FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New ICC-ES revision certifies 24-inch CFS joist spans and industry-leading diaphragm shear, giving builders a single non-combustible subfloor for wood or steel.
BRADENTON, Fla. (July 8, 2025) — NEXGEN Building Products, LLC, today announced that ICC-ES Evaluation Report ESR-5194 has been updated to include cold-formed steel (CFS) framing. Effective immediately, architects and engineers can specify MAXTERRA® magnesium-oxide structural floor panels for both wood and CFS joist systems with full compliance to the 2021, 2018, and 2015 International Building and Residential Codes.
“Steel developers have long asked for a non-combustible, single-layer subfloor that keeps schedules tight and removes wet trades,” said Ryan Miller, Vice President of Multifamily & Commercial Construction at NEXGEN. “The revised ESR is that green light: 24-inch spacing, robust diaphragm values, and no chemical fire retardants.”
The updated ESR empowers builders to Skip-the-Gyp, replacing gypsum toppings and fire-retardant plywood with one structural, non-combustible MAXTERRA panel. The result is fewer trades, no curing time, a lighter dead load, and full code compliance for a non-combustible subfloor.
“This revision is about speed, safety, and confidence,” added Scott Lidberg, CEO of NEXGEN. “Design teams can now dry-in a floor with one trade, meet the strictest fire codes, and document it all with a single ESR.”
MAXTERRA panels are already recognized for fire resistance, moisture durability, and simplified installation. By expanding ESR-5194 to cover CFS framing, NEXGEN strengthens its position as the most rigorously certified MgO manufacturer in North America.
Download the updated ESR-5194 and learn how MAXTERRA® streamlines steel construction at www.nexgenbp.com/resources.
NEXGEN Building Products is a leading innovator in high-performance magnesium-oxide (MgO) building materials. A safer, stronger, healthier way to build. The MAXTERRA® product line delivers superior fire, water, mold, and impact resistance while setting new standards for durability, sustainability, and transparency. Through relentless testing, third-party certification, and continuous innovation, NEXGEN is providing tomorrow’s building solutions today.