I've recently been hearing about major problems (mostly in Florida) about sulfur contaminated (imported from China) walboard in homes.  Apparently to the point of causing corrosion/failure of HVAC components and piping in addition to making the occupants sick.  It seems this would be a much greater problem in a tight SIP home.  I had been considering MgO in some limited areas but this news causes me some concern.  Is any of this product made in the US?

Thanks,

Chuck

The problems have been w/ gypsum boards, not MgO. I think the origins are the mines where the gypsum came from.

I have decided to do glass mosaic countertops in the kitchen. All the quotes for any kind of solid surface material , and I got a lot of them, were between 3 grand and 8 grand. I am putting a think layer or MgO board, about 1/8 inch thick down over the plywood sub-surface and applying my glass mosaic circle mini- tiles on top. The tile is due to arrive this week. I like the stability of the MgO product. And it has great adhesion w/ thinset. I know cause we used it for our tile floor underlayment already.

I should be able to do the mosaic countertops for well under 1K for everything.

chuck07;

It is a Chinese drywall problem that has some type of sulfer-acid compound. It is rotting out AC coils, copper pipe and copper connections at the electrical receptacles.

It seems the Chinese like to use us for their hazardous waste dumping ground in building materials and lead paint in childrens toys.

I wouldn't trust building materials manufactured in China where there are no quality controls and a total disregard for consumer safety

some MGO board is produced in China, as well as SIPs  products

I wonder what the lead content is in all of that steel we are buying from them? ;)

we should know, the scrap is coming from US, but there is no telling what there putting in it over there

this link to Chinese Co. showing "R" control panels

http://www.megeshelters.com/video_en/

click on SIPs house install

Mr. Kavala,

THis is not a dump on the steel sip guy but I do not agree with the generalization that they have no quality control.  Some do and some do not--just like in the US.  Most meet ISO international standards.  There are Korean and Us companies making in China.  (By the way, they make steel sips as well)

I have seen good ones and not as good ones.

One company is fully tested in the US and several others others either are or will soon be.

Anything is better than firewood and embalming fluids to build a house.

I would say to have samples sent and look at the testing certifications

tesla;

No offense taken; I have seen the junk first hand. In many cases they have stolen US technology, and not paid for proper licensing,  most do not meet any standard at all.

Yes,I know they make steel / aluminum SIPs  and many composites

One is fully tested?  

Builders are paying the price now for using the fully certified and tested Chinese drywall, it most likely be the final straw.

Sorry I think your comparison to the sheetrock issue is apples and oranges.

I have seen the factories--in China is what I meant to say.

What I am trying to convey by saying that one is fully tested in the US by US standards.  Over 700 factories in China making this type of product and all meet Chinese standards which is not US standard but is accepted in more of the world than US testing is. 
There is--to my knowledge--at least one company making product in Canada and I personally know four entities preparing to manufacture in the US. 

I know of Chinese companies who have stolen Us technology and I know a Us company in Las Vegas who stole some of thier technology and is making it in the US.  It happens.
I did not realize the imported sheetrock had been tested or that if it had they would have tested for sulphur.
The worst MGO board from any country is infinitely better in all ways than gypsum based sheetrock.  My opinion.  I am smart enough to know that I may have tunnel vision caused by my 37 years  as a custom builder.( we will not count the years working with my dad as a kid and teenager, these 37 years are as of age 19)
Mgo board is here and one can still choose gypsum sheetrock--for now.  People will eventually get tired of the mold and water sensitivity and pest attack issues.  Choice is good.
Some people even prefer steel sips

"Anything is better than firewood and embalming fluids to build a house" ........what does that mean?

Thanks everyone for the info.  It's nice to know this is starting to be made in the US.  -I would have to agree with Chris about avoiding building materials from China.  I don't think you could even begin to compare quality control in the US with the (almost total lack of) quality control in China.  It is a totally different mentality there.  I'm not sure the Chinese regulators could have the same effect as in the US if they tried (and for the most part they are not trying).

the same was said about Hardie Cement Board a few years back and many are rethinking that since its been time tested. Its not all it was cracked up to be

Time will tell with the MGO board as well

Chris,
I can't imagine what might happen in the future to the cause me problems w/ my MgO in my new house, We have used it for floor underlayment, all interior walls, all ceilings and like I mentioned above under mosaics on countertops. I will be living in an envelope of MgO !!
I have about 35 sheets extra, some 4 x 8, some 4 x 10 and it has all been just sitting outdoors all winter on some pallets, about 30 ft from the salt water. No deterioration of any kind that I can tell. We have even had some freezing weather. I know that I need to bring it indoors B4 hurricane season or I might loose it in high winds. I'll prob just put it against the wall in the garage and wait until I need doghouses or such.

Additionally I had my outdoor decks engineered to hold 'come later' heavy cement tiles (mosaicos hidraulicos from Villa Lagoon Tile) and I will use my leftover MgO board as underlayment over the treated wood decking to thinset my cement tile when I can afford it.

