The Magnesium Oxide Cement Association in partnership with China Magnesite Materials Association and in conjunction with American Wall and Ceiling Institute Conference recently held in New Orleans held the first meeting of the MOCA Standard Committee. The MOCA Standard is an initiative to develop the ASTM Standard for MgO cement products and in the process develop Acceptance Criteria and Technical Guides for use in US and Canada and revised standards for use in China making this potentially the first building material standard harmonized over 3 jurisdictions.
A group of 15 delegates including 9 from China, representing researchers, association executives, raw material suppliers, board manufacturers, distributors, contractors and testing agencies were joined by 8 teleconference attendees including Government Code officials a Certification and Listing Agency and OEM users while Wang Zifu joined us on video WeChat from Jinan China where it was very early in the morning. The meeting used the full 3 hours allotted to discuss and agree to the existing framework, agree on and delegate tasks, get to know each other quite well and have a plan of action for moving things forwards which includes adding environmental testing to the Standard.
This meeting was held in English and Chinese with excellent technical translations provided by Wendy Ying of BCIT’s Building Science Center of Excellence and Linjing Zhou our Chief Representative in China and Director of CMMA’s Foreign Exchange Program.
Previously MOCA, CMMA and AWCI met to discuss the relationship between the associations and to see MagO boards become part of the AWCI Technical Committee’s mandate. AWCI is a 100 year old association with over 2000 members of wall board contractors and suppliers.
For a full report and a copy of the MOCA standard please contact peter@magobp.com or mike.vangeyn@magobp.com
Magnesium oxide cement boards offer a sustainable, durable, safe and easy to use alternative for interior and exterior wall, floor and ceiling boards. They are made from minerals people, plants and animals need to survive, have been proven to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and take relatively low energy to mine, process and use while providing superior resistance to damage by fire, water, impact, mould and insects.
