Frequently Asked Questions
What are SIPs?
Structural insulated panels (SIPs) are high-performance building panels used in floors, walls, and roofs for residential and light commercial buildings. The panels are made by sandwiching a core of rigid foam plastic insulation between two structural facings, such as oriented strand board (OSB). Other skin materials can be used for specific purposes. SIPs are manufactured under factory controlled conditions and can be custom designed for each project. The result is a building system that is extremely strong, energy-efficient and cost effective. Building with SIPs will save you time, money and labor.
How much faster can I build with SIPs?
SIP homes go up much faster than traditionally framed buildings. A properly trained SIP installation crew can cut framing time by 55 percent compared to conventional wood framing, according to a third-party study conducted by R.S. Means. Panels are manufactured as big as 8-foot by 24-foot, so entire wall and roof sections can be put up quickly, reducing dry-in time. SIPs are ready to install when they arrive at the jobsite, eliminating the time needed to perform the individual jobsite operations of framing, insulating and sheathing stick framed walls. Electrical chases are typically provided in the core of panels, so there is no need to drill through studs for wiring.
How much money can I save with SIPs?
Builders can save money through decreased construction and labor costs. A high-performance building envelope often allows HVAC equipment to be downsized and ductwork to be minimized. Builders can also significantly reduce jobsite waste disposal and temporary heat during construction. Homeowners that incorporate other energy-efficient features into a SIP home can see utility savings of 50 percent or more.
How sustainable are SIPs?
Structural insulated panels are one of the most environmentally responsible building systems available. A SIP building envelope provides continuous insulation, is extremely airtight, allows for better control over indoor air quality, reduces construction waste, and helps save natural resources. Life cycle analysis has shown that SIP homes have a tremendous positive environmental impact by reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions throughout the home’s life cycle. SIP designs can save 45% more CO2 with a 5.1 year energy payback and a 3.8 year greenhouse gas payback compared to stick framing examples.
How strong are SIPs?
The structural characteristics of SIPs are similar to that of a steel I-beam. The OSB facers act as the flange of the I-beam, while the rigid foam core provides the web. This design gives SIPs an advantage when handling in-plane compressive loads. SIPs are used for high wind designs in excess of 180 mph and are approved for Florida's strict High Velocity Hurricane Zones (HVHZ). The load-bearing area of SIPs is equivalent to building with 2 x 10 framing at 16 inches on center.
How do I properly size HVAC equipment?
A high-performance SIP building enclosure often allows smaller HVAC equipment to be specified. It is important to work with a qualified HVAC professional that can accurately estimate the low levels of air infiltration in a SIP home or commercial building. Proper HVAC sizing is crucial because an oversized HVAC system will fail to reach the steady operating rate the equipment was designed for. Short cycling HVAC equipment will be less energy-efficient and require more maintenance than properly sized HVAC equipment.
How important is ventilation?
SIP buildings are extremely airtight with air leakage rates well less than 3 air changes per hour at 50 Pascals of pressure (3.0 ACH50) and require mechanical ventilation. Ventilation systems bring fresh air into the building in controlled amounts and exhaust moisture laden and stale air to the outside. By limiting air exchange to controlled ventilation systems, SIP homes allow for all incoming air to be filtered for allergens and dehumidified, creating better indoor air quality. Proper ventilation is important in all homes to preserve indoor air quality.
How do SIPs improve indoor air quality?
The airtightness of the SIP building envelope prevents air from gaining access to the interior of the home except in controlled amounts. A controlled indoor environment is both healthy and comfortable. Humidity can be controlled more easily in a SIP home, resulting in a home that is more comfortable for occupants and less prone to mold growth and dust mites.
How do SIPs react to fire?
Like all wood frame buildings, SIPs present a manageable fire risk when their construction meets the fire precautions listed in the building code. Residential codes typically require the application of a 15-minute fire-resistant thermal barrier on the interior for all residential structures, accomplished by applying 1/2-in. thick gypsum board or a material of equivalent thermal performance.
Light commercial or multi-use buildings of Type V Fire Rated construction often require a one-hour fire rating and/or sprinkler systems. Many SIP manufacturers can provide tested assemblies for both walls and roofs that meet the one-hour fire resistance tests outlined in ASTM E 119. Check with your local manufacturer for specific assemblies.
Are SIPs compatible with other building systems?
SIPs are compatible with almost any building system. Wall panels can sit on a variety of foundation materials, including poured concrete, blocks, or insulated concrete forms. SIPs are sized to accept dimensional lumber and are seamlessly compatible with stick framing. Builders may choose to build with SIP walls and a conventional truss roof or with stick walls and a SIP roof with little difficulty. SIPs are also popular as a method of providing a well-insulated building enclosure for timber frame and steel structures.
What considerations do you need to take into account when building with SIPs vs. conventional framing?
The majority of construction with SIPs is very similar to conventional framing. SIPs accept dimensional lumber and are fastened together using staples, nails or screws. Proper sealing is very important when assembling SIPs. All joints need to be sealed with specially designed SIP sealant or expanding foam sealant, and in some cases self-adhesive SIP tape. SIPs also require consideration of how panels will be staged and placed on the jobsite. Although smaller 8- by 4-foot panels can be set by hand, larger 8- by 24-foot panels require the use of equipment to unload and set.
