Frequently Asked Questions

Distinctively deep shadow lines for premium aesthetic, providing the look of traditional wood siding with the durability and low maintenance of James Hardie fiber cement. In addition the product is beveled on the back to lie flat against the wall ensuring stability and the unique tongue and groove feature allows end joints to fit tightly together for precise fit and finish.

Inherent in lap siding design is the provision of drainage at the laps and drying through the airspace that exists behind each plank. By virtue of their design, panels lie flat to the wall and limit the amount of drying and drainage that can occur behind them. Industry best practices for stucco and other such claddings that lie flat to the wall would suggest that creating an airspace behind them is a good approach. In all cases a rainscreen assembly is a good building practice for all claddings/applications.

On a single-family residence more than likely the application would be traditional applications, 1-2 storey, covered by rooflines and typically in lower risk applications and locations on the building. On a multi-family structure there are more complex details, and larger expanses of flat walls up to 6 stories. In all cases a rainscreen assembly is a good building practice for all claddings/applications.

For maximum two storey traditional design townhomes that have pitched roof and soffits this requirement does not apply. In all cases a rainscreen assembly is a good building practice for all claddings/applications.

HardiePanel was originally developed for wood look and traditional applications such as those with trim or board and batten. For Multifamily or commercial applications we have the HardieReveal® Panel system – as system from James Hardie specifically designed to provide the materials to create a modern look, ask your local rep for availability and refer to www.Jameshardiecommercial.com/reveal. Irrespective of application the rainscreen requirement holds for Hardie Reveal Panel used in Multifamily and commercial construction.

While the Hardie® Reveal™ Panel System in most cases is the ideal solution, HardiePanel can be used to create a modern look, but it is not a system - component selection such as trims and fasteners is the responsibility of the architect and general contractor. Basic requirements and guidance can be found in the following technical bulletin: www.jameshardiecommercial.com/pdf/technical-bulletins/18-expressed-joint.pdf. Irrespective of application the rainscreen requirement holds for Hardie Reveal Panel used in Multifamily and commercial construction.

Our warranty is a limited product manufacturing defect only warranty. We do not warrant against and are not responsible for damages to our product or the underlying building structure or building contents due to excess building moisture intrusion and retention. After the effective date, the rainscreen requirement becomes a required installation practice. As with any application of James Hardie's products in Multifamily / Commercial it is the responsibility of the Architect (and/or other Design Professional) to design the building and the general contractor to construct the building to provide adequate moisture management. If the design professional or general contractor does not include a rainscreen assembly behind the panel cladding, then the product warranty coverage will not be automatically voided; however, if the non-inclusion of an airspace behind the cladding or a moisture detailing or construction issue has a direct impact on the cladding or applied finish (ColorPlus), then these facts will be a consideration in the evaluation of a warranty claim.

If you have any questions about the New Rainscreen requirements for HardiePanel, please contact your local Multifamily representative, call us at 1-800-426-4051 or send us an email.

Yes, you can blind nail HardiePlank™ siding. This can be done up to 24" on center. Please consult NER-405 Report (Table 2) for complete details. Staples cannot be used.

Yes, please refer to NER-405 Report (Tables 2 & 3) for product application details.

Typically cut edges are required to be sealed or primed. Refer to the product specific installation instructions.

No. Our products do not require pre-drilling. They nail just as easily as traditional wood products.

Silica (SiO²) comprises approximately 75% of the earth's crust and is a common ingredient in most products used in the tile and masonry industry, including cement-based underlayment materials such as HardieBacker® cement board. In an intact state, these products do not pose a silica risk. However, when cut, drilled, or abraded during installation, the resulting smaller, silica-containing dust can pose a potential health hazard as inhalation of excessive quantities over an extended duration can cause silicosis, lung-cancer, or other lung-related diseases, potentially leading to death.

To protect workers from potential health effects, OSHA established and enforces a permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable silica of 0.100 µg/m³. This PEL is an 8-hour time weighted average and requires the use of special industrial hygiene equipment to measure. Any exposures above this level will mandate the installer to take additional protective measures, potentially including a documented respirator program and medical monitoring.

As safety is paramount, James Hardie always encourages you to take every effort possible to minimize any dust exposure levels. In any situation, properly-fitted NIOSH approved respirators (e.g. N95) can be used in conjunction with the following tools and cutting methods to further limit silica dust exposures, providing a safer workplace.

