AMC Board For Building And The Environment

AMC board is an innovative type of building material that is made from a mixture of magnesium oxide, magnesium sulphate and fibreglass.

It is known for its strength, durability and fire resistance, as well as its resistance to moisture. It can be used as an alternative to traditional drywall or gypsum board.

Teckwood’s AMC based panels have dimensional stability that makes these panels an important addition to building design.

Since Magnesium Oxide products are molded using coordinated chemical reactions, they are extremely solid when cured creating a hardened material that is enduringly stable.

The Great Wall of China and many Roman buildings were originally built with Magnesia cement and are still around for a reason.

By the early 20th-century, the use of magnesia declined as builders turned to cheaper options such as Portland cement and other such materials.

Over the past decade magnesia has returned as a component found in sustainably produced building products with a very low environmental impact.

Magnesium oxide boards, also known as AMC board, can be a suitable option for use on the exterior of buildings. They can be applied as wall sheathing, trim and fascia.

Inside homes, magnesium board serves as a tile backer, wall panel, ceiling board, firewall and drop ceiling tile. It is moisture resistant and has high durability properties.

The key benefits of Magnesium Oxide board include

Fire resistance

Magnesium Oxide board is classified as non flammable Class A1 fire-resistant material.

It will not burn at 800 °C and there is no flame at 1200 °C, reaching the highest non-flammable class meaning it does not contribute to the spread of fire.

Unlike other fire-resistant building materials, Teckwood’s AMC panels do not require added chemicals to achieve their fire-resistant properties.

This means they will not produce toxic fumes or smoke when exposed to high heat or flames.

It is ideal for use in wall sheathing, subflooring, and roof deck applications.

They will not produce toxic fumes or smoke when exposed to high heat or flames.

It can absorb a large amount of thermal energy in the process of burning fire and delay the increase of ambient temperature.

Teckwood’s AMC building boards offer an innovative solution to meet the ever increasing demands of the Passive Fire Protection Industry.

Moisture resistance

Magnesium Oxide board is highly resistant to moisture and does not deteriorate when exposed to humidity, making it ideal for use in high dampness environments such as bathrooms and kitchens.

Durability

Magnesium Oxide Composite board is immensely durable and resistant to impact, making it a suitable material for use in commercial properties as well as in the home.

Easy to install

AMC Composite board is lighter and easier to cut and install than traditional drywall, making it a convenient material for use in construction and renovation projects

Environmentally friendly

Magnesium Oxide board is made from natural and sustainable materials and does not emit harmful chemicals or gases, making it an environmentally friendly option for construction and renovation projects.

Safety

Health implications are reduced in the home as the boards naturally resist mould, mildew and rotting.

This will result in reduced symptoms of asthma, coughing, wheezing, throat irritation, eye irritation, nasal stuffiness, and even skin irritation.

Corrosion resistance

AMC panels have a low free chloride content that has almost zero corrosive effects because chloride ions are one of the primary causes of deterioration in metals.

When chloride ions come into contact with metal surfaces, they can accelerate the corrosion process by breaking down the protective oxide layer on the surface of the metal.

Commercial fasteners such as screws will not be affected making it a reliable and long-lasting construction material that is suitable for use in a wide range of environments.

Water damage

It is estimated that just one inch of flood water can cause more than £20,000 in damage, it is not hard to believe that nationwide, household water damage costs up to £740 million annually.

Using a building product that is water resistant has never made more sense.

AMC panels do not rapidly deteriorate when immersed in water over a short period, as happens in floods and extreme rainfall events, and can maintain structural stability even under the force of minor bending.

High-performance Magnesium Oxide building materials do not warp, swell or delaminate.

They are not fully waterproof but compared to most wood and all gypsum drywall products they are far more resilient when facing temporary water inundation. 

Acoustic performance

AMC Boards have very good reflective and soundproofing properties.

When used with an insulation material such as mineral Rockwool, they can easily prevent and eliminate the sound waves from penetrating from walls or ceilings.

