FischerSips floors or flooring materials

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. No one hurt

   Made Feb 2, 2024 · , sent to the company Feb 28, 2024 · , published by CPSC Mar 13, 2024

   The product, in the report: OSB on both side and EPF inside 7/16-thickness Structural Insulated Floor Panels SIP Structural Insulated Floor Panels, “sandwich” with first layer OSB 7/16 inches, EPS (Foam) 9 ¼ inches, OSB 7/16 inches.

   On May 24, 2013, Consumer paid Fischersips Manufacturer to draft a set of Architectural Drawings and SIP Design drawings (including installation specifications and details). Attached proof under email files. On 06/21/2013, the consumer purchased a RTA (ready to assemble) SIP panels (Structural Insulated Panels) to build an Energy Efficient and Eco-Friendly House including roof, wall and floor panels from Fischersips Manufacturer. Proof attached under contract In September 2013, Fischersips Manufacturer delivered SIP panels to construction site at: [REDACTED] In October 2013, Fischersips SIP panel house construction began. The project ran for four weeks and panel installation (roof, wall and floor) was completed on November 2013. At the completion of House construction, every single floor panel warped at the edge, in some areas the swollen floor panels exceeded 1inch (and SIP OSB thickness is 7/16 inch). Video is here: [REDACTED] Originally this video was posted in November 2013. (Fischersips Manufacturer asked me to remove this video in return to repair the SIP warped floor issue. After rot discovery, the video was posted again in December 2023). In November 2013, the consumer reached out for help with warped floors issue directly to the Manufacturer and supplier of SIP, Fischersips Owner and Director, Mr. [REDACTED] In February 2014, Fischersips Manufacturer Owner and Director, Mr. [REDACTED], came to (still ongoing) construction site at [REDACTED] to evaluate the warped floor, damage extend and propose a solution for repair. Mr. [REDACTED] advised a repair (not demolition) for warped SIP floor panels as follows: “First, he claimed that it is common issue for SIP panel to warp during construction and it can be easily repaired by sanding off SIP panels’ swollen edges and cover up those floor panels with the layer of 3/4 inch Advantech. Fischersips Manufacturer hired a local handy man for 500$ to sand off SIP floor panels (in order to level the floor system throughout the entire house). Due to excessive swollen edges, some SIP floor panels were sanded all the way to the foam (EPS which is between OSBs). Advantech was installed incorrectly violating building codes and requirements: like a carpet on top, bypassing weight bearing walls. According to the building scientist, sanding off SIP floor swollen panels (in some areas to the foam) Fischersips Manufacturer damaged further structural integrity of the SIP floor panels and its physical properties. In addition, by covering warped SIP panels with the Advantech, Manufacturer trapped moisture in the SIP floor panels with no escape (due to physical properties and density of the SIP foam (EPS), which lead to extensive SIP floor panels damage through rot overtime. Proof attached Consumer also asked Mr. [REDACTED] if anything needs to be done to the SIP floor panels underneath (in the crawlspace) to which he advised that nothing else needs to be done, and SIP floor panels should treated the same way as any other floor system such as joists and beams floor systems. Taking his advice into consideration, consumer placed plastic vapor barrier, humidifier and closed vents of the crawlspace. Proof attached under emails file In 2017, consumer learned from Internet recourses that SIP floor panels that are exposed to the open such as crawlspace require hydro insulation. Consumer painted the bottom of the floor panels in the crawlspace to protect from possible moisture exposure (not knowing that those panels were beyond repair before those panels even left the Manufacturer’s facility. In September 2022, consumer discovered that SIP floor panels started showing rot in some areas in the crawlspace. Consumer tried to repair to his best abilities by reinforcing SIP wood spine in some areas. In October, 2023, Consumer was told that there is a possibility of mold in the house due to certain labs conducted to her child by the doctor. In the same month, consumer conducted home mold testing in AC with discovery of mold presence in AC air ducts. Proof attached, pictures In November 2023, consumer decided to invest into the house and replace old linoleum floors. Some were replaced in the Dome structure of the house that is traditionally build (stick and frame) but this dome structure is also attached to the SIP envelop of the house. Once some old floors in the Dome area were exposed to the floor joists, consumer discovered the interior and exterior rot of the SIP floor panels of the house. Consumer tried to evaluate other rotten interior and exterior SIP floor panel areas with more shocking discoveries of rot and additional mold on SIP panels underneath. Proof attached On December 3, 2023, Consumer contacted and informed Fischersips Manufacture about SIP floor panel rot discovery. In January 2024, Consumer contacted FIschersips Manufacturer for their product warranty. Consumer found out that Fischersips Manufacturer does not provide a limited life time warranty for their SIP panels with exception for “Lifetime warranty for Delamination of SIPs”. In January, Fischersips Manufacturer also informed the consumer that they filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 on October 2013, the same year they sold consumer their SIP defective floor panels (in June 2013). In addition, [REDACTED] told consumer that he is no longer responsible, liable for his defective product as well as free of any claims that will come his way due to his Chapter 11 protection in place. Proof attached On February 1, 2024, Consumer reached again to the Fischersips Manufacturer and tried to negotiate and get settled for 2 million dollars to bypass litigations and to demolish collapsing house, rebuild new one, moving and renting expenses during construction as well as health damages (four members of consumer are suffering health issues due to the defective SIP floor panels: migraines, sensory processing disorder, difficulty breathing, nose bleed and mental health: every family member suffers severe depression and anxiety). Fischersips Manufacture refused to cooperate. (let me know if you need this letter) On February 5, 2024, Mold Inspection Company came to evaluate the house air quality and mold. Results are in process. Consumer ordered specifically designed medical lab tests designed to identify mold presence and its toxicity in the human body. All four residents of the SIP rotten house will be tested to confirm health damages due to defective SIP panels all together. Results are in process. On February 11, 2024, Consumer reached out to Fischersips Manufacture once again to request third party evaluation reports for their SIP panels from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2019. Results are in process. On February 16, 2024 Consumer invited a building science expert to come on site to evaluate house damage and it can be repaired. Results are in process. NOTE: Consumer started researching the possible problems with the SIP panels and reasons for rot. Three York county building inspectors were on site and were not able to identify the SIP floor panel rot. In addition, the consumer discovered that the Fischersips Manufacturer: 1. Does not keep and store their SIP panels properly: panels are not wrapped in manufacturer’s site and are exposed to UV light and moisture before panels even get delivered to the consumers. Proof attached 2. Fischersips Manufacturer conducted evaluation report in recent years with ISS-ES Lab and their product is approved only for the use on roofs and walls but not floors. Proof attached 3. According to consumer’s research, the only difference between Fischersips SIP panels (roof, wall, and floor) is the thickness of the foam (EPS) that is glued on each side with 7/16 inch OSB, see video here: [REDACTED]

