natura

EQUITONE natura is a high-density fiber cement panel with a through-colored core. The face carries a colored, semi-transparent double-layer acrylic finish, which lets the structure of the material, its fibers, show through.

Irregularities, differences in shade and traces of the manufacturing process are part of the natural character of the material. The finish is matte with a silk-like touch, and the fibers are randomly distributed across the face.

EQUITONE natura is a separate product from EQUITONE natura PRO. The PRO version adds a UV-hardened polyurethane topcoat, and base natura has no such topcoat. The two are listed as different materials in the EQUITONE range.

The panel is used as rainscreen cladding on ventilated facades, along with the other exterior applications listed below.

EQUITONE natura is made in a wide range of standard and special colors. Each color is manufactured on one of several through-colored core boards. Color variation is part of the natural character of the material.

Allowable shade difference between natura panels is small and is measured with the CIELAB color model. The allowable dry mean of three readings, compared with the production benchmark sample and measured with the same device, is:

• Brightness, ΔL*: ±2.0.
• Red and green axis, Δa*: ±1.0.
• Yellow and blue axis, Δb*: ±1.0.

Color tolerance is measured on dry surfaces only. The final choice of color is made from physical samples.

The panels consist of cement, water, mineral fillers, cellulose fibers, synthetic reinforcing fibers, inorganic color pigments (depending on the color) and an acrylic coating.

The material is highly compressed, air-cured fiber cement manufactured in Germany. It is produced by the Hatschek process: the base materials, mainly cement, fibers, cellulose, pigments and water, are mixed into a slurry and pumped into vats with rotating sieves. A film of fiber cement forms on each sieve and moves on a felt belt, is dewatered, and is collected on a forming drum until the required thickness is reached. The fresh sheet is cut by an automatic knife, stacked between steel plates and highly compressed. Curing then takes place at ambient temperature without vapor pressure.

After curing, natura receives an industrially applied multiple-layer coating on the front face. A physically equivalent sealing coating goes on the rear face, and the rear is transparent.

Factory-trimmed panels have trimmed edges that are also sealed with Luko edge sealer.

EQUITONE natura is made in a standard 8 mm thickness and in a 12 mm thickness for specific applications or fixings. It is supplied untrimmed (production dimension) or trimmed (maximum usable size). Approximate nominal sizes are four by eight feet and four by ten feet.

• Trimmed width: 1250 mm. Untrimmed width: 1280 mm.
• Trimmed length: 2500 mm or 3100 mm. Untrimmed length: 2530 mm or 3130 mm.
• Weight per area, air dry: 15.4 kg/m² at 8 mm and 22.8 kg/m² at 12 mm.
• Trimmed 2500 x 1250 mm panel: 48.1 kg at 8 mm and 71.3 kg at 12 mm.
• Trimmed 3100 x 1250 mm panel: 59.7 kg at 8 mm and 88.4 kg at 12 mm.
• Untrimmed 2530 x 1280 mm panel: 49.9 kg at 8 mm and 73.8 kg at 12 mm.
• Untrimmed 3130 x 1280 mm panel: 61.7 kg at 8 mm and 91.4 kg at 12 mm.
• Panels per pallet: 30 at 8 mm and 20 at 12 mm.
• Usable surface per pallet at 8 mm: 93.75 m² for the 2500 mm length and 116.25 m² for the 3100 mm length.
• Usable surface per pallet at 12 mm: 62.5 m² and 77.5 m² for the same two lengths.

Dimensional tolerances for cut and trimmed panels are ±0.6 mm on thickness at 8 mm and ±0.9 mm at 12 mm, ±1 mm on width and length, and ±1.0 mm/m on squareness. For untrimmed panels the thickness and squareness tolerances are the same, with ±6 mm on width and ±8 mm on length. The factory tolerances outperform the EN 12467 Level I (trimmed) and Level II (untrimmed) dimensional tolerances.

A natura panel must not be installed with untrimmed edges. About 15 mm is trimmed from each raw edge, and cut edges are sealed with Luko edge sealer. This separates natura from uncoated EQUITONE panels such as tectiva, whose cut edges are left unsealed.

EQUITONE natura panels conform to EN 12467:2012+A2:2018, Fiber cement flat sheets, product specification and test methods, and comply with ISO 8336:2017.

• Classification: type NT, durability Category A, strength Class 4.
• Dimensional tolerances: Level I for trimmed panels and Level II for untrimmed panels.
• Mean density, dry: 1750 kg/m³.
• Natura moisture movement is 0.1 percent between 30 and 90 percent humidity.
• Mean bending strength: 24.5 MPa perpendicular and 19.5 MPa parallel to the production direction, at ambient conditions.
• Average bending strength, wet: at least 18.0 MPa.
• Mean modulus of elasticity: 12,000 MPa.
• Water impermeability: no drops, pass.
• Freeze-thaw, heat-rain, warm water and soak-dry tests: pass.
• Reaction to fire under EN 13501: A2-s1,d0.
• Thermal movement: 0.01 mm/mK.
• Thermal conductivity: 0.407 W/mK.
• Moisture content at 20°C and 65 percent humidity: below 6 percent by mass.
• Poisson's ratio: 0.2.

The natura panel is also hail impact tested.

EQUITONE natura 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.

Natura panels are fixed either on the face or concealed, with Etex proprietary or recommended fixing solutions. Restrictions on the applications above are in the specific application guidelines.

Natura cannot be used, among other cases, in roof applications, in interior areas exposed to direct moisture such as wet areas, in contact with standing snow or ice, or where it is exposed to long-term temperatures above 80°C.

Machining the panels releases dust that can irritate the airways and eyes, and fine quartz-containing dust can lead to lung disease and an increased risk of lung cancer when inhaled in high concentrations or over long periods. Dust extraction, ventilation or both is used depending on working conditions. Cleaning follows the EQUITONE Cleaning Information guide.

The manufacturer presents a Declaration of Performance under European Regulation 305/2011 (CPR) confirming CE marking. The manufacturing facility holds ISO 9001 (quality management), ISO 14001 (environmental management), ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety) and ISO 50001 (energy management) certificates.

EQUITONE natura carries an Environmental Product Declaration under ISO 14025 or EN 15804. The life cycle assessment covers raw material and energy production, manufacturing and the use phase. The EPD gives an expected average reference service life of 50 years and describes the panel as recyclable.