Structural Insulating Panels

What are structural insulation panels?

Structural insulation panel (SIP) is a building material that consists of two outer skins enclosing a core of insulating material. The most common outer facing skins used are plywood or oriented strand board (OSB). OSB is commonly used as a facing material, as it is available in large sizes varying from 12 feet to 36 feet. The common materials used for insulation in the core are expanded polystyrene and extruded polystyrene. Another alternative is to use isocyanurate foam.

How structural insulation panels are made:

These panels are made by pressure laminating both the skins and the core of the insulating material together. The composite that is formed in the process is stronger than the individual components that go into making the panel. In terms of structure, the SIP has similar properties to an I-beam or an I-column. The core of the SIP, which is made of foam, acts as a web and the facings acts like the flange of an I-beam. These panels have a high R-value and have high strength-to-weight ratios.

The average thickness of a SIP ranges between 4 ½ inches and 12 ¼ inches. The size of the board ranges from 4ft by 8ft to 9ft by 28 ft. Care should be taken when manufacturing SIPs. The panels need to be pressed, glued, and cured in the right manner to ensure that they have a long life and do not delaminate. It is essential that the panels have smooth surfaces and edges to prevent gaps from occurring. SIP structures should also be equipped with an efficient mechanical ventilation system. This can avert indoor moisture problems and can help ensure that the SIP material achieves its energy-saving purpose.

Why are structural panels used?

The use of SIPs can do away with a number of traditional building components such as studs, joists, vapor barriers, and air barriers. Building a home with SIPs can result in a home that has a tighter building envelope. Due to the insulating material core, the walls of this house will have a higher insulation value. This means fewer drafts entering the house and lower costs for regulating the internal temperature of the house.

The advantage of using a SIP panel:

The advantage of using SIPs for constructing a house is that it is faster to build a house using these panels as compared to other traditional modes of building. There are even panelized housing kits available that let a builder just assemble the house and cut gaps for doors and windows using normal tools.

SIPs are considered to be fire resistant. As the enclosure is insulated well, fire usually burns up the remaining oxygen in the room and dies out. These panels are also found to resist very high temperatures. SIPs with fire retardant materials will help protect the structure even more. Being a good insulator, homes built with SIPs are quiet environments to live in.

How a SIP saves energy:

Building a home with SIP can conserve energy in a number of ways. To begin with, a SIP-built home has a smaller HVAC system. A smaller HVAC requires a smaller duct system. This leads to saving on expenses for installing the ducts. The insulating nature of SIP ensures that the interior environment of the house is easier to control. SIPs can reduce the energy spent on heating to around 50% to 75%.