Structural insulated panels (SIPs) are a wall, roof and floor system. Most SIPs consist of two oriented strand board faces, sandwiching a foam core, although there are also SIPs with metal mesh faces or with a structural metal core in the middle of a foam panel. Many SIPs use expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam insulation, although some companies use a polyisocyanurate foam, and at least one company has manufactured panels with cores of straw. In the best-known systems, with OSB faces, adhesive bonds the OSB to the foam. This strong bond creates a structural panel.
SIPs have been tested and used for decades. Today they are applied across the United States in residential, commercial, and institutional construction.
In walls, individual SIPs may join with a dimensional lumber spline, or in some configurations, the shiplap panels are connected with smaller OSB splines. This allows an uninterrupted layer of foam insulation to extend through the wall, contributing to both thermal performance and sound attenuation.
Often SIPs are precut for the sizes, shapes, and door and window openings required for a specific job. Using precut panels can speed assembly of walls at the job site, particularly if the building crew is familiar with the use of SIPs. SIPs are more expensive than conventional wood framed walls, but may allow labor savings, and provide good thermal performance that should reduce the operating cost of the building throughout its lifetime.
Some SIP manufacturers are able to recycle waste materials from door and window cutouts in the manufacture of new panels. With precut panels used at the construction site, very little job-site waste is created.
Bottom line:
Structural insulated panels tend to reduce material use in walls, since the structure, insulation and sheathing are contained in one efficient product. They can provide a climate appropriate structure because panels are available in different thicknesses of foam, suited to even extreme climates, and because the continuous insulation layer reduces thermal bridging through the wall, improving overall R-value.
Return to general information on Wall Systems
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|||