Does anyone have any experience or hear of magnesium oxide structural insulated planels?
mike keesee| Posted inGBA Pro Helpon
About to begin work with local devleloper who is going to build homes using magenesium oxide SIPS. Claims that magnesium oxide panels are the “dry wall” of China. Have reviewed mock up w/ out staff architect and the material looks sound enough. The concept is sound, but has anyone ever heard of magnesium oxide panels or used them? Anyreferences would be helpful. Thanks.
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Mike,
I have no experience with these products, but our GBA Product Guide (based on GreenSpec from BuildingGreen.com) lists three brands of magnesium oxide panels:
//m.etiketa4.com/product-guide/prod/magnum-board
//m.etiketa4.com/product-guide/prod/magboard-structural-panel
//m.etiketa4.com/product-guide/prod/jetboard
Hi, Mike, I'd be curious to know the name of the manufacturer.
Magnesium oxide is a perfectly viable cement, so I can see it being used to bind the facings of a SIP. But it's not cheap, plentiful, or easy to work with -- in none of those things like gypsum drywall -- so I'd be surprised to see such a product take off in the marketplace. If you do try them (and check the independent test reports carefully first), please let us know how you liked them!
Bruce King, bruce-king.com
Many thanks. Will keep you posted. Developer plans on several hundred home development. SMUD, my employer, will be supporting initial 6 home start, which has just had ground breaking.
There is a rather long discussion at the GreenBuildingTalk about this subject:
http://gbt.buildcentral.com/Forums/tabid/53/aff/5/aft/25440/afv/topic/Default.aspx
The issue seems to be getting MGO board that is of sufficiently high quality.
I just stumbled across some info about MgO as a building material.
Lowes is now selling modular sheds made of MgO-clad sip panels:
http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=383024-40033-L810A
They are apparently made by Vantem Composite Technologies and are branded as GreenOx Sheds:http://www.greenox.com/advantage.html