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POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about fiber cement siding & roofing or other fiber cement products used in or on buildings
Fiber cement roofing & siding standards: :
This article lists ASTM and other standards for fiber cement roofing or siding, including fiber cement product properties, installation, maintenance & repair.
This article series provides descriptions of the field performance of fiber cement siding products and a detailed field investigation of several product failures: of fiber cement stain or coating peeling and cracking, and of gaps, shrinkage, and loose, buckled fiber cement siding.
We include fiber cement siding installation specifications, repair and maintenance and painting recommendations, and fiber cement siding manufacturer identification guides.
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Fiber Cement Product Standards
Question: North American fibre cement product manufacturing standards?
2016/10/28 Laura Smith said:
What are the particular certifications that a Manufacturer must have in North America to sell Fibre cement products ( ie Miami Dade for wind)
Reply:
I'm not aware of manufacturer certifications for fiber cement siding nor have I seen separate wind-damage-resistance standards for fiber cement products; however for use in buildings some building products may be required to meet various building, ASTM, or UL or other code standards such as for fire safety.
ASTM also describes this important committee:
Committee C17 on Fiber-Reinforced Cement Products [Staff Manager: Mary Mikolaloveski 610-832-9678]
ASTM Committee C17 on Fiber-Reinforced Cement Products was formed in 1946. C17 meets twice a year, in June and December, with about 20 members attending over two days of technical meetings.
The Committee, with a membership of approximately 60, currently has jurisdiction of over 65 standards, published in the Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Volume 04.05. C17 has 5 technical subcommittees that maintain jurisdiction over these standards.
Information on this subcommittee structure and C17's portfolio of approved standards and Work Items under construction are available from the List of Subcommittees, Standards and Work Items below.
These standards have and continue to play a preeminent role in all aspects relating to asbestos and non-asbestos fiber reinforced cement roofing, siding, flat sheets, corrugated sheets, pipe and similar products deriving their essential properties from fiber and cement.
Fiber Cement Product & Product Testing Standards from ASTM
ASTM C1186 - 08(2012) Standard Specification for Flat Fiber-Cement Sheets
Abstract: This specification covers either untextured or surface textured non-asbestos fiber-cement flat sheets intended for exterior applications such as claddings, facades, curtain walls, soffits, and so forth. This specification does not apply to asbestos-cement flat sheets, gypsum-based boards or particle boards, discrete non-asbestos fiber-cement interior substrate sheets, fiber-mat reinforced non-asbestos cement interior substrate sheets, or cement-bonded particleboards.
Flat sheets covered here are divided into two types according to their intended application, and four grades according to their flexural strengths. Type A sheets are intended for exterior applications subjected to the direct action of sun, rain, or snow, while Type B sheets are intended for exterior applications not subjected to the direct action of sun, rain, or snow.
Sheets shall adhere to the following mechanical and physical requirements: flexural strength, density, dimension (nominal length, width, and thickness, squareness, and edge straightness), finish, and color.
ASTM C1185-08(2012) Standard Test Methods for Sampling and Testing Non-Asbestos Fiber-Cement Flat Sheet, Roofing and Siding Shingles, and Clapboards
ASTM E2394-11 Standard Practice for Maintenance, Renovation, and Repair of Installed Asbestos Cement Products
ASTM C725-90(2014) Standard Specification for Semidense Mineral Fiber Siding
ASTM C1154-06(2011) Standard Terminology for Non-Asbestos Fiber-Reinforced Cement Products
ASTM C1459-04(2014) Standard Specification for Performance of Non-Asbestos Fiber-Reinforced Cement Shake, Shingle, and Slate Roofing Systems
ASTM C223-98(2014) Standard Specification for Asbestos-Cement Siding
ASTM C1225-08(2012) Standard Specification for Fiber-Cement Roofing Shingles, Shakes, and Slates
ASTM C221-98(2014) Standard Specification for Corrugated Asbestos-Cement Sheets
ASTM C1530/C1530M-04(2014) Standard Specification for Non-Asbestos Fiber-Cement Roofing Shakes, Shingles, and Slates with Designed Varying Profiles and Thicknesses
ASTM C1530/C1530M-04(2014) Standard Specification for Non-Asbestos Fiber-Cement Roofing Shakes, Shingles, and Slates with Designed Varying Profiles and Thicknesses
ASTM C1325-14 Standard Specification for Non-Asbestos Fiber-Mat Reinforced Cementitious Backer Units
You'll see, using the above ASTM fiber cement product standards as an example, that the standards pertain to the properties of the product, not a "certification of the manufacturer" to make the product.
