GREEN CHOICE PHILIPPINES
FIBER-CEMENT BOARD
I. ENVIRONMENTALSCENARIO
ln the Philippines, the use of environment-friendly alternative building materials has
remarkably gained its ground in the construction business. Such materials that offer
unique strength, stability and versatility in its applications have significantly become a
necessity in choosing and buying the product.
Fiber cement-based board is fast becoming a favorite material in the construction
industry. lt has found its applications in domestic housing needs as well as for
commercial building construction. These products are largely found in non-structural
components that include wall siding, flooring, ceiling and roofing materials.
It is a composite materiaf made of sand, cement and cefiufose_fiberS. As a cellulose-
fiber based composite, it offers distinct advantages in terms of: availability of cellulose
fibers from renewable resource, high fiber tensile strength and modulus of elasticiff,
relatively low cost and well'developed technology to extract the fibers. As a cement-
based composite material, it offers decay and fire resistance, dimensional stability,
"nailability'', and good mechanical properties
among other properties.
As elaimed by its manufaeturers, it is envirsnment-friendly and asbestos-free, lt also
boasts of being able to recover and utilize waste materials like natural fibers and fly ash,
reduce its emissions during manufacturing operations, conserve and preserve the
environment through the efficient utllization of water, energry and other resources.
II. DEFINITION OF TERMS
Asbeslos
-
means the fibrous forms of varieties of mineral siliertes belonging to rock
forming minerals of the serpentine group, i.e. chrysolite (white asbestos); and the
amphibole group i.e. actinolite, amosite (brown asbestos, cummingtonitegrunerite),
anthophyflite, crocidotite (blue asbestos) and tremofite (DENR - Administrative Order
No. 02 Series of 2000)
Cellulose fiberlVirgin pulp
-
is a fibrous material separated from wood or other
plant
material by chemical or mechanical means for the manufacture of fiber cement board.
Gement
-
a powdery substance made by processing, at a high temperature, a mixture
of clay and limestone producing lumps called
"clinkers"
which are ground into a fine
powder
consisting of hydraulic caleium silicates.
DAO 2005-27 Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
Administrative Order No. 27, Series of 2005, which provides for the listing of the
"Revised Priority Chemical List" as stated in RA 6969 otherwise known as "Toxic
Substances and Hazardous and Nuctear Vt'astes Control Ast of 199ff .
DAO 2000-02 Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
Administrative Order No. 02, Series of 2000 (The Chemical Control Order for Asbestos)
Fiber-cement board
-
is a composite material made of sand, cement and cellulose
fibers.
Hatchek process - is a manufacturing process to make fiber-cement board. ln this
process, the aqueous slurry is dewatered on sieve rolls and transported along a felt
conveyor where further water is removed by vacuum.
Post-Consumer $olid Wastes
-
are waste materials generated by households, or by
commercial, and institutional facilities in their role as end-users of the
product, which
can no longer be used for its intended
purpose.
Pre-Consumer Recycled Vllastes
-
are materials diverted from the waste stream
during a manufacturing
process.
Republic Act (RA) 6969 -
"Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes
ControlAct of 1990'
Recycled fiber- is any fibrous material that has already undergone a manufacturing
process and is being recycled as a raw material for another manufactured product (i.e.,
fiber-cement board).
$ustainably-managed forest
-
is a forest managed to meet all existing regulations
such that environmental, social and economic factors are balanced to meet the needs of
the present generation without compromising the abili$ of future generations to meet
their needs.
ilt. scoPE
These criteria shall appty to fiber-cement boards.
[Link] CHOICE CRITERIA
To carry the Green Choice Philippines Seal of Approval, the
product shall meet the
following requirements:
GREEN CHOICE PHILIPPINES
REQUIREMENTS
EVALUATION AND VALIDATION
METHOD
Product Qualrty
Pertormance
The product shall comply with the
requirements of the relevant Philippine
National Standard (PNS) or in its absence,
shall comply with the applicable
lnternational Product Standard for fiber-
cement boards (eg. ISO 8336 and ASTM
c1186)
The applicant shall submit a certified true
copy of the independent audit or test
reports conducted by recognized and/or
accredited laboratories confirming that the
product conforms to relevant lnternational
Product Standards, i.e., ASTM C1186, ISO
8336.
E nv I ro n me ntal Requ i rements
lf the product is a cellulose fiber-cement
based material, it shall contain fibers
sourced from a sustainably managed
forest.
