 9mm, 12mm, 15mm, 25mm)
Non-combustible calcium silicate board offering superior fire protection (up to 240 minutes), thermal insulation, and moisture resistance for Australian construction applications.
Atlas code
MIN-SIL-BRD-001
At-a-glance signals
Non-combustible calcium silicate board offering superior fire protection (up to 240 minutes), thermal insulation, and moisture resistance for Australian construction applications.
Overview
Executive summary
Calcium silicate board is a high-performance building material composed of calcium silicate hydrate reinforced with cellulose or synthetic fibres. Available in 6mm to 25mm thicknesses, it provides exceptional fire resistance, thermal insulation, and structural integrity. Manufactured through hydrothermal curing process creating xonotlite or tobermorite crystal structures. Suitable for fire-rated partitions, ceilings, thermal insulation, and industrial applications up to 1100°C.
Best when…
- Non-combustible with exceptional fire resistance
- Low thermal conductivity (0.05-0.17 W/m·K)
- Moisture and humidity resistant
- Termite and rot resistant
- Easy to cut, drill and machine
- Dimensionally stable
- No formaldehyde content
- Suitable for all Australian climate zones
- Long service life (30+ years)
- Recyclable and environmentally friendly
Top advantages
- 01 Non-combustible with exceptional fire resistance
- 02 Low thermal conductivity (0.05-0.17 W/m·K)
- 03 Moisture and humidity resistant
- 04 Termite and rot resistant
- 05 Easy to cut, drill and machine
Top limitations
- 01 Brittle - requires careful handling
- 02 Generates silica dust when cutting (requires PPE)
- 03 Higher cost than standard plasterboard
- 04 Heavier than gypsum board
- 05 Requires specific fixings and jointing systems
Technical
Physical ·9
- Density
- 250-1200 kg/m³ (varies by grade) kg/m³
- Specific gravity
- 0.25-1.2
- Porosity
- 70-85% (low density), 40-60% (high density) %
- Water absorption
- 25-45% by weight (24hr immersion) %
- Hardness
- Mohs 2-3
- UV resistance
- Good - suitable for semi-exposed applications // Promat data
- Chemical resistance
- Excellent - pH 3-14 resistant // Chemical properties
- pH tolerance
- pH 3-14
- Surface roughness
- Ra 3-10 μm (sanded), Ra 1-3 μm (smooth) µm
Mechanical ·7
- Tensile strength
- 0.9-6 MPa MPa
- Compressive strength
- 9-25 MPa (perpendicular to board) MPa
- Flexural strength
- 4.5-10 MPa (longitudinal) MPa
- Shear strength
- 2-4 MPa MPa
- Poisson's ratio
- 0.15-0.25
- Impact resistance
- Good - suitable for normal building use // Performance data
- Creep resistance
- Excellent - minimal deformation under load // Long-term performance
Sustainability & Health
Embodied carbon & energy ·7
- Embodied carbon
- 150-300 kg CO2e/m³ // Environmental databases
- Carbon footprint
- 0.2-0.4 kg CO2e/kg // LCA data estimates
- Embodied energy
- 2-4 MJ/kg MJ/kg // Manufacturing energy
- Water footprint
- 5-10 L/kg L/kg // Production water use
- Recycled content
- 0-30% (fly ash content) % // Material composition
- Renewable content
- 5-15% (cellulose fibres) % // Bio-based content
- Circular score
- Moderate (recyclable but energy-intensive) // Sustainability
Compliance & Fire
Fire performance ·6
- Combustibility class
- Non-combustible (AS 1530.1) // Australian standard
- Fire resistance level
- FRL up to 240/240/240 // AS 1530.4 tested
- Ignition temp
- >1000°C °C // High temperature resistance
- Flame spread index
- 0
- Smoke dev. index
- 0-3
- Heat release rate
- Negligible // Fire performance
Cost & Lifecycle
Capex & lead time ·6
- Material cost (range)
- $25-85/m² (thickness dependent) // Australian market 2024
- Material cost (per unit)
- $30-180/sheet (2440x1220mm) // Supply pricing
- Lead time
- 1-14 days (standard sizes) // Availability
- Lifecycle cost
- $100-250/m² over 30 years // Total ownership
- Annual maintenance
- $0-5/m² (minimal maintenance) // Operating costs
- Market availability
- Good - multiple Australian suppliers // Market status
Service life & durability ·3
- Expected lifespan
- 30-50+ years // Durability
- Maintenance interval
- Annual inspection recommended // Service
- Warranty period
- 10-15 years (manufacturer dependent) // Coverage
Layer D
Where it's used
Fire-rated partition systems (up to FRL 240/240/240)
Thermal insulation for industrial furnaces and kilns
Bushfire protection systems (BAL-40 to BAL-FZ)
Ceiling and soffit linings
Duct and service enclosures
Structural fire protection
Pizza oven and fireplace backing
Marine and offshore applications
Chemical plant insulation
Non-ferrous metal handling systems