Wind damage to fiber cement siding is not addressed separately from other wind damage and water intrusion standards. For example see
ASTM E241-09(2014)e1 Standard Guide for Limiting Water-Induced Damage to Buildings
ASTM E2128-12 Standard Guide for Evaluating Water Leakage of Building Walls
ASTM C1225-08(2012) Standard Specification for Fiber-Cement Roofing Shingles, Shakes, and Slates
ASTM C1570-03(2009) Standard Test Method for Wind Resistance of Concrete and Clay Roof Tiles (Air Permeability Method)
ASTM C1568-08(2013) Standard Test Method for Wind Resistance of Concrete and Clay Roof Tiles (Mechanical Uplift Resistance Method)
ASTM C1459-04(2014) Standard Specification for Performance of Non-Asbestos Fiber-Reinforced Cement Shake, Shingle, and Slate Roofing Systems
Also see
Browne M., Irwin P., Garber J., Cicci M., Dale J., Parnell R. "Techniques for Predicting Cladding Design Wind Pressures", October 2007 -- JAI Volume 4, Issue 9JAI100862
Abstract: With advances in wind tunnel methodologies in recent years, the measurement of wind loads on wind tunnel models of buildings and structures can be carried out with a high degree of accuracy.
These results lead to more economical and risk-consistent structural designs than do code calculation methods. Five topics related to the prediction of cladding design wind pressures are examined in this paper:
(1) wind tunnel testing and analysis methods,
(2) integration of wind tunnel data with the full-scale wind climate,
(3) evaluation of internal pressures,
(4) duration of constant wind pressure for determining the load resistance of glass, and
(5) computational fluid dynamics (CFD).
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In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.
Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
Mark Cramer Inspection Services Mark Cramer, Tampa Florida, Mr. Cramer is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors and is a Florida home inspector and home inspection educator. Mr. Cramer serves on the ASHI Home Inspection Standards. Contact Mark Cramer at: 727-595-4211 mark@BestTampaInspector.com
John Cranor [Website: /www.house-whisperer.com ] is an ASHI member and a home inspector (The House Whisperer) is located in Glen Allen, VA 23060. He is also a contributor to InspectApedia.com in several technical areas such as plumbing and appliances (dryer vents). Contact Mr. Cranor at 804-873-8534 or by Email: johncranor@verizon.net
[3] Johnston, Colin D., Fiber-reinforced cements and concretes. Vol. 3., Taylor & Francis, (CRC Press) 2000. ISBN-10: 9056996940
ISBN-13: 978-9056996949, "This book summarizes and simplifies the results of a considerable body of research and practical experience with a wide range of fiber-reinforced cementitious composites."
[4] Hugh Cairns, Subject 2 Home Inspections, is a professional home inspector in British Columbia, Canada, with offices in Kelowna B.C. and Kamloops B.C. He contributed the American Cemwood photo used at the top and within this article. Mr. Cairns can be contacted by telephone: 250-808-5777, or by email: okanagan@subject2homeinspections.com
[6] James Hardieplank, personal communication with Daniel Friedman, 6/6/2013. We called James Hardie to ask for guidance in determining just how much moisture was "too much" in Hardieplank siding, after observing that siding at a job arrived visibly wet from the factory even though still inside its original sealed plastic wrapping. We called James Hardie's technical support line where a courteous representative told us he would refer us to Hardie's expert Benjaman Batres. Our call to Mr. Batres was returned by Stephanie (declined to give last name) from James Hardie's customer warranty service department. Stephanie informed us that there are no moisture numbers, that it is not possible to measure moisture in fiber cement siding (utter nonsense!) and repeatedly advised "Just read our instructions" or "So file a claim". Don't count on much help from James Hardie's customer warranty department on siding shrinkage or butt joint gap concerns. Gaps at Hardieplank siding butt joints continue to appear in the Hardieplank installation.
