Lightweight Cement Board Vs Fiber Cement – 5 Tests Europeans Care About

      When selecting facade or wet-room boards, European builders must decide between the newer lightweight cement board and traditional fiber cement board. Below we run the five tests that matter most on site—and reveal why more EU contractors are switching to lightweight cement board for faster, greener builds.

1. Weight Test: 30% Lighter, One-Person Handle

• One installer can carry two sheets at once → 25% labour saving
• Cuts with a standard utility knife—no diamond blade, no silica dust cloud
  
  

2. Fire Test: Both A1, But Thermal Shock Differs

Both panels hold EN 13501-1 A1; however, fiber cement can spall when hit by thermal shock, exposing fibres. The lightweight cement board uses a cementitious matrix that remains intact after 120 min at 1,000 °C, passing BR 135 full-scale façade fire test.

• Non-combustible for high-rise rain-screen systems

• Zero flame spread, zero smoke emission
  
  

3. Freeze-Thaw Test: -30 °C, 100 Cycles

EN 12467 demands ≤5% strength loss after freeze-thaw. Fiber cement often shows edge delamination; lightweight cement board records only 1.8% loss and no micro-cracks, making it safe for Scandinavian winters and alpine cladding.

4. Moisture & Mould Test: 0% Capillary Action

• Fiber cement: gains 8–10% water → risk of mould and edge swelling
• Lightweight cement board: <5% uptake; closed-cell core blocks capillaries → bathroom-ready, no call-backs

5. Sustainability & Site Waste Test

Fiber cement contains 5–7% asbestos-free fibres that clog landfill; lightweight cement board uses recycled EPS beads and can be crushed with standard masonry waste. A single pallet weighs 30% less, letting you ship 600 m² per truck instead of 400 m²—cutting CO₂ per m² by 18%.

      For fire-rated façades, wet-room backers or timber-frame cladding, the lightweight cement board wins on weight, freeze-thaw, moisture and eco points while matching fiber cement for fire. Switch once, save forever.