The history of Magboard dates back almost 20 years out of an ongoing search by the company’s founder, Gordon Ritchie, to find an improved sheathing material for structural insulated panel systems (SIPS). It was clear that wood based products like OSB or plywood easily succumbed to fire, rot and mold. Cement products were brittle, non-structural, unhealthy and hard to work with. Exotic materials like fiberglass or other composites were not cost effective or required too much change for subcontractors to easily adopt. In early 2004, Mr. Ritchie encountered MgO board and became convinced that the fire, water, mold and termite resistant properties were worth investigating. After testing numerous products without finding a MgO board that also could be used as structural sheathing, Mr. Ritchie set out to design, test and certify his own product. After over two years of development, Magboard was born.
The company has gone on to design and install its own manufacturing facility in China. As a manufacturer, and not a broker, it has instituted a full plant quality control program monitored by Intertek. The company has put Magboard through countless tests to certify its physical properties, as well as, fire and structural performance on numerous assemblies including 2x4 and 2x6 steel and wood frame walls and SIPS. It continues to work with Intertek for certification protocols of Magwall assemblies. No other MgO producer has this resume.
THERE IS ONLY ONE MAGBOARD.
The company has worked with several corporate partners each of who have evaluated the performance of Magboard and decided to work with the company.