{"id":1352,"date":"2024-03-08T16:36:31","date_gmt":"2024-03-08T16:36:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.bluehousebrands.com\/?p=1352"},"modified":"2024-03-08T18:49:48","modified_gmt":"2024-03-08T18:49:48","slug":"is-hardiebacker-fireproof","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fireproofdepot.com\/is-hardiebacker-fireproof\/","title":{"rendered":"Is HardieBacker Fireproof: Cement Board Fire Rating"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>For construction projects, HardieBacker is a go-to option for most floor and wall renovations. After all, this line of fiber cement boards has an excellent reputation in terms of durability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But in terms of fire resistance, you may be wondering how resilient is HardieBacker cement board. Is HardieBacker fireproof? What is the fire rating? And, heat resistance?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This guide has the answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is HardieBacker Fireproof?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, HardieBacker cement board is fireproof and deemed non-combustible when tested to ASTM E 136 standards.&nbsp;It also meets the European standard for fiber cement, EN 12467, and its reaction to fire, in accordance with EN 13501-1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">HardieBacker Cement Board Fire Rating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>HardieBacker cement board has an&nbsp;A1,S1-d0&nbsp;fire rating, which means it is fully non-combustible, and emits little or no smoke or flaming droplets within the first 10 minutes of fire exposure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s a breakdown of the HardieBack fire resistance rating:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>A1: Non-combustible<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>S1: Little or no smoke<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>d0: No droplets<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You can view the official <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jameshardie.com\/product-support\/resource-center\/technical-documents\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">HardieBacker Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/fireproofdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/fireproof-hardiebacker-cement-board.png\" alt=\"Fireproof HardieBacker cement board on floor\" class=\"wp-image-5086\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fireproofdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/fireproof-hardiebacker-cement-board.png 1200w, https:\/\/fireproofdepot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/fireproof-hardiebacker-cement-board-768x512.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Factors that Affect HardieBacker&#8217;s Fire Resistance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are the factors that affect the fire resistance of HardieBacker cement board:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Composition<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>HardieBacker is a fiber cement product. It is made with cellulose fibers, portland cement, and sand. These inorganic materials are non-combustible, meaning they will not ignite or support combustion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Thickness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The thickness plays a role in the fire-resistance level of the Hardie boards. Thicker boards tend to have a higher capacity to withstand heat. This is because it takes longer for heat to penetrate through a thicker material. HardieBacker boards range from 1\/4 inch to 5\/8 inch (6 mm to 15 mm).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Installation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Proper installation is critical for HardieBacker&#8217;s fire resistance. The boards should be installed with the correct fasteners and spacing to ensure a tight fit and prevent flames from spreading behind the siding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fire Exposure Conditions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The severity of a fire will also affect HardieBacker&#8217;s performance. A minor fire may only cause the surface of the board to char, while a more intense fire could cause the board to crack or break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does Hardie Board burn?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Hardie board will not ignite when exposed to a direct flame, nor will it contribute fuel to a fire.&nbsp;As a result, Hardie board will not burn, but it can char or crack from intense heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can HardieBacker be used in a fireplace?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, you can install HardieBacker in a fireplace because it is non-combustible. To ensure the most fire resistance, use HardieBack cement boards in conjunction with other non-combustible materials around a fireplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does HardieBacker require special installation methods to maintain its fire resistance?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>No, HardieBacker itself doesn&#8217;t require special installation for fire resistance. This is because HardieBacker is inherently fire-resistant due to its composition. As long as you install HardieBacker according to the manufacturer&#8217;s instructions, its inherent fire resistance will be maintained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What about other types of cement boards? Are they <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">fireproof?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most cement boards share similar fire resistance properties because of their non-combustible base. To find out how resistant other popular brands of cement boards are, check out these related guides: <a href=\"\/is-durock-fireproof\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1351\">Is Durock Fireproof?<\/a> and <a href=\"\/is-wonderboard-fireproof\/\">Is Wonderboard Fireproof?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In conclusion, while HardieBacker is fireproof with a fire rating of A1,S1-d0 (meaning it won&#8217;t burn and contributes minimally to fire spread), achieving a specific fire resistance for your floors and wall assembly requires considering the entire system. Consult a professional or James Hardie&#8217;s resources to ensure your construction project meets the necessary fire rating for safety.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For construction projects, HardieBacker is a go-to option for most floor and wall renovations. After all, this line of fiber cement boards has an excellent reputation in terms of durability. &#8230; <a title=\"Is HardieBacker Fireproof: Cement Board Fire Rating\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/fireproofdepot.com\/is-hardiebacker-fireproof\/\" aria-label=\"More on Is HardieBacker Fireproof: Cement Board Fire Rating\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":5085,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fireproofdepot.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1352"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fireproofdepot.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fireproofdepot.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fireproofdepot.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fireproofdepot.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1352"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/fireproofdepot.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1352\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5104,"href":"https:\/\/fireproofdepot.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1352\/revisions\/5104"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fireproofdepot.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5085"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fireproofdepot.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1352"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fireproofdepot.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1352"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fireproofdepot.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1352"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}