I tried to use the search function on this topic, but it did not work. I want to use SIPS to build our new house. I have experience with Winter Panels on a timber frame home I built in the past. They made a very nice home. I have read about MGO SIPS. I like the fire retardant aspect, but don't really know the pluses and minuses. Any comments or references would be appreciated.

No current MGO SIP here in the USA have been tested by a 3rd party & approved. It's basically buyer beware at this point.

Thanks for the reply. I suspected that might be a problem as I could not any engineering data on the web.

MagWall has been tested by Intertek and aprooved

Posted By MagDaddy on 31 May 2013 03:33 PM
MagWall has been tested by Intertek and aprooved

Can you send a link to view the results?

Posted By Alton on 31 May 2013 10:22 PM

I would be interested in seeing MgO being used as skins for SIPs.  Might be a good way to get ahead of termites.  Might need a sign crane to lift the heavy panel into place.  I saw about a 12" square sample at a trade show and it was heavy.

One thing I read is that MgO is very difficult and messy to cut in the field.

A crane would be mandatory. An MgO SIP would be much heavier than an OSB SIP.

Posted By Alton on 31 May 2013 10:22 PM

I would be interested in seeing MgO being used as skins for SIPs.  Might be a good way to get ahead of termites.  Might need a sign crane to lift the heavy panel into place.  I saw about a 12" square sample at a trade show and it was heavy.

Alton,
about 200 lbs for a 4 x 8 panel, they are also limited in length , so you would need to stack them for taller walls

Thanks Chris.

Stacking short panels usually results in platform framing which I try to avoid.  I prefer balloon framing so that the wall insulates the edges of the floor.  Some SIP companies that make panels limited to a maximum lenth of 12', allow their panels to be used for tall balloon walls, but the panels have to be staggered so that the joints will not line up and create a hinge effect in a tall wall.  Staggering panels can result in a lot of cutting at the jobsite.  I prefer panels long enough that one panel will go from the base to the roof without any horizontal joints.  The only panels that I have seen and used that can do that have metal skins.  The panels are made in a continuous process as opposed to a batch process.  Tall panels usually require a sign crane or lift because of their weight and length.

We manufacture MGO SIPS panels at our factory in Miami Florida. We have tested our MGO SIPS wall panels and passed all Florida and Dade County Building Code requirements for product approvals. We can provide sufficient testing reports from Fenestration lab so that our wall panels can be used in most any market. We expect that our Florida Product approvals will be listed in the system within the next 90 days. Until such time, testing and our engineering reports can be used for building permit purposes. We are still working on an MGO roof panel but do not have approval for this yet. For more info innovaecobuildingsystem.com

Is innovaecobuildingsystem.com and InnoVida the same company?  If so, then what is the company financial status now?

Alton,
According to the states website www.sunbiz.org , it is a different entity and according to their most recent filing did not yet have a Fed Id #
just a caution:
applying for Florida Product approvals is one thing, some building officals in Florida will not accept the engineering without FL Product approval #s, it is their sole descretion
and the counties that follow Miami-Dade approval are much more restrictive , most will not accept anything anything less than Miami-Dade approvals, Florida Product Approvals are not sufficient.

Chris,

You may be right about it being a different entity but when I google InnoVida, I get Inovatec Systems Composite Construction Technology.  I like the concept but am curious about the company.  Maybe Innova will give us a definite answer.  Innova appears to be a new poster to GBT.

We manufacture MGO SIPS that is Dade County and Florida product tested. Please reference our website for more information about our magnesium oxide products at innovaecobuildingsystem.com

Innova Eco Building Systems is not the same company as InnoVida, nor does it have any common owners or any relationship at all with Innovida. The Innova Building System is a completely different system than the InnoVida buiding system was.

MGO is actually very easy to cut in the field, much easier than fiber cement board. You can get ride of the expensive Diablo fiber-cement saw blades and use a standard 30 tooth wood blade like you use to cut OSB. Unlike fiber-cement, MGO is manufactured in many thicknesses. We use 6mm MGO boards up to 14 mm MGO boards for our MGO SIPS skins.In addition, structural MGO board is allot heavier (higher density) than interior MGO boards.

Innova Eco Building System has had a Federal ID # since Janurary 2012. We also have a D&B file with a favorable credit rating and will be more than happy to share the information with any of our clients.

What is your STC (sound) rating compared to steel or OSB?

Our local newspaper here in South Florida reported that the assets of InnoVida (Claudio Osorio) were purchased from the Bankruptcy court by a Brazilian company that is now operating again in Florida under the name of Inovatec Systems out of Miramar Florida. If you search the name Claudio Osorio you will find out why Mr. Osorio is in Jail as a result of InnoVida and another company in Europe that he owned. InnoVida manufactured a fiberglass composite panel system similar to a boat hull which had thermal break issues in Haiti and many unhappy customers with moisture and condensation inside the buildings as a result. Innova Eco Building System CEO is Jerry Gillman, a graduate of Auburn University Building Science program, class of 83. Innova manufactures magnesium oxide SIPS panels which is a completely different system. Only the name has a similarity, nothing else! You will find Innova Eco Building System name in the Florida product approval system and we expect all of our submitted product approvals for Florida and Dade County to be listed on-line within the next 30 - 45 days. We have been able to pull permits in Florida and other states with our testing reports and have 16 homes right here in Dade County that will be submitted for building permits soon, we expect no difficulties. We will be posting a video of our passing Dade County Impact test for the MGO SIPS on our website within the next week. Check our media page if your interested in seeing the video of the test.

Posted By jonr on 31 Jul 2013 05:45 PM
What is your STC (sound) rating compared to steel or OSB?

It's most likely going to be like any other SIP (wood, steel, etc) and come in at around STC 26. It's not the outer skins that make a difference in the STC.


Funny thing is that Lowe's sells MgO SIPs already: GreenOX