If additional concern regarding dust exposure levels (or exceeding OSHA´s PEL) exists or the conditions of your jobsite do not allow you to conform to any of the following practices, please contact James Hardie at 1-888-JHARDIE or consult a qualified industrial hygienist. A directory of independent IH consultants can be found at www.aiha.org.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Prior to using any James Hardie® products, all users must read all applicable warnings (including MSDS) and comply with all installation instructions. Failure to do so may result in serious personal injury.

WARNING: AVOID BREATHING SILICA DUST

James Hardie® products contain respirable crystalline silica, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer and is considered by IARC and NIOSH to be a cause of cancer from some occupational sources. Breathing excessive amounts of respirable silica dust can also cause a disabling and potentially fatal lung disease called silicosis, and has been linked with other diseases. Some studies suggest smoking may increase these risks. During installation or handling: (1) work in outdoor areas with ample ventilation; (2) use fiber cement shears for cutting or, where not feasible, use a HardieBlade™ saw blade and dust-reducing circular saw attached to a HEPA vacuum; (3) warn others in the immediate area; (4) wear a properly-fitted, NIOSH-approved dust mask or respirator (e.g. N-95) in accordance with applicable government regulations and manufacturer instructions to further limit respirable silica exposures. During clean-up, use HEPA vacuums or wet cleanup methods - never dry sweep. For further information, refer to our installation instructions and Material Safety Data Sheet available at www.jameshardie.com or by calling 1-800-9HARDIE (1-800-942-7343). FAILURE TO ADHERE TO OUR WARNINGS, MSDS, AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS MAY LEAD TO SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.

James Hardie Building Products
26300 La Alameda, Suite 250
Mission Viejo, CA 92691

SD050905

To help you have a safer jobsite, James Hardie has developed the following "tiered" system to help you select the best tools and methods for your given job requirements. This system has been based around exposure testing in what James Hardie believes to be real-world conditions to ensure that you can have a safe jobsite. Note: For maximum protection (lowest respirable dust exposures), James Hardie always recommends using "Best"-level cutting methods where feasible. If you do not adhere to the recommended cutting instructions, please contact James Hardie or consult with a qualified industrial hygienist.

TOOL RATING CATEGORY	CUTTING METHOD	CUTTING RATE¹	VENTILATION
BEST²	HANDHELD SHEARS PLATFORM SHEARS SCORE AND SNAP	NO LIMITATIONS	INDOOR / OUTDOOR
BETTER	DUST-REDUCING SAWS WITH HARDIEBLADE™ SAW BLADE COUPLED WITH HEPA VACUUM EXTRACTION	NO LIMITATIONS	OUTDOOR
GOOD	DUST-REDUCING SAWS WITH HARDIEBLADE™ SAW BLADE	LOW TO MODERATE	OUTDOOR

¹Cutting rate is based on linear feet of material actually being cut

²This option is not appropriate for Artisan® Lap and Matrix™ Panel

NEVER use high speed power tools (e.g. circular saws, grinders, etc) to cut James Hardie Products indoors as they may generate excessive respirable silica dust

No. Many products in the building industry contain silica including fiber cement. Other products include bricks, concrete, tile, abrasives, grout, thin-set, glass, roofing tiles, gypsum wallboard, joint compound, stucco patch, mortar, and cementitious tile underlayments.

No. The silica in James Hardie products does not pose any danger during handling or to the homeowner once the product is installed. Respirable silica only poses a potential hazard from James Hardie products during certain activities that create dust (e.g., cutting, grinding, drilling, sanding, or otherwise abrading) and only if excessive amounts of respirable silica are present in the user´s immediate breathing area. James Hardie products in their intact state do not emit dust.

No. You should only use shears and the score-and-snap method indoors. If a power saw is needed, all cutting should be done outdoors in a well-ventilated area.

The HardieBlade™ saw blade has been designed specifically for James Hardie fiber cement. Testing to date appears to suggest that a saw blade designed with fewer teeth generally creates larger dust particles (greater than 10 microns in diameter), thereby reducing the amount of smaller, respirable dust generated and reducing the risk for high exposures of respirable silica. On the other side, testing also suggests that masonry-type blades (such as continuous or segmented diamond rim blades) and abrasive blades are designed differently and create more respirable dust. As a rule of thumb, less teeth equates to lower respirable silica exposures.

Our best practices have been designed to help you reduce any hazard risk by utilizing techniques and tools that produce the lowest levels of respirable silica dust without requiring a respirator. However, if you decide to take additional protective measures and use respirators, we require that a NIOSH/MSHA approved respirator with a rating of N95 or better.

It is important to note that OSHA may require a formal respirator program be in place prior to respirator use. A program should include (but is not limited to) training, fit-testing, and medical monitoring. Please consult www.osha.gov to learn more about the requirements for properly implementing a respirator program.