12mm Alpha Fire-Rated Cement Backer Board 120x80cm

The 12mm Alpha Fire-Rated Cement Backer Board is a 120 x 80cm A1 non-combustible tile backer board for walls and floors in bathrooms, kitchens, wet rooms and outdoors.

Tiles are only as good as the surface they're fixed to. Plasterboard softens when it gets wet, plywood can swell and move, and either can let tiles crack or come loose over time. Cement backer board is made from cement, glass fibre and aggregate. It gives you a rigid, stable base that won't rot, swell or break down in moisture and doesn't expand or contract with changes in temperature. That makes it a direct upgrade on plasterboard and plywood anywhere tiles are going down.

Why choose the 12mm board? At 12mm thick, this board is stiff enough to tile directly onto timber stud walls and suspended timber floors. The 6mm version is better suited to overboarding an existing solid surface. The 120 x 80cm size is also easier to carry and handle on your own than a full 1200 x 2400mm sheet, especially when you're working in a small bathroom.

Key features:

• A1 fire rated and non-combustible, for added safety near hobs, stoves and fireplaces
• Moisture and mould resistant, for bathrooms, showers and wet rooms
• Suitable over underfloor heating
• Freeze-thaw tolerant for exterior use
• Impact resistant and dimensionally stable, so tiles stay bonded
• Reduces sound transfer through walls compared with lighter boards

The fire rating makes this board a good choice behind kitchen hobs, around stoves and fireplace surrounds, and in any area where you want a non-combustible layer behind the tiles. In bathrooms and wet rooms it gives tiles a base that won't degrade if water gets behind the grout. For showers and wet rooms, apply a tanking system over the board before tiling. Cement board resists moisture, but the tanking is what keeps water out of the wall or floor.

Cutting and fixing. Score the board along a straightedge with a sharp scoring knife and snap it along the line, or cut it with a saw for curves and openings. Fix it to studs or timber floors with backer board screws and washers. On floors, also bed the board in flexible tile adhesive. Tape the joints with alkali-resistant mesh tape before tiling. Wear a dust mask when cutting with a saw.

Specifications: 1200x800x12mm, cement, glass fibre and aggregate construction, A1 fire rated, for interior and exterior walls and floors. Also available in 6mm.

Need help choosing the right board, screws or tanking kit for your project? Contact our team, or see the full range of tile backer boards and preparation products at our showrooms in Ireland.