Common Questions about SIPs
WHAT ARE SIPs?
SIPs is an acronym for Structural Insulated Panel. Joining high performance rigid polyurethane foam insulation to oriented strand board (OSB) produces these engineered wood building components. The result is a building product that is predictable, resource efficient and cost effective. SIPs are used as foundations, basement walls, floors, walls and roofs on all types of building across North America and are shipped around the world for use on the widest variety of buildings imaginable.
WHY ARE SIPs SO MUCH BETTER?
Structural insulated panels outperform other building methods in virtually every category because the insulation is a component of the system, rather than an afterthought thrown in when everything else is almost done. Even 4″ SIP walls have been proven to surpass 6″ frame walls in thermal efficiency.
WHY DO SIPs OUTPERFORM OTHER HOUSES?
SIP buildings are vastly more energy efficient, stronger, more quiet and draft free than older technology systems like stud framing with common fiberglass insulation. Rigid polyurethane insulation is used as a solid component in almost every industry for its inherent efficiency and lack of air movement. These attributes are built right in to the SIP building. Less air movement or leakage translates into less drafts, fewer penetrations for noise, lower energy bills and a significantly more comfortable and controllable indoor environment.
HOW ARE ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING INSTALLED?
There are “chases” that are built into the urethane foam cores of the SIPs that work like conduit. Electricians use a fish tape and feed the wires through panels without compressing insulation or drilling through studs. Plumbing is not usually placed in walls, especially exterior walls, but through the floor into the bottom of cabinet.
WHY ARE SIPs SO MUCH STRONGER?
SIPs are a structural composite, like an “I”–beam. The skins act like flanges and the rigid core is similar to the web. The three components work together, rather than against one another. Structural insulated panel assemblies yield stiffness, strength and predictable responses.
HOW DO SIPs REACT TO FIRE?
Fire requires three components, fuel, ignition and oxygen. SIPs have no “air” within their solid cores of insulation. The fire cannot “run up the wall” cavity even when balloon framed. SIPs have passed every standard fire test that is required of wood based or type V construction. A key element of fire safety is protection of the SIPs and any other underlying structure with thermal barriers like gypsum wallboard. Earthcore SIPs has combined a polyurethane foam core with a fire rated skin products which allow Earthcore customers to use SIPs for fire rated demising walls.
WHY ARE SIPs MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE?
Less job site waste means less landfill use.
Lower heating bills translates to lower energy (fossil fuel) consumption.
Use of fast growth harvested farm trees rather than old growth forest.
Up to 35% less raw timber use in SIP buildings.
Lower reported embodied energy cost.
HOW DO SIPs SAVE SO MUCH LABOR?
Easily recognized structural wall components are shipped to the site for assembly, rather than waiting for interpretation of blue prints. SIPs also come in much larger dimensional sizes than other building materials. An average frame crew can install 1½ time more SIPs wall square footage per day than traditional framing. Consequently the project protected from the weather sooner and other subcontractors can get a head start on the work that needs to be done.