Ramco Board Performance & Benefits
The Complete Performance Standard in Fibre Cement & Calcium Silicate Boards
Engineered for Performance, Protection, and Longevity
Ramco Hilux and Hicem boards set a new benchmark for multi-performance building materials. Designed for use across internal and external applications, each board delivers certified protection against fire, moisture, and impact while maintaining exceptional dimensional stability. Whether specified for wall, ceiling, or façade systems, Ramco boards combine strength, safety, and sustainability to create long-lasting, low-maintenance structures that perform for decades.
Explore the key benefits below to see how Hilux and Hicem deliver proven performance across every aspect of modern construction.
Fire Resistance
Certified protection under direct flame and heat.
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Hilux Calcium Silicate Boards maintain structural integrity even under direct flame. Manufactured from 100% mineral, non-combustible materials, they achieve A1 classification to EN 13501-1 and deliver up to 120-minute fire resistance in tested ceiling and partition systems. Hilux is ideally suited for fire-rated linings, service enclosures, and internal wall assemblies where certified performance and occupant safety are essential.
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Hicem Fibre Cement Boards provide equivalent fire safety performance for façades, soffits, and cladding. Their dense, fibre-reinforced matrix resists ignition, spalling, and structural failure during high-temperature exposure. Achieving A1 non-combustibility, Hicem ensures external walls meet Gateway 2 and Approved Document B requirements, maintaining façade stability even in severe fire conditions.
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Hilux achieves the top A1 non-combustible rating without additives or surface coatings. It contains no organic content, ensuring zero contribution to fire growth, smoke, or flaming droplets. This makes Hilux ideal for internal linings, plant rooms, and fire-rated partitions, supporting safe design across all building types.
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Hicem’s A1 classification under EN 13501-1 guarantees total freedom from combustible components. As part of external wall or rainscreen systems, it provides peace of mind for architects and contractors working to BS 8414 and Gateway 2 obligations. Hicem’s mineral core and durable surface make it the natural choice for compliant, non-combustible façades.
Non-Combustible (A1)
A1-rated boards with zero combustible content.
THERMAL RESISTANCE
Improves energy efficiency and thermal comfort.
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Hilux provides natural thermal insulation with low conductivity, improving comfort and energy efficiency. It reduces heat transfer through walls and ceilings, helping buildings meet Part L 2021 performance targets. The stable mineral structure also prevents expansion or shrinkage under temperature change — ideal for internal wall and ceiling systems requiring precision and stability.
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Hicem adds thermal mass and stability to external walls, reducing temperature fluctuation across the building envelope. Combined with insulation and cavity systems, it supports excellent U-values and limits thermal bridging. Its inherent heat resistance improves façade longevity by reducing thermal stress, cracking, and panel distortion under direct solar exposure.
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Hilux’s high density provides outstanding airborne sound reduction between rooms and floors. It enhances performance in partitions and ceilings designed to meet Approved Document E acoustic standards. Perfect for offices, hotels, and multi-residential schemes, Hilux creates quiet, private interiors with minimal reverberation.
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Hicem contributes to façade and soffit acoustic performance by dampening external noise from traffic and weather. When integrated with cavity insulation, it helps achieve high external-to-internal sound reduction indices. Its stiffness and mass make Hicem a reliable outer layer in acoustic wall build-ups for urban or roadside developments.
Acoustic Performance
Reduces sound transmission for quieter spaces.
Impact Resistance
Tough, dense boards that resist knocks and dents.
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Hilux’s dense calcium silicate core provides strong resistance to dents, knocks, and abrasion. It is suited for corridors, classrooms, hospitals, and service areas where walls are subject to daily impact. The board maintains a smooth, durable surface finish that supports direct decoration or skim coatings without reinforcement.
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Hicem’s fibre-reinforced structure gives exceptional surface strength, ideal for façades, soffits, and semi-exposed installations. It resists chipping and cracking under mechanical stress or weather-related movement, extending service life and minimising maintenance. Hicem is frequently used behind renders, brick slips, or Terrix finishes where durability is critical.
Water Resistance
Moisture-stable for wet and humid environments.
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Hilux remains dimensionally stable in humid environments such as bathrooms, kitchens, and basements. The board resists swelling and disintegration, maintaining its mechanical strength even under intermittent moisture exposure. Its vapour-open nature allows surfaces to dry naturally, preventing trapped condensation.
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Hicem excels in wet or exposed locations. It withstands driving rain, freeze-thaw cycles, and prolonged humidity without delamination or loss of strength. Certified to EN 12467 Category A, it provides reliable moisture performance in façades, soffits, and ventilated cavity systems, supporting long-term façade durability.
Breathable / Vapour Open
Allows moisture balance for healthier buildings.
