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About Bison Board
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FIRE, MOISTURE, TERMITE & WEATHER RESISTANCE

Bison Panel is cement-bonded particleboard that is fire, weather, & termite resistant a good sound-insulating material, dimensionally stable, possesses a smooth surface with wood workability, & is chemically stable. Tested in accordance with BS 476 - Fire test on building materials & structures, Part 6, 7 - it is classified as a class 'O' building board with class I surface spread of flame. The board has been subjected to many cycles of soaking, freezing, & heating without any sign of disintegration. Due to the mineralization of wood particles by cement, Bison is resistant to termite & vermin attacks. It does not support fungus growth. Even untreated samples exposed to contact with the ground surface have shown no signs of rot or decay. Airborne sound reduction varies between 30 & 37 dB for the frequency range of 100 - 3150 Hz according to the thickness of the Bison Panel. It can also be drilled, sawn, & sanded with normal woodworking tools, & can be fixed using screws & nails.

 

INTERIOR & EXTERIOR APPLICATIONS

Bison Panel is unique all-purpose particleboard that can be employed for a multitude of applications, both for interiors & exterior use. It can be used for doors, false ceilings, external & internal wall claddings, mezzanine flooring, acoustic roofs, car porch ceilings, roof underlays, interior & exterior walls, single & double skin partitions, guardrooms, duct covers, building facades, furniture, cupboards, school benches, kitchen underlays, outdoor cabins, prefab shelters, wall sidings, & more. Bison is unique among particle boards in that it is available in a wide range of thicknesses - from 6mm to 40mm. Such a wide range contributes to its application versatility.

 

STRONG WORLDWIDE DEMAND FOR OVER FOUR DECADES

Bison is made from proven technology & has withstood the test of time by remaining as relevant today as it was four decades ago when invented. There are around 18 manufacturers worldwide & cement-bonded particle boards are available across the globe. The demand for such boards has continued to remain consistent & high ever since their invention in the 1970s. In the wider cement board category, of which cement-bonded particleboards are one type, there are about 90 producers worldwide.

 

SAFE TO USE & WORK WITH NO NOXIOUS CONTENT

Bison contains no Asbestos or Formaldehyde. Asbestos is a known carcinogen & Formaldehyde is, highly, toxic, Therefore, Bison's process dust is harmless & it is an environment-friendly product that is completely safe to work with. In the event of a fire, structures made of Bison would emit no harmful fumes. Suffocation by noxious fumes is a leading cause of fire-related injuries & death.

 

EXTREMELY AFFORDABLE & SAVES TIME, & LABOUR WITH SHORT TIMES FOR CONSTRUCTION

Bison is affordable, costing sometimes as much as the cheapest plywood available. Yet, it can completely replace wood for most applications. In addition, construction with Bison is, extremely, time-efficient. For instance, a Bison shelter of 1000 square feet can be erected & made fit for occupation in less than eight hours. This results in additional savings in labor & transport. Further, Bison structures can be dismantled with ease & transported elsewhere.

MADE OF HOMOGENOUS CONSTRUCTION WITH NO LAYERS & AVAILABLE IN ONE CONSISTENT QUALITY GRADE

Bison Panel is made in one grade only with stringent quality control. Unlike plywoods & some particle boards, Bison is not available in a waterproof or boiling waterproof grade, fire-proof grade, commercial grade, etc. All Bison products & their variants come with the exact same properties of fire & weather resistance, sound insulation, termite & vermin resistance, etc. Bison is an ideal replacement for weather-proof plywood or other particle boards.

 

AVAILABLE IN MULTIPLE APPEARANCES TO CATER TO A RANGE OF AESTHETIC REQUIREMENTS & TASTE

Bison is available in a laminated version under the brand - Bison Lam. This variant is available in thicknesses of 6mm, 10mm, 12mm, & 16mm in shades like Natural Teak, Light Gray, Sea Beach, & Ivory. The laminated surface is impermeable to moisture & highly resistant to staining. The surface can also be cleaned with a wet cloth.

Also available is a designer board version in self-embossed designs. Bison Designer Boards are available in 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, & 16mm & in Lumber & Murk designs.

In addition, Bison is available in a Plank size version of 8 feet in length, & 8 or 10 inches wide. Bison Planks are available in 8, 10, & 12 mm thicknesses. Bison Plank is ideal as a decorative architectural element, for fascia sidings, exterior fencing, decking, & wall claddings. Bison Planks are low-maintenance planks that can be easily painted & polished to blend well in any decor.

 

CHEMICALLY STABLE WITH RESISTANCE TO DILUTE CHEMICALS

Bison is ready for decoration & needs no surface preparation. The board can take any surface finish including lime wash, water-bound distempers, emulsion paints, laminations, foils, primers, etc. This is reflective of its chemical stability & it is also unaffected by many dilute chemicals such as brines, bleaches, detergents, & chlorine solutions.

 

WEIGHT IS ITS STRENGTH

Bison is a high-density product & its weight is its strength. Its density is 1250 Kgs per cubic meter &, consequently, it has a high compressive strength of 15 Newtons per square mm. To illustrate, a 50 mm thick Bison panel wall made with two 10 mm thick Bison boards cladded on either side of a thin, light gauge steel framework is able to take a vertical load of 1100 Kgs plus / per foot run of its length. This is not possible with other medium or light density boards. For applications involving furniture which is not required to be moved often, Bison is both economical & durable.

 

DIMENSIONAL STABILITY

Bison panel has excellent dimensional stability in variable ambient temperatures & humidity conditions. The swelling in thickness after 2 hours of immersion in water is 1% & after 24 hours of immersion, it is only 1.5%. Likewise, longitudinal & transverse swelling is approximately 0.3% for change in relative humidity of air from 30% to 95% at 20 degrees celsius.