[7] Eric Galow, Galow Homes, Lagrangeville, NY. Mr. Galow can be reached by email: ericgalow@gmail.com or by telephone: 914-474-6613. Mr. Galow specializes in residential construction including both new homes and repairs, renovations, and additions. Personal communication 3/20/2013.
Paul Galow [Website galowconsulting.com ] - technical consultant on networking, LAN design, applications support. Galow Consulting Services [Website galowconsulting.com ] , 914-204-1749, email: paulgalow@galowconsulting.com
John Rudy, Advantage Home Inspections, Flemington N.J. 08822 home inspector, 908-806- 6364, Home, Radon & Termite Inspections, Central & Parts of North New Jersey, email: jonadvantage1@yahoo.com
Malco® Products siding tools are available from that company, including the SideSwiper II SRT2 discussed at Malco's website. Websearch 09/07/2010 http://malcoproducts.com/product/roofing-siding-gutter/siding-vinyl/siding-tools-vinyl/sideswiper-ii. Malco also produces other vinyl siding repair tools such as aprons, awls, hole punches, saw blades, and tools for for fiber cement products including power-assisted cutters
Parmetol, a wood preservativerecommended by the manufacturer was used as a fungicidal additive to paint on the Blue Poplar wood sculpture in Amsterdam, by artist Mari Shields [Website marishields.com ] [ - art conservation consult DJF-artist MS 2010]
[1] "James Hardie's Mesothelioma and Asbestos Legacy Continues, 2009", web search 03/01/2011, www.survivingmesothelioma.com
[2] Killer Company, James Hardie Exposed, Matt Peacock, Harper Collins Australia, ISBN: 9780733325809; ISBN10: 0733325807
[3] " Anyone else have HardiePlank siding on their house?", Early Retirement.org online blog, retrieved 1/14/2013, original source: http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/anyone-else-have- HardiePlank-siding-on-their-house-19475.html
[4] - DIY Chatroom, retrieved 1/17/2013, original source http://www.diychatroom.com/f2/ certainteed-weatherboard-vs-HardiePlank-4638/
[5] Certainteed Weatherboard fiber cement siding and trim products - see certainteed.com/ or see certainteed.com/resources/sidingandtrimspecsheet.pdf
[5a] "CertainTeed WeatherBoards™ Fiber Cement Siding Installation Manual", CertainTeed Corporation, 2012, CertainTeed Corporation, PO Box 880, Valley Forge PA 19482, Professional Help Line: 800-233-8990, Consumer Help Line: 800-782-8777, Website: Certainteed.com www.certainteed.com/resources/fc017.pdf retrieved 4/11/2013, [copy on file as Certainteed_Fiber_Cement_Siding_Install_fc017.pdf ]
[5b] "Certainteed WeatherBoards™ Fiber Cement Siding Best Practices for Effective Job Site Management", CertainTeed Corporation, retrieved 4/15/13 original source: www.certainteed.com Copy on file as Certainteed_FC_Handling Brochure-Contractor_FC063.pdf
[6] "Moisture Control in buildings: Putting Building Science in Green Building," Alex Wilson, Environmental Building News, Vol. 12. No. 5. [Good tutorial, "Moisture 101" outlining the physics of moisture movement in buildings and a good but incomplete list of general suggestions for moisture control - inadequate attention given to exterior conditions such as roof and surface drainage defects which are among the most-common sources of building moisture and water entry.--DJF]
[7] J. Tibbets, "Green Houses", NCBI, retrieved 1/17/2013, original source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1469482/
[8] Gleeson et al, "Fiber Cement :Building Materials with Low Density Additives", U.S. Patent 8,182,606, B2 5/22/2012, [adding low volumes of volcanic ash & hollow ceramic microspheres to cellulose fiber-reinforced building materials.
[9] Thanks to reader Marie Carr for James HardiePlank siding photograph and case history information.
