natura PRO

EQUITONE natura PRO is a high-density fiber cement panel with a through-colored core and a colored, semi-transparent double-layer acrylic finish. The structure of the material, its fibers, shows through the finish.

The front face is matte and carries a UV-hardened polyurethane (PU) topcoat. The topcoat gives a hard, dirt-resistant surface with high abrasion resistance and permanent graffiti protection.

The PRO name marks the added topcoat. The base EQUITONE natura panel has the same colored acrylic finish without the UV-hardened PU layer.

Irregularities, differences in shade and traces of the manufacturing process are part of the natural character of the material. The rear carries a transparent back-sealing coating.

The panel is used as rainscreen cladding on ventilated facades and in the other applications listed below.

natura PRO is made in a wide range of standard and special colors, built on several through-colored core boards. The final choice of color is made from samples.

Shade differences between natura PRO panels are small and are measured with the CIELAB color model against the production benchmark sample. The allowable dry mean of three readings is:

• ΔL* (brightness): ±2.0.
• Δa* (red to green): ±1.0.
• Δb* (yellow to blue): ±1.0.

Color tolerance applies to dry surfaces only.

The panels consist of cement, water, mineral fillers, cellulose fibers, synthetic reinforcing fibers, inorganic color pigments depending on the color, an acrylic coating and a UV-cured functional top layer.

The fiber cement is highly compressed and air-cured, and it is manufactured in Germany. In the Hatschek process the raw materials form a slurry, which is pumped to vats with rotating sieves. Each sieve picks up a film of fiber cement that is passed by felt belt to a forming drum. Layers build up on the drum until the required thickness is reached, an automatic knife cuts the sheet, and the stacked sheets are highly compressed. The panels then harden at ambient temperature without vapor pressure.

The finishing sequence has three stages: a multiple-layer coating on the front face, a physically equivalent sealing coating on the rear face, and finally the UV-hardened PU topcoat on the front.

In factory-trimmed panels the edges are trimmed and sealed with Luko edge sealer.

Standard thickness is 5/16 inch, and a 15/32 inch thickness is made for specific applications or fixings. The metric equivalents are 8 mm and 12 mm. Panels are supplied untrimmed (production dimension) or trimmed (maximum usable size).

• Trimmed width: 49 inches. Untrimmed width: 50 inches.
• Trimmed length: 98 inches or 122 inches. Untrimmed length: 99 1/2 inches or 123 inches.
• Weight per area, air dry: 3.15 pounds per square foot at 5/16 inch and 4.67 pounds per square foot at 15/32 inch.
• At 5/16 inch: 106 pounds (98 x 49 inch trimmed), 132 pounds (122 x 49 inch trimmed), 110 pounds (99 1/2 x 50 inch untrimmed) and 136 pounds (123 x 50 inch untrimmed).
• At 15/32 inch: 157 pounds, 195 pounds, 163 pounds and 202 pounds for the same four sizes in the same order.
• Panels per pallet: 30 at 5/16 inch and 20 at 15/32 inch.
• Usable surface per pallet at 5/16 inch: 1010 square feet for the 98 inch length and 1250 square feet for the 122 inch length.
• Usable surface per pallet at 15/32 inch: 673 square feet and 834 square feet.

A natura PRO panel must not be installed with untrimmed edges. About 19/32 inch (15 mm) is removed from each raw edge, and cut edges are sealed with Luko edge sealer.

Tolerances for cut and trimmed panels are ±0.0236 inch on thickness at 5/16 inch and ±0.0354 inch at 15/32 inch, ±0.0394 inch on width and length, and ±0.0394 inch per foot on squareness. Untrimmed panels have the same thickness and squareness tolerances, with ±1/4 inch on width and ±5/16 inch on length. The factory tolerances outperform EN 12467 Level I and Level II and the criteria in ASTM C1185.

natura PRO is an ASTM E84 Class A material with a flame spread index of 0 and a smoke development index of 0. The assembly fire resistance rating under ASTM E119 is 1 hour, and the hose stream test result is pass. The vertical tube furnace test under ASTM E136 gives a pass, non-combustible result.

