pictura

EQUITONE pictura is a high-density fiber cement panel with a through-colored core and a colored double-layer acrylic coating. Unlike natura and natura PRO, which use a semi-transparent finish, pictura is coated as a colored field.

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

Irregularities and traces of the manufacturing process are part of the character of the material. The back carries a transparent back-sealing coating.

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

pictura is offered in a wide range of standard and special colors, each made on a through-colored core board. Samples are used for the final color choice.

The shade tolerance between pictura panels is tighter than for the semi-transparent natura range. It is measured with the CIELAB model, as the dry mean of three readings against the production benchmark sample:

• ΔL* (brightness): ±1.0.
• Δa* (red to green): ±0.75.
• Δb* (yellow to blue): ±0.75.

The tolerance is measured on dry surfaces.

pictura 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 material is highly compressed, air-cured fiber cement made in Germany. The Hatschek process starts with a slurry of cement, fibers, cellulose, water and optional pigments. Rotating sieves in vats lift thin films of the slurry onto a felt belt. The films are dewatered, gathered on a forming drum, cut by an automatic knife, stacked with steel plates and highly compressed. Hardening takes place at ambient temperature without vapor pressure.

The front then receives a multiple-layer acrylic coating, the rear receives a physically equivalent sealing coating, and the UV-hardened PU topcoat is applied last to the front.

Factory-trimmed panels are edge-sealed with Luko edge sealer.

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

• Width: 49 inches trimmed, 50 inches untrimmed (1250 mm and 1280 mm).
• Length: 98 or 122 inches trimmed, 99 1/2 or 123 inches untrimmed (2500 or 3100 mm trimmed, 2530 or 3130 mm untrimmed).
• Air-dry weight per area: 3.15 pounds per square foot at 5/16 inch and 4.67 pounds per square foot at 15/32 inch (15.4 and 22.8 kg/m²).
• 5/16 inch panel weights: 106 pounds and 132 pounds trimmed, 110 pounds and 136 pounds untrimmed.
• 15/32 inch panel weights: 157 pounds and 195 pounds trimmed, 163 pounds and 202 pounds untrimmed.
• Pallet: 30 panels at 5/16 inch with 1010 and 1250 square feet usable, 20 panels at 15/32 inch with 673 and 834 square feet usable.

Installation requires trimmed edges. About 19/32 inch (15 mm) is cut 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, ±0.0354 inch at 15/32 inch, ±0.0394 inch on width and length, and ±0.0394 inch per foot on squareness. Untrimmed width and length tolerances are ±1/4 inch and ±5/16 inch. The factory tolerances outperform EN 12467 Level I and II and all criteria in ASTM C1185.

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

• Strength classification: Grade III under ASTM C1186, with trimmed-panel dimensional tolerances passing.
• Dry mean density: 111.8 pounds per cubic foot.
• Moisture movement from 30 to 90 percent humidity: 0.1 percent or less.
• Ultimate flexural strength: 3,358 psi dry and 2,160 psi wet.
• Water tightness, freeze-thaw and warm water resistance: pass.
• Moisture content 3.9 percent and mean water absorption 14.5 percent.
• Thermal movement 5.5e-6 in/in°F and thermal conductivity 0.236 BTU/h ft°F.

The pictura panels are evaluated to ICC acceptance criteria AC90 and meet the minimum requirements of the International Building Code.

pictura conforms to EN 12467:2012+A1:2018 and complies with ISO 8336:2017.

• Type NT, durability Category A, strength Class 4, with Level I and Level II dimensional tolerances.
• Dry mean density 1750 kg/m³, and moisture movement of 0.1 percent or less.
• Characteristic dead load 0.17 kN/m² at 8 mm and 0.26 kN/m² at 12 mm.
• Characteristic bending strength 24.0 MPa perpendicular and 18.5 MPa parallel to production direction, with a partial safety factor of 2.0 and a modulus of elasticity of 12,000 MPa.
• No drops in the water impermeability test, and a pass in freeze-thaw, heat-rain, warm water and soak-dry tests.
• Material fire class A2-s1,d0 under EN 13501, with ULC S102 flame spread 0 and smoke development 5 and a non-combustible result under ULC S114.
• Thermal movement 0.01 mm/mK, conductivity 0.407 W/mK, moisture content below 6 percent at 20°C and 65 percent humidity, Brinell hardness (HBW mean) 75 N/mm² and Poisson's ratio 0.2.

The pictura surface has an Oesterle scratch resistance of 2.5 N, a Mohs hardness of 4, a pencil hardness of 4H and an indentation test value of 6 N to DIN 53153 and EN ISO 2815.

The UV-hardened coating is smooth and protects against normal and spray paints. It satisfies 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. Graffiti can be removed with graffiti cleaning agents available in the trade.

pictura is used in ventilated applications such as:

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

Face fixing and concealed fixing are both used, with Etex proprietary or recommended solutions. No adhesive, tape or sealant goes on the finished surface. The specific application guidelines hold the restrictions.

The panel is not used in interior areas exposed to direct moisture, in contact with standing snow or ice, or at long-term temperatures above 80°C (176°F).

Dust from machining can irritate the airways and eyes, and respirable quartz-containing dust can lead to lung disease and an increased risk of lung cancer. The EQUITONE Cleaning Information guide covers maintenance.

pictura has a CE marking Declaration of Performance under European Regulation 305/2011 and an Environmental Product Declaration under ISO 14025 or EN 15804. EQUITONE air-cured products carry ESR report ESR 3910 to ICC AC90, and EQUITONE fiber cement facade materials hold 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.