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Structural Insulated Panels

Timber frames lend themselves extremely well to the use of SIP panels for roof and wall enclosures. SIPs can be used to create an exceptionally efficient building envelope. Together a timber frame and a panelized enclosure system can deliver outstanding energy efficiency.

The Building Envelope

The building envelope is comprised of the floor, roof, walls and windows. The choice of materials and building method has a profound effect on the performance of the envelope. The envelope an extremely important factor in the energy efficiency of a building and an essential part of any passive solar solution.

Structural Insulated Panels

Structural Insulated Panels or SIPs have been around for about 40 years and are used on about 60,000 structures per year. SIPs are high performance building panels that can be used for floors, roofs and walls. Think of a SIP as a sandwich with rigid insulated foam structurally laminated and pressure cured between two sheets of engineered wood or Oriented Strand Board (OSB). SIPs offer many advantages over conventional stick framing. When compared to conventional stick-frame construction, SIPS provide excellent insulation, accelerated construction, air-tight assembly, noise attenuation and superior structural strength.

Cost

SIPs cost more per unit of floor, wall or ceiling than conventional construction but the overall construction costs are often lower than conventional construction due to reduced labor and completeion time.

Reduced Energy Consumption

SIPs provide outstanding insulative qualities. It is not unusual for a 6'' panel wall to outperform a 6'' stud wall by 50-60%. In hot or cold climates, the energy savings from SIPs are notable and cumulative.

Reduced Construction Waste

SIPs can reduce construction waste. They arrive at your site pre-cut to the exact dimensions required, including window openings. Each panel contains the sheathing, insulation, moisture barrier and structural members required for the wall.

Interior Air Quality

SIPs create a very tight envelope. As with any tight structure, moisture control and well designed ventilation are critical. SIP construction can contribute to very good indoor air quality; the plastic insulating foams (expanded polystyrene or polyurethane/polyisocyanurate) are very chemically stable, and OSB is a low-emitting material. In an SIP house, good ventilation, the use of non-toxic finish materials and cleaning products have a greater impact on indoor air quality than emissions from SIPs. Source: Ecology Action

Impact on Forests

OSB is the most common sheathing and facing material in SIPs, reducing wood use by as much as 35% and reducing pressure on mature forests by allowing the use of smaller farm-grown trees for structural applications. The exterior grade plywood used in some products requires more mature timber.

Ozone Depletion

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) is the most common SIP core material. It requires less energy manufacture than other options, and is more recyclable than polyurethane or polyisocyanurate. The potential for emissions from burning polystyrene in the event of a fire is a concern, albeit minor, because most polystyrene SIP products are more fire resistant than conventional stick frames. Many products offer a 1 hour fire rating when installed with 5/8'' or thicker gypsum sheathing. EPS foam is expanded with pentane, which does not contribute to ozone depletion or global warming, and is often recaptured at the factory for reuse. Source: Ecology Action

Electrical Chases

Each SIP wall panel comes with an electrical chase pre-cut at 16'' and 45'' for outlets and switches. Other specific chases can be pre-cut based on your plans. Your electrician simply bores into the chase at the necessary locations instead of drilling through stud after stud.