06/01/2008
[10] JamesHardie HardiePlank® Lap Siding information can be found at the company's web page on this material:
https://www.jameshardie.com/products_siding_hardieplankLapSiding.py
[11] "30-Year Limited Warranty
HardiePlank® HZ5® Lap Siding, HardiePanel® HZ5® Vertical Siding,
HardieShingle® HZ5® Siding, HardieSoffit® HZ5® Panels", 1-800-9-HARDIE
10901 Elm Avenue Fontana, CA 92337, retrieved 1/18/2013, original source: https://www.jameshardie.com/pdf/warranty/hz5.pdf [copy on file as Hardieplank_Warranty_hz5.pdf]
[12] James Hardie Building Products, James Hardie CustomerLink™ Service Centre, 10 Colquhoun Street, Rosehill NSW 2142, Tel: 13 1103, Outside Australia 61 2 8837 4709,
Fax: 1 800 818 819. Hardie has operations in Australia, Asia, Canada, Europe, New Zealand, United States, and the Philippines. The company is a significant producer of fiber cement siding and backerboard. Email: info@JamesHardie.com and Website https://www.jameshardie.com/
JamesHardie Corporation, in the U.S. can be contacted at 26300 La Alameda, Suite 400,
Mission Viejo, California 92691 -
1-888 J-HARDIE
1-888 542-7343 or by email to info@JamesHardie.com
[12b] "Technical Bulletin #9, Joint Flashing at Field Butt Joints", JamesHardie, retrieved 4/15/2013, original source: www.jameshardie.com, copy on file as James_Hardie_9-joint-flashing.pdf - quoting: This Technical Bulletin is an explanation supporting the
announcement made by James Hardie on September 8th, 2008
withdrawing its recommendation on the use of caulk at field butt
joints for HardiePlank® lap siding.
[13] Instructions for application of HardiePlank lap siding can be found at https://www.jameshardie.com/products_siding_hardieplankLapSiding.py?openTab=jsnavLink4
[14] "Homeowners Care and Maintenance Tips", 1-800-9-HARDIE
10901 Elm Avenue Fontana, CA 92337, included with product warranty information, retrieved 1/18/2013, original source: https://www.jameshardie.com/pdf/warranty/hz5.pdf [copy on file as Hardieplank_Warranty_hz5.pdf]
[15] "HardiePlank HZ5 Lap Siding Installation Requirements - Primed & Colorplus® Products",JamesHardie, November 2012, 1-800-9-HARDIE,
10901 Elm Avenue Fontana, CA 92337, retrieved 1/18/2013, original source: https://www.jameshardie.com/pdf/install/hardieplank-hz5.pdf, [copy on file as Hardieplank-hz5_Install.pdf]
[16] Technical Bulletin #9,
Joint Flashing at Field Butt Joints, James Hardie corporation, retrieved 1/19/2013, original source: https://www.jameshardie.com/pdf/technical-bulletins/9-joint-flashing.pdf
[17] Technical Bulletin #17,
Fastening Tips for HardiePlank® Lap Siding, James Hardie Corporation, retrieved 1/19/2013, original source: https://www.jameshardie.com/pdf/technical-bulletins/17 -fastening-tips-for%20-plank.pdf [copy on file]
[18] Technical Bulletin #8,
Expansion Characteristics of James Hardie® Siding Products, James Hardie Corporation, retrieved 1/19/2013, original source: https://www.jameshardie.com/pdf/technical-bulletins/8-expansion-characteristics.pdf [copy on file]
[19] Eric Galow, Galow Homes, Lagrangeville, NY. Mr. Galow can be reached by email: ericgalow@gmail.com or by telephone: 914-474-6613. Mr. Galow specializes in residential construction including both new homes and repairs, renovations, and additions. Personal communication 3/20/2013.
Decks and Porches, the JLC Guide to, Best Practices for Outdoor Spaces, Steve Bliss (Editor), The Journal of Light Construction, Williston VT, 2010 ISBN 10: 1-928580-42-4, ISBN 13: 978-1-928580-42-3, available from Amazon.com
In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested
Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. Tel: (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 Email: info@carsondunlop.com. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Carson Dunlop Associates provides extensive home inspection education and report writing material. In gratitude we provide links to tsome Carson Dunlop Associates products and services.