Complete with an aquatic centre, indoor stadium and gymnasium, Ashburton's EA Networks Centre is a stunning new multi-sport facility designed by Warren and Mahoney. Fenta Ceiling Tiles feature in the café and changing rooms where a stylish but hardworking surface was needed. Made from a premium James Hardie fibre cement board, the tiles have a non-porous, glossy surface coating, which is highly resistant to mould and mildew, and has excellent reflectivity to enhance areas with little or no natural light.

"The Fenta Ceiling Tiles were selected because of the need for a durable, hard-wearing, easy-clean and moisture-resistant ceiling," says project architect Alex Head. "Changing rooms in aquatic centres are prone to high abuse, high moisture levels and regular cleaning, and therefore the selection of a pre-finished fibre cement based panel was an obvious choice."

A New Zealand product with a 25-year history

The Fenta Ceiling Tile is the original Hardiglaze Ceiling Tile, renamed in 2005 when the product passed from James Hardie to ANZAL. Specified in New Zealand projects for over 25 years, it is seen by many as the industry standard for ceilings in high hygiene areas.

ANZAL, the marketing arm of Bates Surface Solutions, has retained the 4.5mm James Hardie substrate, a premium board made of Portland cement with a hard, smooth surface. This forms the base of the Fenta Tile, which is finished with an UltraLight Technology primer — a patented UV coating system which is finally overcoated with polyurethane. Shortly, Fenta will move to a 100% UV coating system that is tough and environmentally friendly.

A wide range of applications

Their hygiene, durability and light-reflective qualities make these tiles suitable for a wide range of situations: changing rooms and bathrooms, commercial kitchens, general utility rooms, retail fit-outs, laboratories, hospital and health-care environments. The tiles meet the maximum New Zealand Building Code Fire Safety Standard (Code 1-S), as well as code requirements for non-sprinkler environments, making them ideal for commercial kitchens and laboratories.

In the EA Networks Centre changing rooms, one year on, the tile is easily standing up to the high-intensity environment, and proving to be very easy to clean and maintain. "I like the tiles," comments Dave Folley, who handles plant maintenance at the centre. "They've been in twelve months now and are very easy to clean, and they reflect light around." More than simply a practical finish, the tiles' crisp, modern aesthetic also enhances the architecture of the building.

Product details

The tiles fit into all standard suspended ceiling grids, and come in white high-gloss or white satin finish. They can be ordered in any colour when the project meets the minimum order size.