2025 BES Session: Emerging Materials: Benefits and Limitations of MgO-based Sheathing Products (Broderick)

Course Overview
This session was originally presented at the 2025 IIBEC Building Enclosure Symposium in St. Louis, Missouri.  This course includes the following components:

• recording of the live session
• a summative assessment consisting of 10 multiple-choice questions
• two surveys required to claim continuing education credit

Description

Exterior sheathing panels made with MgO chemistry represent a newer but growing product category that, compared to more familiar sheathing options, are not as widely known or understood amongst even experienced building enclosure experts. Commonly asked questions include:

• Are MgO boards, chloride boards, and sulfate boards all referring to the same thing?
• Are they all functionally interchangeable, or are some better for specific applications?
• Why are people talking about sweating boards from Denmark?
• Can they be a value-adding part of a robust and resilient building enclosure?

Since the early days of MgO composite panels, which have been around in their modern form for about 20 years, significant advancements in understanding the chemistry and process control for MgO-based sheathing have improved the quality of available products.

This session will demystify MgO and provide a window into the academic research investigating the synthesis, structure, and stability of composite panels based on MgO starting materials. Learners will walk away with an industry leading understanding and the necessary tools to speak confidently and accurately about MgO-based boards. They will have clarity on how to evaluate and select boards based on quality and long-term performance for certain applications and will see how incorporating this product into their building(s) can improve the constructability and long-term performance of exterior walls and roof systems.

Course Recommended Prerequisite(s)
An understanding of exterior sheathing systems for opaque walls, including their function in creating a high-performance building enclosure, including appropriate control layers (bulk water, water vapor, air, and thermal). Additionally, experience with cladding attachment systems, various types of wall loading scenarios, and use of design tables to define appropriate cladding fastener rates is recommended.

IIBEC Core Competencies: Exterior Walls (EW)

Knowledge Level: Advanced

Course Access
Courses are accessible in LearnUpon for one year from the date of purchase.

Author/Presenter

Adam Broderick, PhD

Research Scientist

DuPont Performance Building Solutions

Adam Broderick is a research and design scientist with DuPont Performance Building Solutions focused on applying material science and building science fundamentals to drive innovative building enclosure products and applications. He is on the front lines of developing and testing the newest technologies available to enable easier construction of higher performing, more resilient buildings. Despite having a background in formulating and evaluating products in the lab, he’s happiest when on a building site, collecting feedback on new products and application methods under development, and learning about the most challenging unsolved problems facing builders today as they become the innovations of tomorrow.

Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in the session content at the 2025 IIBEC Building Enclosure Symposium are those of the content author(s)/speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the policies or positions of the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC). IIBEC makes no warranty, whether express or implied, as to the completeness, accuracy or validity of the information provided.

Credit Start Date 5/22/2025             
Credit Expiration Date 5/22/2028

Continuing Education Credit Statement
This course is approved for 1.0 IIBEC CEH
This course is approved for 1.0 AIA LU/HSW
AIA Course Number: BES25_20_OD
AIA Provider Number: G024

Continuing Education Credit Claim Information

To claim IIBEC CEHs, learners are required to:

• Achieve a passing score of 70% on the summative assessment (learners are provided unlimited attempts)
• Complete the course Evaluation & Attestation Survey

After completing the Evaluation & Attestation Survey, learners will be able to download a Certificate of Completion.  Learners are responsible for self-reporting IIBEC CEH credit by uploading their Certificate of Completion to their IIBEC Portal. For assistance in self-reporting CEHs, please reach out to: [email protected]

To claim AIA LU, learners are required to complete the above requirements, as well as:

• Complete the AIA Survey (AIA member number is required)

AIA continuing education Learning Units earned upon completion of this course will be reported to AIA CES for AIA members.

AIA CES Provider statement

IIBEC is a registered provider of AIA-approved continuing education under Provider G024. All registered AIA CES Providers must comply with the AIA Standards for Continuing Education Programs.  Any questions or concerns about this provider or this learning program may be sent to AIA CES ([email protected] or (800) AIA 3837, Option 3).

This learning program is registered with AIA CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product. AIA continuing education credit has been reviewed and approved by AIA CES. Learners must complete the entire learning program to receive continuing education credit. AIA continuing education Learning Units earned upon completion of this course will be reported to AIA CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.