Technical Information

1. General

Acsys panels are pre-insulated structural steel core wall panels that can be easily installed on any building and provide the structural load-carrying capacity of the wall and act as a substrate for the attachment of a variety of interior and exterior finishes and coverings.

2. Panel Design

2.1 The patented panel system utilizes a 20-gauge, galvanized, corrugated structural core with welded top and bottom 18 gauge galvanized steel stud. The steel core is embedded in expanded polystyrene (EPS) using a specialized molding process. The strength of the panel can be increased by incorporating one or more structural elements in the core prior to molding. The product is supplied with the mounting track, fasteners, and corner connectors.

2.2 Finished panels are produced in two 4-foot widths up to 18 feet in length. Custom-width panels can be produced if required to match building design requirements. Panels are available in 6-in, 8-in, 10-in, or 12-in thickness.

2.3 Many standard exterior finishing materials can be used with Acsys wall panels as attachments secured by fasteners to the steel core. Acsys wall panels are "stucco ready," reducing the application cost of acrylic stucco systems such as Senergy* finish system. Interior finishing is accomplished using gypsum wallboard or other thermal barrier as required by applicable building code for foam plastic insulation. The EPS contains a flame retardant additive; however, it should be considered combustible and covered with a code-approved thermal barrier. Application of finishes is subject to the manufacturers' recommended installation procedures.

3. Technical Data

3.1 Physical Properties

Structural capacity

Acsys wall panels are designed and tested in accordance with AISI Specification for Design of Cold-Formed Members.
Click here to review the Load Tables

3.2 Fire Testing

Assemblies with Acsys wall panels have successfully passed the following tests:

• UL 263/ASTM E199 Fire Tests of Building Construction Materials for One and Two Hour Durations (UL No. U653).
• UBC 26-3 Room Corner Test for Interior of Foam Plastics.
• UBC 26-9 Flame Spread Using Intermediate Scale Multistory Apparatus.

3.3 Water Vapor Performance

ASTM E96-Standard Test for Water Vapor Transmission. Test resulted in an estimated presence of 0.2227 grains/hour ft² in. Hg for a 6" panel.

3.4 Sound Transmission

ASTEM E90 Airborne Sound Transmission Loss (STC). Test resulted in STC 33 for 6" panel with ½ gypsum wall board on one side.

Reports outlining the necessary construction details for test compliance are available upon request.

4. Panel Application

4.1 General

The Manufacturer's Installation Manual contains detailed installation procedures. The panels are connected together using #12-¼" offset thread galvanized hex head self drilling fastener nominally 1" on center at panel to structural connections. The panel shiplaps are connected together using #14 x¾" galvanized self-drilling hex-head fasteners. The fastener spacing is 2 ft. on center along the panel laps.

4.2 Thermal Barriers

All interior surfaces must be finished with a minimum 15 minute thermal barrier, such as ½" drywall wood paneling, or approved acrylic stucco systems. Consult local codes for special buildings with automatic sprinklers, or designs not requiting thermal barriers.

4.3 Vapor Retarder

Expanded polystyrene Acsys wall panel material has been tested in accordance with ASTM E96-Standard Test for Water Vapor Transmission. In most applications an added vapor retarder is not required.

4.4 Mold Resistant Design

The lack of a cavity in Acsys wall panels significantly reduces the chance of mold growing within the panels.