They can be widely used in Theatres, Home Theatres and recording studios in order to prevent the sound from travelling outside the room.

The superior soundproofing performance of the magnesium oxide board ensures quiet and elegant living environment.

The noise reduction value of the lightweight 6mm board is 29dB.

The noise resistance of the partition system of the double-sided single layer 9mm magnesium oxide board and 50mm of rock wool could achieve 42dB.

SIPS panels

The adhesive characteristics of the Magnesium Oxide board make for excellent Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS) and Exterior Insulated Finish Systems (EIFS).  

By using an AMC board these systems improve a wall’s fire rating, insulation and moisture resistance.

Low environmental impact

Unlike cement based boards and pours, magnesium oxide board does not contain asbestos, formaldehyde, benzene and other elements, it is smoke-free, non-toxic and odour free in case of fire.

The materials used in production are natural mineral powders and plant fibres.

During production it uses between 25 – 50% of the energy used to produce cement based boards, produces no effluent and it is unique as the curing process captures carbon dioxide (Co2) When used in construction the board surface will not drop powders.

Its unique natural pore structure can regulate room temperature making your home and office more comfortable.

AMC Boards are recommended for both residential and commercial buildings.

Dimensional Stability

The Magnesium Oxide board has excellent dimensional stability under heat and in severe moisture environments. It also has a small expansion rate.

Boards are suitable for most if not all residential or commercial applications due to good impact resistance. The   inner structure does not change when wet or frozen.

The dimensional stability of the AMC board is 50 cycles in freeze/thaw and the loss of mechanical strength is only 0.5% (at the allowable of 18%).

Efficient Cutting & Fastening Method

The Magnesium Oxide board is easy to install, it is simple to cut, drill, shape and fixed.

It can be worked in the same way as timber products with no special tools required, and it is also a maintenance friendly product.

Our AMC boards will work best with carbide tools resulting in clean square cuts that will provide higher quality installations. Circular saws including table saws work best.

The boards can be scored and snapped using disposable knives that can cut through the fiberglass mesh from the smooth side.

Edges can be routed flush or to create shapes and patterns using carbide cutters.

When using saws like the hand electric saw with precision depth adjustment, sheets can be cut directly off the pile without marking the sheet below which contributes to fast and accurate work.

It is better than fibrous cement boards to cut because the dust is not as irritating and the composition is easier on cutting tools.

But as with cutting any materials that make dust, all workers should be protected from the dust by using a vacuum, blowers, breeze or dust masks.​

AMC boards can be recycled

One of the most significant benefits of magnesium oxide boards is its positive impact on the environment.

As previously mentioned, AMC boards do not contain chemicals like benzene, ammonia or asbestos which also have negative environmental effects. 

The boards are considered nutritional waste that can be recycled or ground up and mixed into soil for nourishment. They create no pollution in landfills.

Conclusion

AMC board based sheathing, underlayment, and building assemblies have the ideal features to create high performance safe, efficient, resilient and healthy residences and commercial buildings. 

The use of Magnesium Oxide board is already standard practice in many parts of the world and AMC’s superior qualities are increasingly being recognized here in the UK.

The combination of utility on construction sites, long life in finished buildings, and small environmental footprint during both manufacture and end-of-life makes AMC an increasingly important part of everyone’s 21^st century construction building products portfolio.

The energy efficiency of Teckwood’s Magnesium Oxide panels is a big part of why AMC products are so good for the environment.

They are constructed without the use of toxic materials, are completely recyclable, can be disposed of safely without fear of leaching toxins into surrounding groundwater, and their manufacture actually captures carbon dioxide.

In fact, significant research into using magnesium oxide as a tool to lessen the buildup of greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere is currently underway. 

It is important to follow manufacturer’s recommendations and local building codes and regulations when using AMCComposite board in construction and renovation projects.

Try Teckwood for your next Magnesium Oxide board project because not all building boards are equal. Call 0800 799 9082 or contact us for further information