The applicant shall submit evidences or
any verifrabfe doeuments as a
proof
that
the cellulose
pulp was sourced from a
sustai nably-managed forest.
lf the
product is a recycled fiber-cement
based material, it shall contain raw
materials from recycled wastes, both for
post consumer and pre-con$umer sources.
Post-consumer and
pre-consumer
recycled wastes shall not be less than 3%.
The applicant shall submit a copy of the
certificate that shows the design
specifications indicating the schedule for
raw materials making up of Post consumer
and Pre-consumer wastes and shall not be
less than 3%.
The product shall nst esntain asbestos
orland any other toxic and hazardous
substances as stipulated in the law (such
ae RA 6969, DENR AO 2005-27, DENR
AO 2000-02 or its equivalent).
The applieant shall submit a eertifred true
copy of the reporUs of test lanalysis
conducted indicating/confirming that the
product conforrns to DENR regulations on
prohibited
toxic substances and hazardous
wastes, as stipulated in RA 6969 and its
relevant rutes and regulations or its
eouivalent. The reouired laboratoru tesUs
3
shall be performed by recognized and/or
accredited laboratories.
ln-plant water recycling and reuse shall be
thoroughly implemented in the
manufacturing process,
utilizing at least
50% of its processed water.
The applicant shall submit a self-
certification duly signed by the company's
production
manager or its equivalent that
the manufacturing process is utilizing at
least 50% of its processed water. lt shall
also submit a copy of documentation
outlining how the use of processed water
is recycled and managed.
The applicant shall submit a mass balance
detailing water consumption, recycling or
reuse and signed by the accredited
Pollution Control Officer/any registered
engineer, preferably chemical or
mechanical enoineer or its eouivalent.
Air emissions and wastewater discharge
from the plant shall comply with the
requirements of the relevant environmental
standards of the Philippines and/or the
country of its origin.
The applicant shall submit a copy of
applicable licenses and
permits to operate
indicating the company's compliance to
existing environmental laws and
regulations.
ln case of imported raw materials or
products,
the applicant shall submit a
certification, in English, from the
Environment Ministry or Department of the
country where the producUs is/are
manufactured that states that the
manufacture of the producUs has complied
with their air emissions and effluent
standards.
Product handling, storage, transport,
distribution and disposal activlties shall be
in compliance with the relevanUapplicable
environmental and occupational health
and safety laws and policies,
The applicant shall submit a copy of the
certificate/s issued by authorized
agency/institution indicating its compliance
with the relevant environmental (such as
but not limited to handling, storage,
distribution and disposal plan, including
contract with an accredited or legitimate
TSD facility) and occupational health and
safetv laws and
policies.
V. References:
Bezerra, EM, AP Joaquim and H Savatano Jr. 2004. Some Properties of Fiber-Cement
Composites with Selected Fibers
DENR Administrative Order 20Q5-27: Revised Priority Chemical List
Der Blaue Engel. 2010. Low-emission Cornposite Wood Panels. RAL-UZ 76
Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP). 1999. An Evaluation Guide for
Environmental Projects in the Cement lndustry.
Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP). 1999. An Evaluation Guide for
Environmental Projects in the Pulp and Paper lndustry.
Green Label Singapore. Products Made From Recvcled/Renewable Fibers
(Non
Food
Related)
(GLS-035).
[Link] label/criterion
Green Label Singapore. Panel Boards/ Wallboard for lnteriors (GL$-041)
[Link] [Link]/awards/greenlabefc(iterion
Good Environmental Choice Australia. 2010. Panel Boards. GECA 04 - 2O1A 2.0
Mohr, B.J. N.H. El-Ashkar and K.E. Kurtis. Fiber Cement Composites for Housing
Construction : State-of-the-Art Review.
www. ce. gatech. edu/peoplelfacul$ff0 1 /reports
Nordic Ecolabelling of Panels for the building, decoration and furniture industries
01015.0 Draft for comment 3 August 2010
Republic Act 6969: Toxic Substances, Hazardous and Nuclear Waste ControlAct of
1990.
Vl. Panel Review Committee Members
1. Araceli M. Monsada, Ph.D. (Chairperson)
Material Science Division
lndustrial Technology and Development lnstitute
Department of Science and Technology
2. Cesar O. Austria (Member)
Forest Product Research and Development lnstitute
Department of Science and Technology
3. Myra Magabilin (Member)
Bureau of Product Standards
Department of Trade and lndustry
4. Ma. Fatima R. Molina (Member)
Environmental Management Bureau
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