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Hilux balances vapour permeability with water resistance, allowing internal walls and ceilings to regulate moisture naturally. This prevents condensation behind finishes and helps maintain healthy indoor air quality — ideal for refurbishment and passive-house projects where controlled breathability is key.
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Hicem’s vapour-open matrix enables moisture from the wall cavity to escape while repelling liquid water from rain. Used behind renders or brick-slip systems, it ensures façades remain dry, reducing risk of trapped moisture, freeze-thaw damage, or coating failure — essential for long-term façade performance in the UK climate.
Mould Resistance
Inert, hygienic surface that prevents mould growth.
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Hilux’s inorganic composition is non-nutritive to mould, mildew, or bacteria. Even in humid interiors, it maintains a clean, hygienic surface, making it perfect for healthcare, education, and food-service environments. Its resistance protects both finish quality and indoor air standards.
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Hicem resists fungal and algal growth on external surfaces, even in shaded or damp façades. Its mineral content prevents biological staining and decay, supporting long-term aesthetic quality under render or paint finishes — reducing cleaning and recoating cycles.
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Hilux’s mineral structure cannot be eaten or damaged by insects or rodents. It provides a permanent barrier against biological attack within wall or ceiling voids, eliminating the need for chemical pest treatments or preservatives.
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Hicem is equally resistant to termites and pests, a key advantage in warm or coastal environments. It protects façades, soffits, and structural zones from biological degradation without the environmental or maintenance costs of treated timber or composite panels.
Termite & Pest Resistance
Fully mineral boards immune to insect attack.
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Hilux delivers decades of stable performance without deformation, delamination, or loss of strength. Resistant to temperature and humidity change, it maintains its finish for the lifetime of the building, ensuring consistent quality in demanding interior environments.
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Hicem’s fibre-cement matrix resists weathering, UV, and thermal movement. Its strength and dimensional stability provide an extended service life for external façades and soffits, significantly outperforming plasterboard or polymer composites in exposed conditions.
Long-Lasting
Built to last decades without performance loss.
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Hilux requires minimal upkeep once installed. It does not need repainting or protective coatings and remains stable under everyday impact and humidity changes. For facility managers, this means reduced maintenance costs and extended decoration cycles.
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Hicem is designed for longevity with little intervention. It resists weathering, biological growth, and surface wear. When used as a sheathing or cladding substrate, it protects the external envelope with virtually no maintenance over decades of service.
LOW MAINTENANCE
Durable finish with minimal upkeep required.
Eco-Friendly
Made from natural minerals with low embodied carbon.
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Hilux boards are made from naturally occurring minerals and manufactured using energy-efficient processes with low embodied carbon. They contain no toxic additives and are supplied with Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), supporting BREEAM, LEED, and RICS whole-life carbon assessments.
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Hicem’s fibre-cement composition offers the same environmental integrity for external projects. The long service life, recyclability, and low-waste manufacturing process reduce lifecycle carbon and help achieve sustainable building credits without compromising fire or weather performance.
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Hilux can be mechanically recycled into new mineral materials at end of life. Its pure, inert composition ensures it can safely re-enter production cycles, helping projects reduce landfill waste and meet circular-economy targets.
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Hicem boards are equally recyclable, and their long lifespan further enhances environmental value. After de-installation, they can be crushed and reused as secondary raw material in new cementitious products, supporting low-waste, sustainable façade systems.
Recyclable
100% mineral composition, fully recyclable.
Asbestos-Free
Safe, modern boards with zero asbestos content.
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Hilux is completely asbestos-free, containing no harmful fibres or respirable dust risks. Safe to cut, install, and handle, it complies fully with UK Health & Safety Executive (HSE) standards and modern workplace regulations.
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Hicem Fibre Cement Boards also contain zero asbestos or toxic additives. They are safe for fabrication and installation in external environments, providing a modern alternative to outdated asbestos-cement panels.
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Hilux offers high strength-to-weight performance, easing handling and installation for internal partitions and ceilings. Lighter than many dense boards, it improves productivity and reduces site fatigue without compromising robustness or fire safety.
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Hicem’s optimised density balances strength and weight for easier façade installation. The lighter panel mass allows faster fixing and reduced sub-frame loads — a key advantage for multi-storey or retrofit projects where handling efficiency matters.
Lightweight
Strong yet easy to handle and install on site.
Economical
Delivers long-term performance at low lifetime cost.
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Hilux delivers a strong balance of performance and cost. Its longevity, fire safety, and minimal maintenance reduce lifecycle expenditure, making it a practical choice for large-scale interiors where reliability and value are equally important.
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Hicem offers exceptional lifetime economy. Its durable, non-combustible construction reduces replacement frequency and repair costs while simplifying compliance documentation — lowering overall project spend without compromising specification quality.