Description
The 12mm Ramco Calcium Silicate Board A1 Non-Combustible 2440 x 1220mm (8′ x 4′) is a non-combustible calcium silicate board from Ramco Industries, sold under the Hilux range. It’s made from siliceous and calcareous materials reinforced with cellulose fibres, then autoclaved (high-pressure steam cured) so the cure is an irreversible chemical change that locks in dimensional and chemical stability. The practical result is a board that stays put in water, with a length change of only around 0.1%, so it doesn’t swell, warp or distort the way plywood, OSB or timber-based sheets do in damp conditions. At 12mm it’s the mid-range board in the Hilux line, the everyday choice for internal wall partitions and ceilings where you want a solid, fire-safe board without the weight of the thickest sheet: a full 8′ x 4′ panel weighs about 37kg.
- Why calcium silicate over a timber-based board
Calcium silicate is engineered for low density with high strength, so you get a strong, impact-resistant board that’s lighter than fibre cement at the same size. It also holds screws and nails on its own, so you can hang light fixtures like picture frames straight onto the board without a backing frame. Unlike standard sheet materials, it won’t rot, won’t feed mould or fungus, and is naturally resistant to termites and borers, which is what makes it a longer-lasting choice for partitions and linings, especially in damp or humid internal areas.
Hilux holds a Euroclass A1 reaction-to-fire classification to EN 13501-1, the top non-combustible rating, meaning the board makes no contribution to a fire. That’s backed by the full BS 476 fire suite: non-combustible to Part 4, Class 1 surface spread of flame to Part 7, a fire propagation index of 1.2 to Part 6, and Class P (not easily ignitable) to Part 5. In tested partition systems the board achieves a fire-rated partition of up to 240 minutes depending on the system design, which is why it’s specified for fire-rated walls, ceilings and compartmentation in commercial buildings.
- Water, durability and acoustics
Calcium silicate keeps its strength and shape in damp conditions where timber-based sheets fail. The board passes the full BS EN 12467 durability suite, including warm water, freeze-thaw, soak-dry, heat-rain and water impermeability tests, and shows no formation of water droplets after the 24-hour impermeability test. It carries a low thermal conductivity (≤0.15 W/mK), adding useful insulation to a partition or ceiling. On sound, a single board gives acoustic insulation in the range of 30 to 32 dB, rising to 42 to 65 dB in tested partition systems depending on the build-up, so it suits walls and ceilings where noise control matters.
Health and environment
Hilux is asbestos-free, verified by X-ray diffraction (free from Chrysotile, Anthophyllite, Actinolite and Antigorite asbestos), and tested with no detectable VOC emissions to ISO 16000-6. It’s also free from fungal growth, termite resistant and borer resistant, so it holds up in conditions that would degrade an organic, timber-based board.
Applications
- Internal wall partitions and wall linings
- Ceilings, including fire-rated partition and ceiling systems
- Lofts and office fit-outs
- Commercial and industrial interiors
- A non-combustible substrate to be plastered, painted or tiled on
The board has a smooth finish, can be painted, plastered or tiled once prepared, and is square-cut at 2440 x 1220mm, listed for interior use.
