Advanced, Climate-Specific Design Raises the Bar for Home Exterior Protection

Mission Viejo, CA and San Francisco, June 17, 2009 - James Hardie Building Products Inc. (NYSE: JHX) announced today the launch of the company's latest concept in home exterior protection. Called The HardieZone™ System, it is specifically designed to deliver superior performance under varying climate conditions. In North America, James Hardie's product lines have been engineered for specific climates, categorized as the HZ5 and HZ10 climate zones. The former includes wide seasonal temperature variation and extreme cold, and the latter consists of warmer climates with high rainfall and humidity, as well as extreme heat.

"We are a market leader in residential siding because we continue to modify, enhance and evolve our fiber cement technology," said John Dybsky, Product Manager, James Hardie. "The HardieZone product line benefits from our most aggressive and focused research and development to date, resulting in specialized siding products designed specifically for the variety of climate challenges where the products are being used."

The HardieZone System represents the seventh generation of James Hardie siding products innovation. Starting with the development of a fiber cement substrate that offered superior exterior protection over wood and stucco, additional improvements have included those meant to further improve product performance and enhance aesthetic qualities, both in design and color.

HZ5™ and HZ10™ Products Take on Mother Nature
The HardieZone system was fine-tuned to withstand the stress of eight climate variables. These include: temperature fluctuation, ultraviolet exposure, humidity, rainfall, snow, hail, hurricane and topographical factors. Each impacts the wear and tear on a home's exterior. Based on each climate's frequency and severity ratio across North America, common variables were analyzed and grouped to form the HZ5 and HZ10 zones. Siding products were developed for each zone.

The HZ5 product's composition protects against freezing temperatures, snow, ice and moisture, and maintains its dimensional stability under severe weather conditions. One of the HZ5 product's innovations is a beveled top and drip edge, which is added to the HardiePlank® lap siding, providing improved water management.

Designed for the heat and unstable climates of North America's western and southern regions— particularly the coastal regions—the HZ10 product's composition is resistant to moisture damage, cracking, splitting, rotting, swelling, high winds, termites and flame. Its specially formulated primer delivers excellent performance in the HZ10 zone.

Making the Best Even Better
James Hardie ColorPlus® Technology adds even more protection to the HardieZone system. Specially formulated paint is baked on in the factory, applying a finish that lasts up to twice as long as conventional paint application¹. ColorPlus Technology increases the product's finish performance and resists damage in freezing temperatures and heavy moisture conditions. It also adds up to 30 percent more fade resistance when installed in zones with significant ultraviolet exposure.²

"The HardieZone System incorporates everything we have learned over the past three decades, resulting in products that aren't just tough; they're tough against specific climate conditions," said Dybsky. "We're also introducing an industry-best, 30-year limited, non-prorated warranty that reflects our confidence in the products and will provide customers with lasting peace of mind."

¹ James Hardie accelerated weathering tests compared with brush-applied national paint in a lab environment.

² James Hardie accelerated QUV test results compared to nationally available premium paint in a lab environment.

About James Hardie®
James Hardie's USA Fiber Cement business manufactures a range of building materials for external and internal cladding and lining applications. Products include, HardiePlank® Lap Siding with ColorPlus® Technology, HardiePanel® Vertical Siding, HardieShingle® Siding, HardieSoffit® Panels and HardieBacker® Ceramic Tile Backerboard. The company introduced its fiber cement products to the United States in 1988 and since then, its siding products have been installed on millions of homes across the United States. James Hardie is the largest producer of fiber cement building products in North America and the largest producer of siding products that are used as exterior cladding on houses. For more information about James Hardie, please visit www.jameshardie.com.

Disclaimer
This Company Statement contains forward-looking statements. We may from time to time make forward-looking statements in our periodic reports filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms 20-F and 6-K, in our annual reports to shareholders, in offering circulars and prospectuses, in media releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by our officers, directors or employees to analysts, institutional investors, representatives of the media and others. Examples of such forward-looking statements include:

• projections of our operating results or financial condition;
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• statements about our future economic performance or that of the United States, Australia or other countries in which we operate; and
• statements about product or environmental liabilities.

Words such as "believe," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "intend," "target," "estimate," "project," "predict," "forecast," "guideline," "should," "aim" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.

Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. We caution you that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These factors include but are not limited to: all matters relating to or arising out of the prior manufacture of asbestos by ABN 60 and certain former subsidiaries; competition and product pricing in the markets in which we operate; general economic and market conditions; compliance with and possible changes in environmental and health and safety laws; the successful transition of new senior management; the success of our research and development efforts; the supply and cost of raw materials; our reliance on a small number of product distributors; the consequences of product failures or defects; exposure to environmental, asbestos or other legal proceedings; risks of conducting business internationally; compliance with and changes in tax laws and treatments; and foreign exchange risks. We caution you that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive and that other risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made.

Media Contact:
Greg Young, Vertical Marketing Network
949-842-8454
Greg.Young@Verticalmarketing.net

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