WORKED WITH ANY TOOLS

Tools like circular cutting saw machines & drill machines can work effortlessly on Bison Panel. The wear in tools is much less on Bison than on other resin bonded boards. This is due to the fact that resistance offered by cement is much less than resistance offered by boards made of sticky resins.

When working with hand tools, Bison Panels may require little more effort than softwoods. But the extra time taken on account of this will not be more than 10 to 15% of the time required by soft boards. However, performance-wise, the durability of Bison is 5 to 10 times more than the other particle boards.

 

EASY METHODS OF EDGE PROTECTION

Edge protection is a common problem with all particle boards. Due to its limited tensile strength (9N/sq. mm) & heavy density, Bison also has an edge protection problem. However, this problem is easily solved by proper support & lipping. Bison Panel when fixed or gripped in a framework becomes tough & strong. It only requires care in handling to avoid premature damages. As a matter of fact, the ability of the carpenter to carefully handle the Panel is of more importance than the actual skills required for working with it.

 

WARPING CAN BE EASILY AVOIDED BY PROPER BALANCING

Almost all wood-based boards warp due to changes in moisture in the board. This is more so when they are subjected to an unbalanced condition. Imbalance occurs when the surface of one side of the board is covered & the surface of the other side is exposed to the atmosphere. For example, when a stack of boards is left unprotected, the upper board is likely to warp because the top surface is exposed while the bottom surface is not exposed. The unprotected side of the board releases or picks up moisture according to atmospheric humidity causing warping in the board. Warping is more likely while moisture is being released from the board. This can be avoided by covering the stack with waterproof paper or cloth.

Similarly, warping occurs when a board is painted on the surface of one side & the other side is left unpainted. To avoid this, the other side & edges will also have to be painted to give an equal effect.

When the board is laminated on one side, the other side would also have to be given an equal effect, by way of painting with an impervious paint or with a cheaper lamination.

Another point to be remembered in this connection is that the painting or lamination has to be done when the board is dry. If there is excess moisture in the board, it may cause de-bonding of the laminate or blistering of the paint when it starts to release moisture in a warm climate.

The ability to absorb & release moisture makes the board 'non-condensing' which is important for the boards that are used in extreme climatic conditions.

 

BISON MEETS OR EXCEEDS ESTABLISHED ISO, BSI, & DIN STANDARDS FOR PARTICLE BOARDS

Comparison of Standards of Cement Bonded Particle BoardsDimensional Tolerance

Name of the PropertiesISO (8336) 1987B.S.I. BS 5669, Part 4: 1989Bison DIN StandardsBison Panel (Present Result)

Length (mm)+/- 5.0 mm+/- 5.0 mm+/- 5.0 mm+/- 5.0 mm

Width (mm)+/- 5.0 mm+/- 5.0 mm+/- 5.0 mm+/- 5.0 mm

Thickness (Unsanded)

6 mm to 15 mm6 to 12 mm +/- 1.0 mm6 to 15 mm +/- 0.9 mm4 to 10 +/- 0.7 mm4 to 10 +/- 0.7 mm

16 to 27 mm12 to 20 mm +/- 1.5 mm16 to 27 +/- 1.2 mm12 to 20 mm +/- 1.5 mm12 to 20 mm +/- 1.5 mm

28 to 49 mm20 to 40 mm +/- 2.0 mm28 to 40 mm +/- 1.7 mm22 to 40 mm +/- 1.5 mm22 to 40 mm +/- 1.5 mm

Thickness (Sanded)

All Thickness in mm+/- 0.3 mm+/- 0.4 mm+/- 0.3 mm+/- 0.3 mm

Edge Straightness (mm / mm)+/- 1.0 mm1/1000 mm/mm+/- 3.0 mm+/- 3.0 mm

Squareness+/- 2.0 mm2/1000 mm/mm+/- 2.5 mm+/- 2.5 mm

Mechanical Characterisitics

Name of the PropertiesISO (8335): 1987B.S.I. BS 5669, Part 4: 1989Bison DIN StandardsBison Panel (Present Result)

Density (Kg / Cu. Mts)Not Less than 1000 Kg / Cu. Mts-1250 +/- 10% Kg / Cu. mts (Not less than 1200 Kg / Cu. Mts)1250 +/- 10% Kg / Cu. Mts (Not less than 1200 Kg / Cu. Mts)

Flexural Strength (Modulus of Rupture)Min 9.0 N/ Sq. mmMin 10 N/Sq. in. 9N / Sq. Upton 12 mm - 11.5 N / Sq. mm, Up to 30 to 40 mm - 9 to 10 N / Sq. mm

Modulus of Elasticity (MOE)3000 N / Sq. mm4500 N / Sq. mmMin 3000 Sq. mmMin 3000 Sq. mm

Swelling in thickness % (24 Hours After Immersion)2 %1.5% to 1.8%Max. 1.5%0.5 to 1.0 %

Tensile strength (Perpendicular to the Surface - (Transverse)-Min 0.45 N/Sq. in. 0.4 N / Sq. mm0.6 to 0.9 N / Sq. mm

Compressive Strength (Perpendicular to Surface)15 N / Sq. mm15 N / Sq. mm15 N / Sq. mm15 N / Sq. mm

Moisture (%)6 to 12%6 to 12%6 to 12%9 +/- 3%

Screw Holding (N)

a) Surface--Min 1250 N1250 N to 1600 N

b) Edge-450 NMin. 850 NMin. 1200 N

Impact Strength mm/mm3.9 KJ / Sq. Mtr (From Record)---

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