   4. According to the building science expert, the Builder and Fischersips Manufacturer are responsible and liable for the SIP floor panel rot because SIP floor panels are hardly ever used in house floor systems. (let me know if you need audio recording available) 5. Fischersips Manufacturer is no longer sells their SIP floor panels. (https://fischersips.com/ under PRODUCTS tab)

   Consumer is concerned about other potential victims to be identified later on all over the United States who possibly purchased Fischersips floor panels sometime between 1987 (Fischersips began operations) to 2013 (Fischersips filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy). Potential victims of Fischersips SIP defective floor panels can be identified only through nationwide product recall. Consumer suspects that Fischersips (knowingly or unknowingly) sold their defective SIP floor panels that are not even rated in building construction to be used in floor systems. Consumer’s SIPs house is on the verge of collapse due to SIP floor system extensive rot with very little support. In addition, SIP walls and 10 tons SIP Roof are resting on rotten SIP floor panels. The SIP house by Fischersips is under ten years old officially, SIP panels installed in November 2013, Final Occupancy Inspection was issued on March 2015. Consumer intends to engage in litigations and hold Fischersips Manufacturer legally responsible for loss of entire property, property investments and (possibly irreversible health damages). Consumer is not aware of how long the family of four has been exposed to mold. In addition, every family member suffers from depression and anxiety due to the total loss of life time investment and possibility of homelessness. Consumer and her family suffers total loss of property and distraction. The SIP house was recently reassessed by the York County at $275.000.00 Incident Date: September 2022 (SIP floor panel exterior rot discovered) November 2023 (SIP floor panel interior rot discovered)

   Age when Incident occurred Official discovery of mold – October 2023 (but can be ongoing for years) Mental health damages – November 2023 and ongoing.

   Product Details: SIP Structural Insulated Floor Panels, “sandwich” with first layer OSB 7/16 inches, EPS (Foam) 9 ¼ inches, OSB 7/16 inches.

   Bought from

   FischerSips

   Bought

   Jun 21, 2013

   Where

   Williamsburg, Virginia: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Age 73, Male

   The reporter’s relation to them

   My Parent

   As this report names them

   Brand FischerSips, made or sold by FischerSips

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources