Structural Insulated Composite Panel's anyone?

No thank you .

Ok, I'm not sure where the rest of my Post went, so I will place it here as a reply.

EPS Composite Systems are a fast growing section of the building industry but gets very little play here. SIPs are a great way to build but really need a make over. The OSB Skins are the only thing I see that needs change, otherwise It's a great system. ICFs are great for Concrete Companies because the make money on the concrete and many times on the formes as well, win, win, but if you calculate the totals including labour labor it starts to not make sence for many and thats not what we need today.

Can you provide a web site for Structural Insulated Composite Panels so that I can see what you are talking about?

There are many, most of the larger one are listed here on my blogs,
http://styrohomenews.blogspot.com

The ones I like are the Systems that place a skin of concrete on both sides of the EPS.
The SABS systems is really simple because it goes up fast and is closed in fast, letting finishing crews work totally inclosed.

This is an older System that's refined.......but keeps getting ignored
till they were aquired acquired by Buttler from a Idaho company.
Now called KORETECK http://www.koreteck.com/

I'd like to see more coverage/info/vetting of shotcrete panel systems like metrockscip. Seems like a great alternative if the education gets out there.

Have you checked out the SABS System, it starts in the ground with EPS Foam and is coated with GFRC about half the cost of metrock systems. Metrock is great for bomb shelters etc in war zones.
http://www.strataus.com/const.html

I emailed the SABS people to try to get an idea of cost, construction details, et cetera - never got much more than an automated response which said "thanks for your interest, if you need more information contact us."

Do you have a ballpark sq foot cost on SABS, ergodesk? You said it was half of Metrock's cost, are you just guessing?

I have seen the website before and looks very interesting.  Just no local support here in MN as they are in the SW.    Whats half the cost? materials or building cost(less labor etc)?  

Yes i'm just guessing, but there is 1- No steel 2- 1/4" GFRC coating instead of 11/2/" on Metrock so it may be ever more that 50% less.

SABS is not ICFs, but they will be at the Vegas shoe in a couple of weeks/

Their website says it could be less than traditional construction with some scale. A new video says its 20% more than traditional construction. You'd think there would be more savings right out of the gate with eliminating a few steps/trades.

I wonder what the strength is compared to wood/sip/icf, since it has no steel with the fiber reinforced concrete.

It's not my company, but that's the talk that creates competition and maybe lower prices. A tv I'm looking at is over 800 dollars difference at 2 stores on the same block here, what's that all about?:)

The Strata people refer everyone to this document for their strength and fire tests http://www.strataus.com/esr.pdf

Fron the FAQ page
http://www.strataus.com/faq.html

How much does it cost to build with S.A.B.S.?

Costing information on S.A.B.S. is limited due to the fact that it is a new system. Buildings built by Strata International Group and other S.A.B.S. licensed contractors have come in slightly above wood framed structures. In comparison to other alternative systems that provide similar benefits, S.A.B.S. structures come in at a lower cost. The cost over conventional wood frame can be offset by up to 50% savings in energy costs and virtually no repair costs. Cost estimating is made very simple with the S.A.B.S. system because it only uses 2 materials (GFRC and EPS). In both cases the exact quantity of the material is derived from a 3D model used to engineer the structure. This means you will know exactly what you are going to spend on materials and know exactly how much material needs to be put up. Because S.A.B.S. is only a 2-part system and extremely easy to learn, in the very near future S.A.B.S. will be the most affordable way to build anything.

SABS is intriguing, but it looks labor intensive.

Not at all, the system is EPS Foam with an 1/4" GFRC skin on both sides. check out this photo showing a section at the Vegas IBS show last week

From Mis. Photos

Your kidding. Does this picture tell it all? These walls are just foam sandwiched between two layers of concrete (?), or whatever GFRC is? Incredible R value and they look like a snap to erect, but I can't wrap my old-school brain around such a wall for lasting integrity. How do these walls do when the earth wiggles, or high winds rock the countryside? If they work, the my hat's off to whoever thought of this. Maybe we will have a few trees left after all. j