• Flexural strength classification: Grade III under ASTM C1186. Dimensional tolerances for trimmed panels: pass.
• Mean density, dry: 111.8 pounds per cubic foot.
• Moisture movement between 30 and 90 percent humidity: 0.1 percent or less.
• The natura PRO ultimate flexural strength is 3,358 psi dry and 2,160 psi wet.
• Water tightness, frost resistance (freeze-thaw) and warm water resistance: pass.
• Moisture content: 3.9 percent. Mean water absorption: 14.5 percent.
• Thermal movement: 5.5e-6 in/in°F. Thermal conductivity: 0.236 BTU/h ft°F, measured to ASTM C518.

The panels are evaluated to ICC acceptance criteria AC90 and meet the minimum requirements of the International Building Code. EQUITONE air-cured products carry an ESR report to ICC AC90, report ESR 3910.

natura PRO panels conform to EN 12467:2012+A1:2018 and also comply with ISO 8336:2017.

• Classification: type NT, durability Category A, strength Class 4, Level I for trimmed and Level II for untrimmed dimensional tolerances.
• Mean density, dry: 1750 kg/m³.
• Characteristic dead load: 0.17 kN/m² at 8 mm and 0.26 kN/m² at 12 mm.
• Moisture movement: 0.1 percent or less.
• Characteristic bending strength: 24.0 MPa perpendicular and 18.5 MPa parallel to the production direction.
• Partial safety factor: 2.0. Mean modulus of elasticity: 12,000 MPa.
• Water impermeability: no drops, pass. natura PRO also passes the freeze-thaw, heat-rain, warm water and soak-dry tests.
• Fire: A2-s1,d0 under EN 13501, ULC S102 flame spread 0 and smoke development 5, and non-combustible under ULC S114.
• Thermal movement 0.01 mm/mK, thermal conductivity 0.407 W/mK, moisture content below 6 percent at 20°C and 65 percent humidity, Poisson's ratio 0.2.

The UV-hardened surface of natura PRO has these properties:

• Oesterle scratch resistance: 2.5 N.
• Mohs hardness: 4.
• Pencil hardness: 4H.
• Indentation test: 6 N, to DIN 53153 and EN ISO 2815.
• Brinell surface hardness (HBW mean): 75 N/mm², to ISO 6506-1.

The coating is smooth and gives high protection against normal and spray paints. The anti-graffiti coating meets the placement test requirements and Test Cycle 2 of the Gütegemeinschaft Anti-Graffiti e.V. for protective anti-graffiti surface systems, in ILF test report 4-013/2006 of the Institut für Lacke und Farben e.V. Graffiti can be removed with the usual graffiti cleaning agents sold in the trade.

natura PRO is used in ventilated applications, including but not limited to:

• Ventilated facade or rainscreen cladding.
• Window and door reveals.
• Exterior ceilings, as decorative ceiling cladding.
• Soffits, eaves and verge boards.
• Interior wall and ceiling lining.
• Roof applications and inclined facades with the panels facing up.

natura PRO panels may be fixed on the face or concealed, using Etex proprietary or recommended fixing solutions. Adhesive, tapes and sealants are not used on the finished surfaces. Restrictions are in the specific application guidelines.

The product cannot be used, among other cases, in interior areas exposed to direct moisture, in contact with standing snow or ice, or where it is exposed to long-term temperatures above 80°C (176°F).

Machining releases dust that can irritate the airways and eyes, and fine quartz-containing dust inhaled in high concentrations or over long periods can lead to lung disease and an increased risk of lung cancer. Cleaning follows the EQUITONE Cleaning Information guide.

The manufacturer presents a Declaration of Performance under European Regulation 305/2011 (CPR) confirming CE marking. natura PRO has an Environmental Product Declaration under ISO 14025 or EN 15804, which gives an expected average reference service life of 50 years.

EQUITONE fiber cement facade materials have a cradle-to-cradle bronze rating under C2CPII version 3.1. The manufacturing facility holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 50001 certificates.