Comments on: EcoRock: Sustainable Drywall will Rock your Green World

By: jrboyle

jrboyle — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:28:32 +0000

Is there another website I can go to to get more information on this new ecorock? I need enough information for a 20 min. presentation and can only find websites with one paragraph articles. Thank you for the help!

By: Digger

Digger — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 05:04:21 +0000

Inside sources say that problems with Ecorock continue. They still do not have a recipe that works and are urgently looking for alternatives. It is also confirmed that their current recipes contain fly ash. Their product is hazardous and Surace is not being truthful.

By: gwashtracker

gwashtracker — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 18:13:23 +0000

The Ecorock patents describe the use of phosphoric acid and acidic phosphates as raw materials.

Phosphoric acid and phosphates are manufactured by energy intensive and highly polluting industrial processes – they generate large amounts of toxic byproducts including hydrofluoric acid gas and radioactive phosphogypsum waste (http://www.fluoridealert.org/phosphate/overview.htm, and http://www.epa.gov/radiation/neshaps/subpartr/about.html)

Also, phosphates are essential for fertilizers and phosphate ore is a limited resource the reserves of which are projected to be depleted within the century and lead to shortages, especially in developing countries (http://www.fao.org/docrep/007/y5053e/y5053e00.HTM)

So, Ecorock uses phosphate – a product of a very energy-intensive and polluting industry? And Ecorock is going to compete with agriculture/food production for phosphate?

By: Merry Christmas! at architype

Merry Christmas! at architype — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 15:16:35 +0000

[...] wall is so easy to use and so versatile. Now there is a greener option for all your remodeling [...]

By: kevinsurace

kevinsurace — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:44:32 +0000

No toxins. No VOC’s. No outgassing. All 3rd party verified. No fly ash either.
And fire rated without the use of toxic chemicals.
No product is perfect, but we worked with customers for years to make sure we met as many of the needs as possible. And we have sold well over 1 million panels of our other products, so this is not the first high volume product we have brought to market.

Kevin Surace’
CEO
Serious Materials

By: rhubarb

rhubarb — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:45:17 +0000

Doesn’t anyone here question the wisdom of using toxic industrial waste products in our wall coverings? Fly ash has been used for some time in concrete, but at least in that situation it held in a rather durable and inert form. What happens when someone starts cuttings these drywall sheets, or demolishing a building with them. Has the mitigation of toxic dust and particals been considered. Taking the waste products out of coal fired smoke stacks and distributing into homes across the county is more green-washing than green-living.

By: LEMAK

LEMAK — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 14:59:13 +0000

Boys, if it will burn, take it out of the market at once, thank´s.
Jahn Makender

By: matt2beer

matt2beer — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 08:39:28 +0000

Maybe it can be combined with this:

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/newinventors/txt/s2423228.htm

I believe on the show they said something about improving the fire rating of a wall as well as almost sound proofing it. Entirely organic too.

p.s. there are heaps of other cool sustainably minded inventions on the new inventors website as well (hint hint inhabitat writers).

By: theokobox

theokobox — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:45:22 +0000

does it still contain the same old fire retardent chemicals though? Cause all those chems on regular drywall are toxic, and outgas for years, causing indoor air pollution that is especially bad for children & those with chronic illness. I didn’t see any info on this really being eco in that way.
Building materials not only need to be safe structurally, but also for our health – this is a problem that is being way too ignored, in order for industry to make money wihtout making a product that’s truely safe in every regard.

By: R2D2

R2D2 — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:01:20 +0000

Looks like a winner. I can’t wait for the day I can spec it.

By: Daniel Flahiff

Daniel Flahiff — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:19:16 +0000

Thanks Kevin!

By: kevinsurace

kevinsurace — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 13:19:15 +0000

Daniel,

Thank you for the article and everyone’s interest in EcoRock. EcoRock will be available in 2 thicknesses. 1/2″ non-fire rated and 5/8″ fire rated, just like the gypsum drywall it is replacing. Drywall used in homes is not fire rated typically, except for a few areas like garage isolation, and thus is 1/2″ non-fire rated, same as other drywall for homes.
Our 5/8″ EcoRock will meet ASTM E119 (that is what the code requires) for 1 hour when used on both sides of a wall. Unlike single family residential, most commercial projects require fire rated drywall, and it must meet ASTM E119. In addition, all of our other interior products (such as QuietRock soundproof drywall) have met ASTMN E119 for many years and also are UL certified and inspected. UL is a trusted name in fire protection that adds another level of security for our customers. It is our intent to offer EcoRock with the UL mark as well, when the 5/8″ product becomes available in 2009.
All of our interior products are distributed throughout North America through over 1000 wholesale drywall dealers. And EcoRock will be available through those same dealers…the same ones contractors buy from daily. EcoRock will first be available on the west coast, starting in early 2009 as the first plant is just coming online now.
We at Serious Materials are very excited…after years of hard work and real material science…we believe we will make a real dent in CO2 with this and our other products (ThermaProof super-insulating windows for instance).
Thank you all for your interest.

Kevin Surace
CEO
Serious Materials, Inc.
http://www.seriousmaterials.com

By: Daniel Flahiff

Daniel Flahiff — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 04:06:20 +0000

Good questions! Here is what EcoRock has to say re. fire ratings:
Physical Specifications, 1/2 & 5/8 Meets or exceeds ASTM C1396
Surface burning characteristics (per ASTM E 84) 1/2 & 5/8 Class A
Humidified deflection, inches, 1/2 & 5/8 < 1⁄8”
Fire Rating 1/2″ None, 5/8″ ASTM E119, 1 Hour (Type X)
{NOTE: Specified minimum values are as in applicable sections of
ASTM C 630, ASTM C 1177, ASTM C 1396 and ASTM C 1658 standards.}

more info. Google “EcoRock fire rating”

By: RobK

RobK — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 02:15:00 +0000

@ bpg131313 According to their product information it meets the ATSM standards for the regular wall board, and presumably the fire rating as well, if that is part of the ATSM standards for this sort of material.

By: thegreenhouseeffect

thegreenhouseeffect — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:27:13 +0000

Amazing! Where can we buy it!