Metal throughout a structure can contribute to electropollution (see Division 16). Placing a mesh of welded wire fabric within a concrete slab to help prevent cracking is common, but this practice can distribute unwanted voltage throughout the home. Several types of
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the modern applications of a magnesium oxide — based cement. According to a paper by Argonne (anl. gov, search for "Grancrete"), Grancrete is "a tough new ceramic material that is almost twice as strong as concrete [and] may be the key to providing high-quality, low-cost housing throughout developing nations."
The Bindan Company in Chicago (bindancorp. com) makes twelve different products with magnesium oxide. Their magnesium oxide/phosphate cements and concretes are some of the strongest ever tested.
A useful application of magnesium oxide is four — by eight-foot panels imported from China and known commercially as Strong-Enviro Board, Dragonboard, and MagBoard. These panels are commonly available in many standard US thicknesses from Vs to 3Л inch and can fully take the place of plywood, OSB, and drywall in virtually all construction applications. The fiber-reinforced sheets typically meet all UL, ASTM, and ICC requirements as replacements for conventional interior and exterior sheeting materials. They have a two — to four-hour fire rating, depending on the
thickness, are 100 percent nontoxic, and produce no toxic gases if they burn. More information can be obtained from the manufacturers’ websites, strongenviroboard. com, dragonboard. com, and mag-board. com.
George Swanson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial design from Western Washington University (1975) and is a graduate of the International Institute of Bau-Biologie & Ecology (1992). His firm, Swanson Associates, specializes in the design of healthy and ecological structures using a variety of alternative wail systems. He is currently involved in product development in China and in the importing, distributing, and application of magnesium oxide-based building materials. See geoswan. com.
approved nonmetallic reinforcing fibers are now readily available to do the same job with very little or no increase in cost. Check with local code officials to determine acceptability in your jurisdiction. If wire mesh reinforcing is being excluded, you should add the following specification:
• Slab reinforcing shall be Уг" fiberglass or
polypropylene fibers as manufactured by
Fibermesh 650 or Novomesh or equal.
