Drywall fibre cement construction panels - why we love it!
- J.K.
- Feb 7, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: May 23
Introduction:
Drywall fibre cement panels or dfcp are as the name implies, fibre and cement composite panels that comes in sheets of (width) 1.22m x (length) 2.44m x (thick) 6mm, 8mm & 10mm sizes. Like a coin, both faces are different for good reason. One face is smooth and allows user to slap on the paint work without extra smoothing while the revers is made a little rough to enable screed, molding, and other forms of rendering catch on easily.
My first experience with drywall fibre cement panels or dfcp was a few years ago where it was applied as external wall cladding for an existing building and a newly constructed building by Chrometro Nig for WACP in Abuja. It was great! Ever since then, it is quite often my first choice when thinking of a durable yet light duty, easy to install, and pocket friendly material to use in place of traditional materials for partitions, cladding, ceilings, etc.
Drywall fibre cement panel benefits?
My favorite benefit is its fire rating. A building is more than just a house. Be it a residential property, office complex or public building the fact is that it shelters life and so it is crucial that it provides a minimum level of safety.
The fire rating classification for cladding material ranges from A1 to F in accordance with European Standards EN-13501-1. These are shown below:
A = Non-Combustible B = Very limited contribution to fire C = Limited contribution to fire D = Medium contribution to fire E = High contribution to fire F = Highly flammable
DFCP has a fire rating of A1. This means that it is a non-combustible material and will not ignite when exposed to direct flame or extreme heat, nor will it contribute fuel to a fire.
PVC/uPVC or vinyl products usually have a fire rating of C or D, which means this type of cladding is combustible. For comparison, most untreated wood cladding products have a fire rating of D. So bear this in mind for your next partition or ceiling project.
Other benefits:
Water resistance: It proves to be the best available drywall panel for high resistance against the elements in the case of external wall cladding and against moisture or leaks in the case of ceilings and internal partitions.
Impact resistance: Compared to other materials for cladding, ceiling and partition it is the toughest against impact. Luckily it comes in different thicknesses so one can choose which to use according to exposure.
Longevity: The drywall fibre cement material has a life-long life span. There is zero bio-degradable component in it. It wont corrode like aluminum, cake like pvc or rot like wood.
“When installed professionally, Drywall fibre cement panels can out last most components of a building save for concrete elements”
Applications and designs
Drywall fibre cement panels integrate seamlessly with traditional plaster wall so much so that you could never tell by sight. It is ideal to fill the core with acoustic and heat resistant foam to reduce sound and heat transfer from one space to another. Likewise in ceiling installations.
Consider using DFCP for your:
Internal office or home partitioning
New ceiling installation, ceiling replacement and or add on ceiling designs
Internal wall cladding, wall designs and breeze through dividers
External wall cladding and light duty external garden walls
Should you require more information or a quote for your project please click HERE to contact us.
Thanks for reading and enjoy the slides.
Interesting read!!!