Can SIPs be modified onsite?
Onsite modification can easily be done using a few additional SIP specific tools. Oversized panels can be cut using a beam saw or a beam cutting attachment to a circular saw. The foam core can then be recessed for splines or dimensional lumber using a hot wire foam scoop or specialized angle grinder attachment.
How are electrical wiring and fixtures installed?
Electrical wires are pulled through pre-cut channels inside the core of the panels called “chases.” Chases are added during the manufacturing process according to the electrical design of the home. Electricians can feed wires through panel chases without compressing the insulation or drilling through studs.
Are SIPs susceptible to insects?
Although termites do not feed on the foam panel cores, there have been instances where panel cores have been hollowed out by these insects and used as a nesting ground. To prevent this, many manufacturers offer SIPs with borate-treated foam and/or OSB. Termites may also be deterred through the use of a specially designed steel mesh at the foundation connection. Both these treatments are highly effective, but they are not a substitute for careful termite prevention and maintenance, as with any other wood structure.
Can SIPs be replaced or repaired if damaged?
If panels are damaged, a structural engineer needs to assess the damage to determine what is cosmetic and what is structural. If the damage is only cosmetic, then the source of moisture must be determined and fixed, whether it is from inside or outside. If the damage is structural, then the source of the problem must be identified and a structural solution to the problem must be found. That can be done by either a site modification of the panels or replacement of the panels, depending on the extent of the damage. In the event that panels are damaged, the manufacturer and installer of the panels should be notified. There are SIPA members who can act as consultants to assess the damage and recommend repair or replacement strategies.
Does a building with a SIP roof need to be ventilated?
The area inside a SIP building envelope is considered conditioned space and will be ventilated by the building’s HVAC system. There is no need to provide a vented attic beneath a SIP roof, and doing so would compromise the conditioned space of the building.
Some building science experts recommend venting the roof by providing an air space between the SIP roof panels and the roofing material (known as a “cold roof”). This best practice is not a requirement for SIP buildings, but it is a sensible extra measure to improve the durability and moisture resistance of the building.
How are SIPs supported? Are there studs in the panels?
For most applications, SIPs are structurally self-sufficient. The structural characteristics of SIPs are similar to that of a steel I-beam. The OSB facers act as the flange of the I-beam, while the rigid foam core provides the web. This design is extremely strong and eliminates the need for additional framing.
In cases where a point load from a beam or header requires additional support, a double dimensional lumber spline or engineered wood spline is field-installed at in-plane panel connections.
SIPs are also used as curtain walls for steel frame or timber frame structures. In large commercial applications SIPs can minimize the amount of structural support needed and reduce material costs.
In roof applications, SIPs rely on beams and purlins for support. SIPs can span long distances, allowing a minimal amount of structural supports to be used. Embedding I-joists into the SIP roofs can also easily increase roof spans and loads.
Do SIPs block sound transmission?
The sound resistance of a SIP wall depends on the thickness of the gypsum drywall applied, the exterior finish applied, and the thickness of the insulating foam core that is used. SIPs are especially effective at blocking high frequency noise, and most homeowners notice the quiet comfort of a SIP home. However, low frequency sounds are not as effectively stopped by a SIP building envelope.
For multifamily and commercial buildings, a universal sound transmission coefficient (STC) is used to specify the sound resistance of wall assemblies. Assemblies with a range of STC ratings are available, including options with a STC rating greater than 50 for party walls in multifamily buildings. SIP manufacturers can provide more information on these assemblies.
Are vapor barriers required in SIP buildings?
Air barriers or vapor barriers are not required in SIP buildings because properly sealed SIPs create a code compliant air barrier with a permeability rating of less than 1.0 perm. In addition, the foam core of SIPs is solid and continuous throughout the wall, eliminating the convection and condensation issues that can occur in cavity walls.
This should not be confused with the requirement for external water-resistant barriers that protect all external wood structures from bulk water.
Can plumbing be installed in SIPs?
Plumbing should not be located in exterior SIP walls because of the possibility of condensation or supply lines freezing in cold climates. During the design phase of the project, all plumbing should be relocated to interior walls.
If plumbing must be located on an exterior wall, it is recommended that a surface chase be installed on the interior of the wall to conceal plumbing. Another option is to construct a small section of the wall using conventional wood framing that can be used to run plumbing. Plumbing penetrations such as drain water vents (DWV) can be placed through SIPs if they are thoroughly sealed to prevent air infiltration.
Are SIPs susceptible to mold and mildew?
A water and airtight SIP building envelope forms the basis of a successful mold control strategy. The extremely low levels of air infiltration in SIP buildings allow for incoming air to be provided in controlled amounts by air handling equipment. Proper dehumidification of incoming air following ASHRAE standards will create an environment where mold physically cannot grow.
In addition to creating an airtight structure, SIPs are solid and free of any cavities in the wall where moisture can condense and cause unseen mold growth.