A quiet revolution is taking place in the building materials industry. The first challenger to the industry's long-standing "go-to" building materials - timber, drywall, and standard cement board - is already here, and it is called fiber cement board. As industry pioneers, we have been able to witness this transformation and how it improves the construction industry's solutions for customers globally.
Limitations of Traditional Materials
Building professionals use various materials built to last, but these materials do not last, and often, build onspec. Timber, drywall, and cement have great and similar downfalls. Timber rot, drywall deteriorates, and board cement cracks. Each and as a collective, material has a decreasing lifeline. The construction industry has continued to use these materials, and thus, as the downfalls have been noticeable by construction professionals, they have also been visible to the numerous layers of the industry.
In Southeast Asia's humid weather, wood buildings usually don't last more than 15 years. Around the Pacific Rim, where there are lots of earthquakes, the materials they often use aren't strong enough, so they're not safe. And in places where fires happen a lot, the materials can easily catch fire, which puts lives and buildings at risk. Because of all this, there's a big need for different building materials.
The Breakthrough of Fiber Cement Board
The emergence of fiber cement board is not accidental, but rather an inevitable result of materials science responding to market demands. This composite material, composed of cement, cellulose fibers, and mineral fillers, successfully addresses many of the pain points of traditional materials.
In terms of durability, fiber cement boards far surpass wood in their resistance to moisture, corrosion, and termite infestation. Our project in Australia showed that exterior walls using fiber cement boards showed no significant degradation after thirty years in a high-salt coastal environment, while similar wood structures typically require major repairs within ten years.
The increase in safety is especially notable. Fiber cement boards will not fuel fire, giving precious extra moments for escape time. A Chilean hospital increased fire safety ranks by two levels since using fiber cement board dividers.
The revolution in installation and maintenance is equally noteworthy. The lightweight design of fiber cement boards reduces structural load, and their uniform dimensions and weight stability significantly shorten installation time. A German contractor reported that, compared to traditional materials, fiber cement boards improve installation efficiency by 40% and reduce waste by 60%.
An Innovative Path to Overcoming Challenges
The promotion of any new material faces challenges, and fiber cement boards are no exception. Early products suffered from excessive weight and brittleness. We addressed these issues by optimizing fiber ratios and production processes, resulting in increased strength while reducing weight by 30%.
To address environmental concerns, we developed an asbestos-free formula and used renewable cellulose fibers. Life cycle assessments show that our fiber cement boards have a 45% lower overall carbon footprint from production to disposal compared to traditional concrete boards.
Cost was once another obstacle. Through economies of scale and process improvements, the price of fiber cement boards has decreased by 35% over the past decade, giving them a significant advantage in total life cycle cost calculations. Considering maintenance, replacement, and energy efficiency, fiber cement boards can save up to 25% of total costs over a building's lifespan.