Cembrit has announced the UK launch of Windstopper Extreme – a new sheathing board that is said to be ideal for a range of uses on UK construction projects.
To coincide with the launch, Cembrit successfully had the board tested to BS EN 1634-1:2015 / BS 476:22 at the Building Research Establishment (BRE), achieving a one hour fire rating.
A sheathing board such as Windstopper Extreme is typically installed behind decorative rainscreen cladding to effectively ‘seal’ the internal environment of a building. The company says it is an excellent alternative to cement particle board.
Building Regulations and other documentation require building structural elements to provide minimum periods of fire resistance, usually expressed in minutes, which are generally based on the occupancy and size of the building.
BS EN 1634-1:2015 / BS 476:22 determines the fire resistance of non-loadbearing elements, such as sheathing boards, of a building construction when subjected to certain heating and pressure conditions. When subjected to a 60 minute fire test, Windstopper Extreme passed with “flying colours”.
Cembrit Winstopper Extreme acts as a windproof membrane for exterior walls that can absorb and release moisture without affecting the durability, strength or performance of the board. This very low vapour transmission resistance enables moisture generated inside a building to pass through to the outside. Insulation can be placed directly against the inner side of the board which is also resistant toward both rot and fungal growth.
The Scandinavian heritage of Windstopper Extreme also ensures it can withstand considerable fluctuations in weather and climatic conditions.
