Magnesium oxide (MgO) cement panels are gaining widespread acceptance in the design and construction industry as improved product standards are paired with successful applications in single-family, multifamily, and commercial projects nationwide.
Introduction
Over the past 20 years, MgO panels have grown in popularity across North America as designers and builders have sought innovative and cost-effective products that help them meet increasingly stringent requirements for structural strength, fire performance, and sustainability.
By combining the fire performance of gypsum sheathing with the structural performance of wood-based sheathing in a single continuous cement panel, MgO panels address two of the construction industry’s greatest product challenges: fire performance and structural strength.
Benefits Comparable with Wood, Gypsum, and Portland Cement
MgO cement serves as a modern construction material that outperforms traditional materials by:
- Matching the Structural Strength of Wood – Many MgO panels are suitable for load-bearing subfloor and wall applications. Qualifying MgO panels offer performance that allows for direct attachment of light and mid-weight claddings in exterior wall applications.
- Meeting Code Requirements for Fire Performance – MgO panels are subject to compliance with the same fire performance tests and applicable requirements as many other building products and construction assemblies under the building codes. Doing so enables qualifying MgO panels to be used in both combustible and noncombustible applications, including interior and exterior fire-resistance-rated wall assemblies (load-bearing and non-load-bearing), interior fire-resistance-rated structural floor/ceiling and roof/ceiling assemblies, and exterior wall assemblies required to be tested to and comply with NFPA 285. Qualifying MgO panels pass ASTM E136 and qualify for use in the International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC), where noncombustible materials are required.
- Resisting Fungus and Insects – The inorganic nature of MgO panels provides strong resistance to fungus and insects, enabling them to be used in place of wood and paper-faced gypsum in wet, moist, and humid locations. MgO panels undergo stringent testing to evaluate resistance to fungi as part of third-party oversight programs.
- Speeding Up Construction – MgO panels offer superior durability to all wood and most gypsum and Portland cement panels under both typical and severe environments, enabling projects to be completed faster due to less time needed for “drying out” of materials that become wet and for curing in the case of wet-laid materials.
- Reducing Exposure to Crystalline Silica -MgO cement is completely or nearly totally free of crystalline silica, allowing for safe installation by workers and supporting healthy indoor environments for occupants.
Codes and Standards Development
Over the past five years, the MgO industry has prioritized the development of robust quality and performance standards to form the basis of code requirements, providing direct recognition of MgO building products in the U.S. model building codes. Industry professionals continue to lead and participate in the consensus standards development processes within the ICC, ASTM, ANSI, and other frameworks. Examples include:
- The industry will soon adopt Product Category Rules (PCRs) that define the methods for conducting Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) that, in turn, form the basis for preparing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).
- Development of ICC, ASTM, and other standards that standardize requirements for key components of MgO panel formulations – such as a specification for magnesia cement – establish required test methods for fastener withdrawal and corrosion resistance, fire performance, and many other performance characteristics for MgO building products.
- Development of standards for the classification and specification of MgO panel products used in walls (interior and exterior), structural subfloors, and other innovative applications.
The MgO industry’s most meaningful target is incorporating requirements specific to MgO panel products into the model building codes. These codes recognize products prescriptively and provide a direct pathway for code compliance. Currently, qualifying MgO panels comply with building code requirements through the “alternative [material] compliance” path via third-party code evaluation reports. With a wealth of code acceptance and approvals work currently underway, the MgO building products industry forecasts the availability of more streamlined compliance methods improving rapidly in the coming years.
Continued Growth in Product Quality and Installation
The early years of MgO panels in North America were marked by varied issues with manufacturing quality and a lack of broadly accepted consensus industry standards in the U.S., as is common for new building products entering the regulatory environment from abroad. The past five years have seen vastly improved product quality and the development of consensus industry standards, yielding far superior products and regulations that enable beneficial project installations nationwide.
Industry companies continue to augment robust quality control throughout the MgO building products supply chain, as doing so is essential to the near-term future and long-term success of the product category in North America.
One area of standards impacting MgO panels was recently amended: the definition of noncombustible products. With respect to MgO panels, the new definition essentially separates products into two categories: fire-resistant and/or noncombustible. Due to the wide range of fire resistance and noncombustibility requirements in building types I, II, III, IV, and V, qualifying MgO panels continue to serve as beneficial sheathing applications in all building types.
MgOBPA Formed to Grow the Industry Responsibly
In February of 2024, MgO industry stakeholders formed the Magnesium Oxide Building Products Association (MgOBPA) to provide a venue to discuss important advocacy, market, and technical issues for the MgO building products industry. Since that time, members and industry allies have met monthly to work together on initiatives supporting MgO building products on issues ranging from codes and standards development to education initiatives that support market development and growth.
On October 7, 2025, MgOBPA will host its inaugural Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA. Members and non-members will hear from industry experts and guests on the latest research and development underway in North America and abroad while participating in facilitated sessions on market growth, codes and standards development, an industrywide quality assurance program, and more. Networking opportunities will enable industry professionals to learn from and share with their peers.
Looking Forward
MgOBPA members foresee continued growth and acceptance of MgO panels in North America, driven by:
- Robust new codes and standards that setclearer standards for products via fire performance, moisture resistance, physical properties, and composition; and for installation via structural strength, weatherability, and compatibility.
- Improved quality standards for manufacturing and quality control of MgO building products throughout the supply chain.
- Innovation and new product development in emerging specialty applications such as lightweight structural panels, composite panels with integrated insulation systems, acoustically enhanced panels, and pre-finished exterior panels.
- Regional sourcing of MgO building products manufactured in the U.S. with raw materials sourced from North America.
Conclusion
MgO building products offer the construction industry significant advantages over the wood-based, gypsum-based, and Portland cement-based panels it has grown accustomed to over the last several decades. As the MgO building products industry advances, MgO panels stand ready to play a major role in delivering cost-effective, safe, and sustainable construction solutions.
Questions?
Contact MgOBPA at Info@MgOBPA.org.
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