Browse Forums Building A New House Re: EPS Cladding Metricon 2Jul 24, 2021 10:28 am Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: EPS Cladding Metricon 3Jul 24, 2021 10:30 am StructuralBIMGuy Thanks! Is it still safe for standalone double storey homes? Re: EPS Cladding Metricon 4Jul 24, 2021 10:36 am Well if it catches alight, you'll have plenty of time to get out of a 2S house Unlike the poor souls that died in Grenfell Towers Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: EPS Cladding Metricon 5Jul 24, 2021 12:16 pm Why would you use EPS for cladding those days? Also, do you have a guarantee that EPS brought in by your builder is safe and doesn't contain HBCD (cancerous agent they used as flame retardant, which resulted in ban of EPS cladding in Europe over 5 years ago)? I know they have found a replacement already, but only few brands like 3M can be trusted here. There is really not much of benefit over e.g. Hebel + quality insulation as they both need to be acrylic rendered. Re: EPS Cladding Metricon 6Jul 24, 2021 3:23 pm Deleted post Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Re: EPS Cladding Metricon 7Jul 24, 2021 4:58 pm alexp79 Why would you use EPS for cladding those days? Also, do you have a guarantee that EPS brought in by your builder is safe and doesn't contain HBCD (cancerous agent they used as flame retardant, which resulted in ban of EPS cladding in Europe over 5 years ago)? I know they have found a replacement already, but only few brands like 3M can be trusted here. There is really not much of benefit over e.g. Hebel + quality insulation as they both need to be acrylic rendered. We are first time building, and didn't know what EPS cladding is. 😒 Metricon rekons most of their clients have built with EPS and no issues so far. But, once we read about the ban on EPS, we are worried. Not sure what to do Re: EPS Cladding Metricon 8Feb 18, 2022 5:35 pm Sun_Playa alexp79 Why would you use EPS for cladding those days? Also, do you have a guarantee that EPS brought in by your builder is safe and doesn't contain HBCD (cancerous agent they used as flame retardant, which resulted in ban of EPS cladding in Europe over 5 years ago)? I know they have found a replacement already, but only few brands like 3M can be trusted here. There is really not much of benefit over e.g. Hebel + quality insulation as they both need to be acrylic rendered. We are first time building, and didn't know what EPS cladding is. 😒 Metricon rekons most of their clients have built with EPS and no issues so far. But, once we read about the ban on EPS, we are worried. Not sure what to do We also realised EPS cladding is being used in our plan. Did you manage to get it changed? Our PSM is not agreeing as it is a structural change and had to be done during Studio M Re: EPS Cladding Metricon 9Feb 18, 2022 7:52 pm In VIC, EPS is banned for any building greater than 2 storeys. As a result of that, they are mainly used by residential builders for second storey cladding. A small number of them are even using it for ground floor cladding. For second storey cladding, they can last between 7-10 years depending on the installation and quality of render. I don't personally recommend using EPS for ground floor cladding as it's not particularly impact resistant. If you throw a basketball on rendered EPS wall, there is a good chance it will either make a dent / crack. On top of that, it the EPS touches the ground, it will create all sorts of moisture issues. Swapping from EPS to other cladding types such as Hebel may require re-engineering as Hebel is much heavier compared to EPS. This could means more LVL, more structural steel, etc. Knowing Metricon normally uses waffle slab, the slab might also need to be looked at to ensure it can hold the extra weight. All of these adds up to a considerable cost. Re: EPS Cladding Metricon 10Feb 19, 2022 10:39 am JENA We also realised EPS cladding is being used in our plan. Did you manage to get it changed? Our PSM is not agreeing as it is a structural change and had to be done during Studio M Unfortunately most builders provide you with minimum information when you sign up and pay the initial deposit. Then comes the discovery period where you find out all is not as it appears, the 3D artistic rendering, bonus give aways and estimates are just a sales hooks... to lure you in (humour). Once you're in Variation Heaven HQ the costs just keep mounting and they lock you into a contract. Unfortunately the builder owns copyright of their Plans and associated Data, even if you knew the engineering changes, details, quantities , costs and you challenged them.....so what they don't care. They haven't done anything illegal... but it all started with the non regulated, highly paid, unethical salesman. so caveat emptor OT the only way you can challenge builders Contract documentation is to own your Drawings, engineering, Quants and costings. As soon as they start playing silly buggers with the variations walk out find another builder Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: EPS Cladding Metricon 11Feb 19, 2022 10:50 am JENA Sun_Playa alexp79 Why would you use EPS for cladding those days? Also, do you have a guarantee that EPS brought in by your builder is safe and doesn't contain HBCD (cancerous agent they used as flame retardant, which resulted in ban of EPS cladding in Europe over 5 years ago)? I know they have found a replacement already, but only few brands like 3M can be trusted here. There is really not much of benefit over e.g. Hebel + quality insulation as they both need to be acrylic rendered. We are first time building, and didn't know what EPS cladding is. 😒 Metricon rekons most of their clients have built with EPS and no issues so far. But, once we read about the ban on EPS, we are worried. Not sure what to do We also realised EPS cladding is being used in our plan. Did you manage to get it changed? Our PSM is not agreeing as it is a structural change and had to be done during Studio M Nope, didn’t get it changed. It was too late. In hindsight we should have gone with Hebel. But, from what i understand, 70% double storey houses have eps cladding in some shape or form. If you can change to Hebel do it. Re: EPS Cladding Metricon 12Feb 19, 2022 11:07 am Goodluck with the ever increasing fire home insurance premiums. Apartment owners are being gouged, you are probably next. 100% Hebel, concrete doesn't burn Cheers Chris Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: EPS Cladding Metricon 13Feb 22, 2022 7:48 pm StructuralBIMGuy Goodluck with the ever increasing fire home insurance premiums. Apartment owners are being gouged, you are probably next. 100% Hebel, concrete doesn't burn Cheers Chris Correct. I'm a broker and there aren't many insurers that will touch EPS for residential or commercial strata buildings. Only 1 that comes to mind, maybe one or two others if EPS% is small. EPS use should be limited to commercial cool rooms for refrigeration only, not for residential homes. I've watched a simulated controlled "house fire" made of EPS and it burns hot, fast and toxic. It's the modern day asbestos. Oh no! I would use a can of expandable foam ( there are some that will take render) then cut it back and render over the top 1 4148 Standard uninsulated double brick has an R value of around 0.7. An insulated standard 90mm stud timber frame can have an R value of around 2.7. Even if you insulate a… 17 12071 The spacing of the studs looks pretty large especially for a load bearing wall. 3 11123 |