Abstract
National and international test standards are critical to how we use and design cementitious materials. However, there are occasions when products, such as magnesium oxychloride boards, do not fall within existing harmonised standards. Technical Assessment Bodies do provide a way of allowing the introduction of new materials via European Technical Assessment or British Board of Agrément certification. Such certification should provide confidence to insurance bodies and building owners in the absence of a national standard, which can take many years to emerge. This paper discusses the fundamental science and testing of MOC boards and the discovery of startling difference in performance of products with such certification. Some products were found to fail in less than two weeks of durability testing while others did not demonstrate any signs of distress despite all products being openly available for use within the UK and EU.
Keywords
magnesium oxychloride boards, durability testing, technical certification, performance variability
Date of Version
2025
DOI
10.5703/1288284318211
Recommended Citation
McPolin, D.; Aiken, T.; Russell, M.; and Bagnall, L., "MgO boards – the tension between innovation and standardisation" (2025). International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures. 5.
https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/icdcs/2025/mccarter/5
MgO boards – the tension between innovation and standardisation
National and international test standards are critical to how we use and design cementitious materials. However, there are occasions when products, such as magnesium oxychloride boards, do not fall within existing harmonised standards. Technical Assessment Bodies do provide a way of allowing the introduction of new materials via European Technical Assessment or British Board of Agrément certification. Such certification should provide confidence to insurance bodies and building owners in the absence of a national standard, which can take many years to emerge. This paper discusses the fundamental science and testing of MOC boards and the discovery of startling difference in performance of products with such certification. Some products were found to fail in less than two weeks of durability testing while others did not demonstrate any signs of distress despite all products being openly available for use within the UK and EU.
