Thread: Splashbacks behind gas stove

I am fitting a new 900mm stainless-steel gas stove and stainless-steel rangehood, to a kitchen wall which is currently bare (a timber stud frame covered with painted plasterboard - the old style with fibre in it, which looks like sisal).

The distance from the rear of the stove to the rearmost burner is 150mm. According to Energy Safe Victoria (ESV), the applicable standard AS5601 says that when that distance is less than 200mm, that the splashback must conform to AS 5601, Clause 5.12.1.2.

Their "Domestic Cooker Clearances" information sheet no.25 says that "the fixing of 5 mm thick ceramic tiles to the surface" complies, and that glass or stainless steel splashbacks have to be backed with a "fire resistant material" that meets AS 5061.

They have a list of fire-resistant boards (see below) that comply (according to their manufacturers) - however the list only includes obscure manufacturers.

I was thinking of using HardiGlaze tile sheets, which are "a 150mm square tile pattern embossed into a hard-wearing high-gloss polyurethane coating over a 6mm sanded fibre cement board". This product appeals to me because it is easy to install and has no grout to clean (and is presumably reasonably priced).

According to the James Hardie enquiry line, they haven't tested *any* of their products for compliance to AS 5061.

I also can't find any info on AS 5061 compliance on the CSR website.
It seems like this standard has been around for quite a few years, so I'm stunned that is so hard to come by info on products that comply, unless it truly is hard to make a product that complies.

I guess I could use ceramic tiles but I'd prefer not to have grout to clean.
I could also increase the clearance to 200mm by putting a spacer behind the stove (e.g. fitting the benchtop around the rear of the stove.
I could use glass or stainless steel but a) materials are expensive and b) not confident of fitting glass myself (because of risk of breakage) so therefore added cost.

In any case glass or stainless steel need a standard-compliant underlay.
What do the pro's use for underlay (which is known to comply with AS5061) behind glass or stainless steel?

Is there a product like HardiGlaze tile sheets, which is known to comply with AS5061?

References:
The following links are to parts of the www.ogs.vic.gov.au web site.
Domestic Cooker Clearances http://tinyurl.com/abrv8
Fire Resistant Board http://tinyurl.com/ctcv3
Stainless Steel or Glass Feature Walls near Domestic Gas Cookers http://tinyurl.com/asv4e

HardiGlaze tile sheets http://tinyurl.com/9rmtx
The above links to James Hardie website