Use of Fire-rated Boards for Building Construction

In many of the modern building constructions, we see use of Magnesium oxide boards in the place of gypsum based drywalls. Primarily, this is because you can score, snap, drill, saw, and fasten the Magnesium Oxide (MgO) board to the framing made or steel or wood. It has high resistance to heat and sound which further increases its utility value.

MgO boards resist fire

One important property of the MgO board is that it is fireproof. That is, the fire rated boards can withstand temperature more than 1100°C for more than 2 hours. This makes it useful for lining the inner walls or refractories, tunnels prone to fire hazards, and fireplaces. You can also use them for external sheathing, interior wall and ceiling board, soffits, fascias, trim material, tile backing and underlayment.

You can get the magnesia board in a wide range of sizes and shapes. Presently, they are used as the primary construction material in Asia. They are used for their improved physical properties such as fire resistance and impact resistance. Further, they resist the growth of bugs, fungus, and mould. They are waterproof and are made without asbestos or silica. They can be used in the place of regular cement boards and due to their hard-non-absorbent surfaces, they find use in places where there is bound to be water.

Downside of the boards

The magnesia boards cost more than conventional cement boards. Further, there is no uniformity in usage. The builders will use the MgO board in certain parts of the building but will use some other material in other places. Fire board makers in various places around the world make the fire board to different specifications making it difficult to have a common standard.

However, the use of fire resistant boards is needed in places where you come face to face with fire. Use of the fire-resistant boards will help prevent destruction to life and property. They prevent the spread of fire and thus keep the losses to a minimum. 

Each board must be installed as per the manufacturer’s instructions. This kind of installation procedure is needed to maintain structural integrity. When manufactured using Sorrel cement, the product is hygroscopic and is therefore names ‘crying boards.’