NEXGEN Building Products, manufacturer of MAXTERRA high-performance magnesium oxide (MgO) cement panels, has achieved a major milestone by achieving a UL H531 two-hour fire-rated assembly in accordance with ASTM E119 / UL 263.
The assembly exceeded the two-hour threshold using a single layer of MAXTERRA MgO Non-Combustible Single Layer Structural Floor Panels, light-gauge cold-formed steel (CFS) framing, and a single layer of gypsum on the ceiling. It offers an alternative to heavier, more complex, and material-intensive floor/ceiling systems while maintaining code-compliance for multifamily, hospitality, assisted living, student housing, and commercial projects.
“By passing the UL test with this configuration, architects, specifiers, and builders now have a more efficient path to fire-rated assemblies,” said Eric Polzin, P.E., Chief Construction Science Officer at NEXGEN. “This is a big win for the industry and demonstrates how Type I and II construction requirements can be met with fewer materials, faster installation, and lower total assembly cost without sacrificing performance.”
Many alternative assemblies require multiple layers of gypsum on the ceiling, layers of underlayment on the floor, wet-applied gypsum toppings, heavier gauge steel trusses, and additional blocking to achieve a two-hour rating. By reducing layers, wet trades, material handling, and assembly weight, MAXTERRA helps project teams evaluate fire-rated performance through total installed cost rather than material cost alone.
NEXGEN partnered with AdvanT Steel on the tested assembly, underscoring the compatibility between MAXTERRA structural MgO panels and cold-formed steel framing systems.
“With these materials, you’re going from roughly 50 pounds per square foot down to 13 pounds per square foot for a floor and ceiling system. When you multiply that across three or four floors, you’re significantly minimizing project costs by eliminating the added weight, complexity, and labor associated with heavier assemblies,” said Tim Liescheidt, Managing Member at AdvanT Steel.
“In a category where too many products compete on price alone, we continue to invest in third-party testing because that’s what gives architects, specifiers, and builders real confidence,” said Scott Lidberg, CEO of NEXGEN. “MAXTERRA is already the most highly certified MgO cement panel in the market, and this new UL two-hour fire-rated assembly further strengthens that position. Claims don’t build buildings — tested, certified assemblies do.”
The UL H531 milestone adds to MAXTERRA’s growing portfolio of third-party certifications, including structural performance under ICC-ES ESR-5194, acoustical ratings under ICC-ES ESL-1645, and environmental transparency through a verified Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). NEXGEN continues to distinguish MAXTERRA through tested, documented, and code-recognized validation.
