Since there is almost no mining of magnesium oxide done here in the USA, where do you get your MgO from? I assume China?

What thickness of EPS do the panels come in?

STC ratings for MGO walls will vary with the thickness of the MGO Board and the manufacture of the MGO Board. Some MGO Board recipes contain higher amounts of per-lite, wood chips and other additives which can affect the sound ratings. The MGO Board that we most commonly use is manufactured by Magnesium Oxide Board Corporation out of Australia and has an STC rating of 53-54 at 12 mm thickness. The ratings on a MGO SIPS wall are much higher and increase as the thickness of the SIPS wall (EPS Foam)increases. The density of the foam used also affects the STC rating. We have not yet performed actual STC testing on our SIPS walls and currently use calculated STC totals for the materials used in our wall assembly to determine the wall assembly STC rating.

We can manufacture panel thickness to your specifications. Our hydraulic press opens to 42" so theoretically we could manufacture a panel 41" thick by 24 feet long by 4' wide. We have MGO board for skins that range from 6 mm to 30 mm thick. We use EPS foam with a 1# per sf minimum to 3# sf maximum.

Posted By Innova on 09 Aug 2013 08:44 AM
STC ratings for MGO walls will vary with the thickness of the MGO Board and the manufacture of the MGO Board. Some MGO Board recipes contain higher amounts of per-lite, wood chips and other additives which can affect the sound ratings. The MGO Board that we most commonly use is manufactured by Magnesium Oxide Board Corporation out of Australia and has an STC rating of 53-54 at 12 mm thickness. The ratings on a MGO SIPS wall are much higher and increase as the thickness of the SIPS wall (EPS Foam)increases. The density of the foam used also affects the STC rating. We have not yet performed actual STC testing on our SIPS walls and currently use calculated STC totals for the materials used in our wall assembly to determine the wall assembly STC rating.

Innova,
those STC ratings are for stud framed walls with accoustical batts, they have nothing to do with your SIPs

Posted By Innova on 09 Aug 2013 08:44 AM
  STC rating of 53-54 at 12 mm thickness. The ratings on a MGO SIPS wall are much higher and increase as the thickness of the SIPS wall (EPS Foam)increases. The density of the foam used also affects the STC rating. We have not yet performed actual STC testing on our SIPS walls and currently use calculated STC totals for the materials used in our wall assembly to determine the wall assembly STC rating.

There is absolutely NO WAY that a SIP, whether OSB, Steel or MGO can have a STC of 54. That is impossible due to the nature of a SIP. A SIP will usually in and of itself have a STC rating in the mid to upper 20's. After decoupling with resilient channels and drywall one can improve the STC rating into the upper 30's and 40's but there is no way a SIP by itself has a STC of 54.

My concern with MGO SIPs would be strength. What is the tensile and compressive strength of 10mm thick MGO compared to a typical steel or OSB SIP skin?

Posted By jonr on 11 Aug 2013 01:36 PM
My concern with MGO SIPs would be strength. What is the tensile and compressive strength of 10mm thick MGO compared to a typical steel or OSB SIP skin?

I would hope they have independent third party testing that would reveal what the strength is.

In the case of GreenOX, it appears that they are only being used for small sheds with a frame. It's not clear if they are structural at all, they may just be infill panels.

Posted By jonr on 12 Aug 2013 12:17 AM
In the case of GreenOX, it appears that they are only being used for small sheds with a frame. It's not clear if they are structural at all, they may just be infill panels.

According to the GreenOx website:

The GreenOx product line utilizes Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) with Magnesium Oxide (MgO) skins. MgO is a naturally occurring mineral compound found in metamorphic rock deposits. MgO is used to produce extremely strong and durable SIPs. MgO shouldn't be confused with panels made with standard gypsum drywall or OSB skins – it’s in a class by itself. Globally, builders have been using magnesium oxide panels for years in walls, floors, exterior sheathing, and more. MgO is an excellent substrate for SIPs because it is:

• Fire resistant (UL-approved, ASTM-tested)
• Moisture, mold, and mildew resistant
• Insect resistant
• Extraordinarily durable
• Green and Eco friendly, no asbestos or silica
• Contains no organic solvents, heavy metals or other toxic ingredients
• Easy to work with
• Available in many sizes

I wouldn't use them for a home but for a shed they should be just fine.

We intend to start a new production Pre-fabricated home unit utilizing MGO SIP in Lapeer County Michigan in the month of February 2014. Our company is already producing in the Indian Ocean region and we pride in our capacity to erect one fully furnished home of 1200 sqft in 24 hours. This proposed unit will have a capacity of some 15 homes per month and we are presently looking for potential distributors for the homes
Interests are most welcomed
thanks

mgo board are mostly produced in china. with low labor cost, rich mining and low landing cost, price is very competitive,
regular thickness for EPS are 6mm 9mm 12mm. for flooring, 18MM 20MM.

what kind of panel is the best option?