Eternit is the registered trademark for fibre cement. This has caused fibre cement to be known under the Eternit^® brand. Though, this is not to be confused, Eternit^® is only a trademark for fibre cement.

Fibre cement is a strong material often applied for building and construction products. Today companies have specialised in developing and producing roofing and facade products of fibre cement, due to the strength and durability of the material.

Contents 1 Material Description 2 Material History 3 Material Usage 4 Fibre-cement manufacturers: 5 References

[edit] Material Description

The term ’cement’ originates from the Latin word ’Caementum’, which signifies chopped stone. Cement describes a substance, which will react chemically with water and develop into a material hard as stone. In fibre cement there is a fibre reinforcement, which contributes to making the fibre-cement material even stronger. Together with a carefully planned production process, fibre cement makes it possible to develop strong and long lasting construction materials.^[1]

Today fibre cement is considered by construction specialists as a physically powerful material well suited for construction products for cladding and roofing. These recommendations are primarily due to its function, performance and value for money.^[2]

[edit] Material History

Fibre-armoured cement-products were invented in the late 19th century by the Austrian Ludwig Hatschek. Principally he mixed 90% cement and 10% asbestos fibres with water and ran it through a cardboard machine. Originally, the fibres were of asbestos and the material was commonly used as siding in house buildings due to its low cost, fire-resistance, light weight, and other properties. After the discovery that asbestos is harmful to health, its use was prohibited and strong fibre alternatives were developed and applied to secure the widely known strength of fibre cement.^[1]

[edit] Material Usage

Fibre cement is a main component in strong and lasting building materials. These construction products have a wide variety of possible usages. The main application areas are roofing and cladding. More specifically the list below illustrates the range of application possibilities

Internal cladding:

• Wet room applications - tile backer boards
• Fire protection
• Partitions
• Window sills
• Ceilings and floors

External cladding:

• Flat sheets as base and/or architectural facing
• Flat sheets for e.g. wind shields, wall copings, and soffits
• Corrugated sheets
• Slates as architectural full and partial facing
• Underroof
• Planks

Roofing:

• Slates
• Corrugated sheets

These fibre-cement products are used in all sectors of the building trade: for residential, industrial, agricultural, commercial, and public buildings - in both new constructions and refurbishment projects.

The traditional appearance of fibre-cement products makes them ideal, not only for the agricultural, domestic and residential market, but also for all types of commercial and industrial developments within roofing and also cladding.

[edit] Fibre-cement manufacturers:

- Cembrit

- Eternit (Schweiz)

- Etex Group

- LTM

- SVK

[edit] References