Can we use the fiber cement Smartboard for lightweight partition instead of red brick partition?

Comparing between the various characteristics of the smartboard partition and the red brick partition which are alternatively used and replaced for both external partition and internal partition, Making the lightweight partition from the fiber cement smartboard has become more popular nowadays because the fiber cement smartboard can be used for both external and internal partition. The lightweight partition from the fiber cement smartboard can be faster and easily installed.  The weight of the lightweight partition from the fiber cement smartboard is 6 times lighter than the red brick. One of the questions which are asked by many people is whether this lightweight partition from fiber cement smartboard can really replace and substitute the red brick partition, the rainproof or waterproof, the fire resistance.

The accommodation of the hanging of the lightweight partition made from the fiber cement smartboard and the red brick partition.

The red brick partition is the partition which can accommodate the loading of the various hanging.  The total loading per one place where the red brick partition can accommodate is about 30 kg per one place.(the ability to accommodate the loading of the hanging for each red brick will be different which depends on the raw material and the production process of the red brick as well as the size of the wall plug used and the number of wall plugs used for the hanging)

For the lightweight partition made from the fiber cement smartboard with the thickness of 8mm can accommodate the different loading of the hanging. It depends on the type of the fixing material. For the lightweight things like a picture frame, a hanging clock, the general nails can be used which will accommodate the loading weight of 3-4 kg but for the heavyweight things, the butterfly wall plugs PT-13 should be used together with the twisted nails which can accommodate the maximum loading of 80 kg per one place. The lightweight partition can accommodate the loading of the hanging as same as the red brick partition.

Photo: (Left)Red Bricks and (Right) SCG Elephant Brand Smartboard Partition

The Soundproof value of the lightweight partition made from fiber cement smartboard and the red brick partition

Generally, the Separation of the rooms in the house, there should be the soundproof value or STC (Sound Transmission Class) around 38-40. Using of the fiber cement smartboard with the thickness of 8 mm to be installed on the finished partition metal profile will have the soundproof value or the STC at 38. Therefore, both lightweight partition made from the fiber cement smartboard and the red brick partition will have the same soundproof value or same STC.

The heat resistance of the lightweight partition made from the fiber cement smartboard and the red brick partition

Comparison of the heat resistance between the lightweight partition made from the fiber cement smartboard and the red brick partion, if you use the 8mm smartboard to be installed on the partition metal profile, you will get the heat resistant value or the R-value of 0.5 (m2 K/W) but you will get the heat resistant value or the R-value of 0.3 (m2 K/W) if you use the red brick partition (half partition with plastering at both sides) therefore the heat will be transferred more to the house with the red brick partition, consequently the temperature of the house with the red brick partition will be higher than the lightweight partition made from the fiber cement smartboard.

Naturally, a red brick is the material which accumulates the heat by itself. Using the red brick partition will make the house have the high temperature and become hot and stuffy until dusk in the evening. If you would like to have the cooling house, you can have double layers (double rows) of the red brick partition by leaving the space or the gap between the first layer (row) of the red brick partition and the second layer (row) of the red brick partition. The heat will be accumulated in the leaving space or in the gap between the rows of the red brick partition. However, the additional costs will be incurred and the usage space in the house will be reduced and the loading of the house structure will be increased as well. 

The lightweight partition which is made from the fiber cement smartboard, can be installed together with the heat resistant fiberglass in order to prevent the heat from entering the house. The additional construction costs will be incurred for these two types of partitions. However you will have the electricity saving cost and the energy saving cost in the long run.

Photo: the installation of the two layers or the two rows of the red brick partition with the leaving space of the gap between the layers or the rows of the red brick partition in order to prevent the heat from entering the house

The humidity or the moisture of the lightweight partition made from the fiber cement smartboard and the red brick partition

We can use the lightweight partition made from the smartboard for the external partition which will be exposed to the sun and the rain. The characteristics of the fiber cement smartboard are waterproof, strong and not soft, non-swollen, non- water absorption.(the smartboard is not recommended to be soaked in the still water or in the stagnant water all the time). After you finish installing the lightweight partition made from the fiber cement smartboard, we recommend that the partition should be one layer painted and repainted again with the acrylic paint for external purpose for at least two times for longer service life.  The red brick partition which has the higher water absorption, should be plastered again especially at the external area of the partition to prevent the water from entering the house.

The characteristics of the fire resistance of the lightweight partition made from the fiber cement smartboard and the red brick partition

Fire resistance issue should be taken into consideration in advance. If you would like to have one hour fire resistance, using of the half of the red brick partition being plastered at both sides will give one hour fire resistance.

It is equivalent to the using of two layers of the smartboard with the thickness of 12 mm for each side and have the SCG heat resistant fiberglass- HI-TEMP 3850 covered inside the center of the lightweight partition. One hour fire resistance will be obtained.

For the two hour fire resistance, the full piece of the red brick partition being plastered at both sides must be used and the two layers of the fiber cement smartboard with the thickness of 12 mm for each side should be used and have the Rockwool covered inside the lightweight partition as well.

The installation of the half of the red brick means the installation of the red bricks according to the horizontal length of the partition. After being plastered, the thickness will be 10 cm.

The installation of the full piece of the red brick means the installation of the red bricks according to the horizontal direction of the partition. It will make the partition become thicker than normal. After being plastered, the thickness will be 15-20 cm.

Therefore, we can fully be ensured that the lightweight partition which is made from the fiber cement smartboard can be substituted and used instead of the conventional red bricks partition if you have the specialized installers or the contractors to install the partition according the standard and the manual instruction from the manufacturers in order to obtain the required characteristics of the products.  Furthermore, ‘Smartboard” can be demolished and pulled down in order to re-install again. This way can save and reduce the use of the resources.