BTW--You can click my profile if you want to see this project.

Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is an important chemical used widely by industry to manufacture building materials and numerous household products. It is also a by-product of combustion and certain other natural processes. Thus, it may be present in substantial concentrations both indoors and outdoors.

Sources of formaldehyde in the home include building materials, smoking, household products, and the use of un-vented, fuel-burning appliances, like gas stoves or kerosene space heaters. Formaldehyde, by itself or in combination with other chemicals, serves a number of purposes in manufactured products. For example, it is used to add permanent-press qualities to clothing and draperies, as a component of glues and adhesives, and as a preservative in some paints and coating products.

In homes, the most significant sources of formaldehyde are likely to be pressed wood products made using adhesives that contain urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins. Pressed wood products made for indoor use include: particleboard (used as sub-flooring and shelving and in cabinetry and furniture); hardwood plywood paneling (used for decorative wall covering and used in cabinets and furniture); and medium density fiberboard (used for drawer fronts, cabinets, and furniture tops). Medium density fiberboard contains a higher resin-to-wood ratio than any other UF pressed wood product and is generally recognized as being the highest formaldehyde-emitting pressed wood product.

Other pressed wood products, such as softwood plywood and flake or oriented strand board, are produced for exterior construction use and contain the dark, or red/black-colored phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin. Although formaldehyde is present in both types of resins, pressed woods that contain PF resin generally emit formaldehyde at considerably lower rates than those containing UF resin.
THE SIPPER--thanks for your question. Firewood is something you use to support a fire. Formaldahyde is one of the things used for embalming fluid--and OSB and other products.

Time will be the judge for some. There is nothing wrong with that. For myself I have traveled to several countries and settled the question for myself by looking with my own eyes. That does not mean I am wrong and you are right nor does it mean that I am right and you are wrong. Chris has settled the question for himself by choosing steel sips, others do not think anything needs fixed. Suits me. At least you know there are choices. Choices are good.

Embalming Fluid


Embalming fluid is a compound of formaldehyde, methanol, ethanol and other solvents. The percentage of formaldehyde found in embalming fluid ranges anywhere from 5 to 29 percent. The percentage of ethyl alcohol, the psychoactive ingredient found in alcoholic beverage, varies anywhere from 9 to 56 percent. According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, it is common for marijuana to be laced with PCP and/or embalming fluid, both of which produce a hallucinogenic effect. Cigarettes soaked with embalming fluid trend to burn slower, thereby increasing the chance for a prolonged high.

Embalming fluid is usually found in morgues and funeral homes, however, the fluid also can be purchased directly from chemical companies in person or from the Internet. Persons coming in contact with embalming fluid should exercise extreme caution, since exposure can cause serious health issues. Containers should not be opened and its contents should not be inhaled or applied to the skin.

Effects from exposure to embalming fluid include: bronchitis, body tissue destruction, brain damage, lung damage, impaired coordination, and inflammation and sores in the throat, nose, and esophagus. IT IS EXTREMELY CARCINOGENIC.

Short-term effects: Anger and frustration, depression, hallucinations and delusions, headache, impaired vision and coordination, increase in women’s sexual appetites, loss of consciousness, memory loss, paranoia, physical violence, sleepiness, and vomiting.

Long-term effects: Brain damage, bronchitis, coma, convulsions. Coughing, destruction of muscle tissue, fever, heart attack, high blood pressure, inflammation of the throat, nose and esophagus, kidney damage, lung damage, maturation process cessation, pneumonia, and spinal cord destruction.

Enquiring minds who want to know will enjoy this read.
As Jack Lalane use to say--Breathe in

I am sure it was the same thought for those using the Chinese drywall or masonite siding, it all sounds good, but time will sort out the good, the bad and the ugly.

t-w-r, I think that the majority of the participants on this forum, who are either sincerely voicing their opinions, or looking for information, understood where I was coming from in my previous post "Anything is better than firewood and embalming fluids to build a house"..........."what does that mean?" Now, if you really thought that I was asking for a definition of "firewood" and "embalming fluids", let me put it another way, that maybe you'll understand........Who is currently building houses in the U.S. with materials that fit that description? Please name the company, or companies, that are producing these materials. If you know something that the rest of us don't, then you should share this information, don't you think? After all, if your information is accurate, you'll have nothing to fear, right?

Read the two posts I sent to answer your question.

I do not know how to make it any more plain.  Read the information

I think the companies utilizing formaldehyde are too numerous to mention,

Here I thought the paranoia was just from being a builder all these years

Short-term effects: Anger and frustration, depression, hallucinations and delusions, headache, impaired vision and coordination, increase in women’s sexual appetites, loss of consciousness, memory loss, paranoia, physical violence, sleepiness, and vomiting. 

 Only one in there that seems palatable but then it is followed by loss of conciousness and memory loss so that negates that one too.