| Fire Performance |
Priority: Very High
Select a board with documented non-combustibility or a tested fire classification appropriate to the intended assembly. The complete wall, floor, or ceiling system should meet the required fire-resistance rating.
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Modular units are manufactured off-site and transported as completed sections. Fire performance must be evaluated for the board and for the full build-up, including framing, insulation, membranes, joints, and fasteners.
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Request an accredited test report, classification report, or code evaluation for the exact thickness and assembly. Do not treat a board-only fire claim as proof of a one- or two-hour rated wall.
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| Moisture Resistance |
Priority: Very High
Use a formulation with documented resistance to water absorption, edge swelling, and wet-dry cycling. The board should remain dimensionally stable under the project’s expected humidity exposure.
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Factory handling, transport, site storage, and wet trades can expose panels to moisture before the building envelope is fully closed. Excessive absorption or swelling can cause joint movement and finish failure.
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Review water-absorption, thickness-swelling, and cyclic-moisture test data. Confirm storage requirements, edge-sealing recommendations, and whether the product is suitable for exterior or permanently damp locations.
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| Dimensional Stability |
Priority: Very High
Prefer low moisture movement and low thermal movement, with published limits for length change and thickness change.
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Repeated humidity changes can stress screw connections, taped joints, tile finishes, and exterior claddings. This is especially important when modules are assembled from multiple factory-built sections.
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Ask for laboratory data using a recognized test method and compare the result with the joint design, panel size, expected humidity range, and finish system. Allow movement gaps where required by the installation instructions.
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| Mechanical Strength |
Priority: High
Specify a board with published flexural strength, screw pull-through or pull-out data, impact performance, and load limits suitable for the application.
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Panels can experience vibration, lifting loads, handling impact, and concentrated loads during factory production and transport. Higher strength does not automatically mean the board can replace structural sheathing without design approval.
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Check thickness-specific test results and the manufacturer’s fastener schedule. For structural walls or diaphragms, require engineering calculations and a tested or code-recognized assembly.
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| Density and Weight |
Priority: High
Compare panel weight per square metre, not density alone. Select the lightest board that satisfies fire, acoustic, strength, and durability requirements.
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Panel weight affects factory ergonomics, module lifting, transportation cost, crane capacity, and the final building dead load. A denser board may improve impact or acoustic performance but can increase handling demands.
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Calculate the installed mass from the actual thickness and declared density. Confirm that the result fits lifting plans, floor-load calculations, and the allowable weight of the transport system.
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| Acoustic Performance |
Priority: High
Choose a board tested as part of a complete wall or floor assembly. Evaluate airborne sound insulation and, where relevant, impact sound performance.
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Modular homes often have lightweight partitions and repeated interfaces between modules. Sound transmission can be dominated by flanking paths, gaps, service penetrations, and rigid connections rather than by the board alone.
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Request laboratory or field test results for the exact framing, insulation, cavity, layers, and joint details. Check whether the reported rating is laboratory-based or field-measured.
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| Thermal and Vapour Behavior |
Priority: High
Use the board as one component of a hygrothermal design. Require declared thermal conductivity or resistance and confirm compatibility with the project’s vapour-control strategy.
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MgO board usually provides limited insulation compared with dedicated insulation materials. Incorrect placement of vapour-control layers can increase the risk of interstitial condensation in cold or mixed climates.
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Use climate-specific condensation analysis where needed. Verify thermal values at the relevant moisture condition and coordinate the board with insulation, membranes, cladding, and interior finishes.
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| Fastener and Joint Compatibility |
Priority: High
Select a board with tested screw, nail, adhesive, joint-treatment, and sealant recommendations for the intended substrate and exposure.
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Incorrect fasteners or joint compounds can lead to corrosion, cracking, staining, loose panels, or loss of fire and acoustic performance. Modular vibration makes connection quality particularly important.
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Follow the complete installation system rather than mixing unrelated products. Confirm corrosion resistance, edge distances, screw spacing, joint width, treatment sequence, and compatibility with metal framing.
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| Surface and Finish Compatibility |
Priority: Medium to High
Verify suitability for paint, tile, render, siding, flooring, and other finishes. The surface should have consistent absorption and adequate flatness for the planned finish.
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Factory-built modules require predictable finishing tolerances. Uneven absorption, surface dust, movement, or poor primer compatibility can create visible defects after installation.
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Review substrate preparation requirements and conduct a representative mock-up. Confirm primer, adhesive, tile, and coating compatibility under the expected moisture and temperature conditions.
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| Cutting, Dust, and Worker Safety |
Priority: High
Prefer a board that can be processed with controlled dust-generation methods and standard factory tools, subject to the product safety data sheet.
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Large-scale module production involves repeated cutting, routing, drilling, and fastening. Dust control affects worker exposure, equipment maintenance, productivity, and indoor air quality.
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Review the current safety data sheet and occupational exposure requirements. Plan local exhaust ventilation, suitable respiratory protection, housekeeping, and cutting methods before production begins.
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| Environmental and Material Transparency |
Priority: Medium
Prefer products with a complete ingredient disclosure, environmental product declaration where available, and clear information about recycling or disposal.
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Material transparency supports green-building documentation, responsible procurement, and assessment of binders, additives, coatings, and potential contaminants.
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Request a current environmental declaration or verified life-cycle information. Check for formaldehyde, heavy metals, chlorides, and other substances relevant to the project’s specification and local regulations.
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| Quality Control and Batch Consistency |
Priority: High
Require consistent thickness, density, moisture content, edge quality, and surface condition, supported by documented factory quality-control procedures.
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Variation between batches can affect automated cutting, screw holding, joint alignment, finish appearance, and the repeatability of factory-built modules.
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Request product tolerances, inspection records, batch identification, storage limits, and a sample approval process. Inspect initial deliveries before full-scale production.
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| Codes, Standards, and Independent Testing |
Priority: Very High
Specify only performance claims supported by current, independent, jurisdiction-relevant test reports or approvals for the exact product configuration.
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MgO boards are not interchangeable. Test methods, classification systems, formulations, thicknesses, and installation details can differ significantly between products and regions.
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Confirm the applicable building code, test standard, report scope, laboratory accreditation, report date, and limitations. Avoid relying solely on generic statements such as “fireproof,” “waterproof,” or “structural.”
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| Supply Reliability and Technical Support |
Priority: Medium to High
Choose a supply source that can maintain consistent specifications, packaging, lead times, technical documentation, and replacement availability through the project.
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Modular production depends on repeatable materials. A change in thickness, formulation, or accessory system can require re-testing, redesign, or production delays.
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Confirm production capacity, lead times, minimum order quantities, packaging, warranty terms, technical support, and notification procedures for product changes.
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Environmental Building Board
Fire-proof Board
Sound Resistance
Termite Resistance
