The article outlines the benefits of using Bison Panels from NCL Industries Ltd.

Fire & moisture resistant
Bison Panel is a cement-bonded particle board that is fire, weather and termite resistant and a good sound insulating material. Tested in accordance with BS 476, it is classified as a Class ‘O’ building board with Class I surface flame spread. It shows no sign of disintegration when subjected to cycles of soaking, freezing and heating. Due to mineralisation of wood particles by cement, Bison is resistant to termite, vermin attack, fungus growth, rot and decay. Airborne sound reduction varies between 30 dB and 37 dB for the frequency range of 100 Hz – 3,150 Hz (thickness dependent).

An all-purpose basic building material
Bison can be employed for a multitude of applications, both for interiors and exterior use viz. doors, false ceilings, external and internal wall claddings, mezzanine flooring, acoustic roofs, car porch ceilings, roof underlays, interior and exterior walls, single and double skin partitions, guard rooms, duct covers, building facades, furniture, cupboards, school benches, kitchen underlays, outdoor cabins, prefab shelters, wall sidings, and more. Bison’s thickness range of 6 mm to 40 mm contributes to its availabilityand application versatility.

Time tested
Bison is made from proven technology and has also withstood the test of time by remaining relevant today, as when it was invented in the 1970s.

Safe to use
Bison contains no asbestos or formaldehyde (a known carcinogen and a toxin, respectively) and its process dust is harmless. It is an eco-friendly product and completely safe to work with. Structures made of Bison emit no noxious fumes during fire or storage.

Extremely affordable
Bison costs as much as the cheapest plywood available and the construction is extremely time efficient. For instance, a Bison shelter of 1,000 sq.ft can be erected and made fit for occupation in less than eight hours. Bison structures can also be dismantled with ease and transported.

Made of homogenous construction
All Bison products and their variants come with the exact same properties of fire and weather resistance, sound insulation, termite and vermin resistance, etc. and of the same quality and consistent grade for interior and exterior applications.

Chemically stable
Bison can take any surface finish including lime wash, water-bound distempers, emulsion paints, laminations, foils and primers. It is unaffected by dilute chemicals such as brines, bleaches and detergents.

Dimensional stability
The swelling in thickness after 2 hours of immersion in water and after 24 hours immersion is 1 per cent and 1.5 per cent, respectively. The longitudinal and transverse swellings, both are 0.3 per cent, for a change in relative humidity of air, from 30 per cent to 95 per cent, at 20 C.

Available in multiple appearances
Bison is available in a laminated version under the brand: Bison Lam- available in thicknesses of 6 mm, 10 mm, 12 mm and 16 mm in shades of natural teak, light gray, sea beach and ivory – all impermeable to moisture and highly resistant to staining. Bison Designer boards with self-embossed designs are available in 6 mm to 16 mm thicknesses – in Lumber & Murk designs. In addition, Bison is available in a Plank version of 8-feet length, 8-inch or 10-inch wide. Bison Planks are available in 8 mm, 10 mm and 12 mm thicknesses – ideal for decorative architectural elements, fascia sidings, exterior fencing, decking and wall claddings. These are low maintenance planks, can be easily painted and polished to blend in any decor.

Weight is its strength
Bison’s density is 1,250 kgs per cubic metre and has high compressive strength of 15 N per sq.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 1,100 kgs, plus per-foot run of its length.

Can be worked with any tools
Tools like circular cutting saw machine and drill machines can work effortlessly on Bison Panel. The wear in tools is much less on Bison than on other resin bonded boards. When working with hand tools, Bison Panels may require little more effort and 10 to 15 per cent more time than soft woods.

For more details, visit www.nclind.com