This looks interesting, anyone have experience w/ this or see it at concrete show or IBS?  Seems like it has the thermal bridging issue covered w/ the steel stud/eps systems

http://gigacrete.com/wp-content/upl...11-ppt.pdf

Wonder how these stuccomax/ SABS-gfrc  type systems that use fiberglass mesh or fiber, stack up against the shotcrete panel systems that have wire mesh.

http://youtu.be/Axc5dsGcL94

" href="%3Ciframe%20width=%22420%22%20height=%22315%22%20src=%22http://www.youtube.com/embed/Axc5dsGcL94%22%20frameborder=%220%22%20allowfullscreen%3E%3C/iframe%3E">

Looks interesting, I too wonder how strong it is. Too bad the video is gone.

Couldn't find an alternate video.

Posted By ICFcoatings on 04 Mar 2012 08:20 AM
....All walls are super insulated, not just exterior walls; minimum R-30...

How are they getting a minimum of R30 from that?  The walls shown on that site are 6" thick EPS and appear to be 1# density foam based on the way the guy is holding a sheet of it with one hand.  The drawing in the brochure shows 1# density EPS (Type I) is used in the walls, which has an ASTM rated R value of 3.6 per inch @ 75F.  At 6 inches thick, this equates to R21.6 for the 6" of EPS foam.  This is completely ignoring the highly conductive metal studs in the EPS foam that appear to have a little over 1" of foam cover over each side.  Assuming those are standard 3-5/8" wide steel studs, 6" - 3.625" = 2.375" of total EPS covering at the studs.   2.375" EPS x R3.6/in = ~R8.5 at the metal studs.  Assuming a ~20% framing fraction of wall area, this would result in a whole wall R value of approximately R16.5; a little over half of the claimed R value.

http://barrett-inc.com/pdfs/GigaPanel-Homes.pdf

it is called "speaking evangelically"

Haven't heard much about SABS Saebi Building System lately. That one has no metal connectors. It's really something they claim the strength from two thin coats of GFRC? directly applied to eps with no metal mesh.

Slenzen,

It is my understanding from a person that wants to build in Hawaii that there is a good builder there that is using the SABS system.  So far, I understand that the homeowners that have new SAB homes in Hawaii are recommending SABS and encouraging their relatives to build with it.  I really like the system.  I think the secret is to use a qualified, honest builder.

Response to Arkie6. Thanks for pointing out some flaws in the slide show presentation which is now being corrected. Our minimum thickness "interior wall panels" are 6" and go higher as designed (showed being carried in the slide show). In warmer climes where R-Values are not even considered but speed and price are more important, the 6" walls are also used exterior which by the way is the house in the photos. It is the prototype to one we just shipped to Haiti and another going to South Africa. The climate, price or customer needs determine the exterior wall thicknesses and stud locations within those walls. You could have seen in the slide presentation that on a roof panel we move the studs and connectors to the inside which gives additional foam protection from thermal bridging and then we cover the inside surfaces with additional foam making the roof significantly thicker, from 8" to 12" of foam. We also use several densities of EPS yielding from R 3.85 minimum and 10psi to 4.35 per inch with 25psi. Not all information will ever be added to our website as there are intellectual properties to be considered (especially with a country on the other side of the Pacific)

Giga, can you address any thermal bridging issues w/ the metal studs inserted into the foam?

Yes, by creating additional foam before reaching the steel studs. There's plenty of evidence to support increased density or increased thermal values of foam ahead of the stud. If only someone will create a non steel code approved pultruded stud at the same cost.... steel is highly recycled, structural, code compliant but does transmit thermal energy unless it's buried enough where heat/cold does not really meet or escape from it.

What exactly did they patent? Polystyrene inner core done for 30 plus years. Fiber reinforced surface bond cement done for 30 pluse years. Used to build homes for 25 plus years. FEA analysis done for 20 plus years. All is in the public domain. What is proprietary? I have used all of the above for a long time as a Materials Engineer for this type of application.

Brian

CBS Composites in Florida was making fiberglass structural members such as 2x6's, etc.  I do not know if they are still in business but fiberglass with such a thin profile would not conduct that much energy.  There is another company that makes metal studs with some of the metal removed in the stem that claim their stud is more energy efficient.

Hi Brian, the connection system was patented in 2005

For the latest video of GigaPanel building system, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UdBK3GF_I0&feature=youtu.be

How much is the strength of the system in the metal framing vs. the coating? How does this system compare/contrast to the Saebi (SABS) system? thanks for your info.

We only count the steel studs and connectors which are 4x4's as structural components. We use 18ga steel at 24" centers but each connector is a double stud which means there are 2 additional studs every 4ft, and the corners and tee's each have three 4x4's well beyond code requirements. The coatings whilst having some structural value are nor even counted. The structural engineering is based solely on steel framed practices and calculations. In other words, it is a steel framed structure with rigid insulation. I cannot comment about the SABS system which I am sure must meet IBC codes.

I may be getting to the dance late, but has the GigaPanel been impact tested by an independent lab.

Posted By GigaCrete on 09 Mar 2012 02:58 PM
We only count the steel studs and connectors which are 4x4's as structural components. We use 18ga steel at 24" centers but each connector is a double stud which means there are 2 additional studs every 4ft, and the corners and tee's each have three 4x4's well beyond code requirements. The coatings whilst having some structural value are nor even counted. The structural engineering is based solely on steel framed practices and calculations. In other words, it is a steel framed structure with rigid insulation. I cannot comment about the SABS system which I am sure must meet IBC codes.

Thanks Giga.  Are the EPS panels produced in one location or can they be produced by a variety of eps providers?

With our permission the panels can be produced by other EPS providers. Shipping foam across country makes no sense.