STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANELS
What Are Structural Insulated Panels
Structural Insulated Panels or SIP are strong, pre-manufactured, highly insulated and high performance building components.
They consist of an insulating foam core (expanded polystyrene foam (EPS), extruded polystyrene foam (XPS), polyisocuanurate (polyiso) or polyurethane foam) that is both safe and non-toxic and manufactured in a low-energy steam process, sandwiched between two engineered facings - sheet metal, plywood, cement board, oxide board or orientated strand board (OSB3). The panels have a unique cassette joint and are glued together during assembly to form an airtight unit. Structural insulated panels share the same structural properties as an I-beam and combine several components of conventional building including studs and joists, insulation, vapour barrier and air barrier. As they are structurally engineered there is no need for traditional steel or timber frames or brickwork.
Structural insulated panels provide an exceptionally strong building material that is light but extremely thermally efficient, resulting in a building that is very quiet, clean and healthy, as well as being environmentally friendly.
Structural Insulated Panels are
• Strong and structurally sound • Affordable • Highly energy efficient
• Longer life cycle than a conventional build • Environmentally sustainable • Rust and corrosion free
• Quick to install • Termite resistant • Cyclone resistant
• Exceed fire resistance standards • High R Values and low air leakage • More usable floor space
• Low maintenance • Fewer on site trades • Reduces on-site waste
• Residential, commercial, industrial • Reduces energy needs for heating & cooling
• Can be used on external and internal walls, flooring systems and roofs
• Some SIPs are pre-finished saving even more time and money
• Engineered and prepared off site reducing waste
• Comply with the Building Codes of Australia & the Australian Standards
• Can be engineered to produce architectural lines and curves.
Energy Efficient
Structural Insulated Panels address all three key factors of impacting insulation performance. All three elements must work to provide effective insulation to create an energy efficient building. Compared to a conventional build a Structural Insulated Panel house will require about half the energy to heat and cool through the year in most climates.
The Three Elements
1. Thermal Resistance:
Structural Insulated Panels range from R3 to R6. The higher the R-Value, the more thermally efficient the building, and the lower the cost to heat
or cool it. A conventional build has an R Value of around 2 to 2.5
2. Thermal Bridging:
A thermal bridge is where steel or timber is used in a wall or roof (ie. studs) creating an interruption to insulation. Structural Insulated Panels eliminate thermal bridging by ensuring a continuity of insulation, enhancing thermal reliability and energy efficiency.
3. Air-tight:
Structural Insulated Panels provide an air-tight envelope. When hot or cool air can escape or leak through external walls the building requires more energy to heat and cool. There is potential in a conventional build for air leakage through poorly sealed sockets, switches in walls exposed to cavities, floor zones through plastered masonry walls, under skirting boards, through down lights, extraction fans and poorly sealed doors and windows as well as thermal bridging with the use of conventional studs.The strength, integrity and technology of Structural Insulated Panels means no movement and cracking of the building, reducing maintenance costs and being more energy efficient. Further energy savings can be achieved with the use of smart appliances and lighting such as LED’s.
R-Value is the thermal resistance of a component calculated by dividing its thickness by its thermal conductivity. BCA Volume Two 2013 Part 3.12-3.12 Total R-Value is the sum of the R-Values of the individual component layers in a composite element including any building material, insulation material, airspace and associated surface resistance. BCA Part 3,12 Energy Efficiency Page 449
Environmentally Friendly
An increasing number of environmental experts around the world consider Structural Insulated Panels to be a green product. Structural Insulated Panels reduce wood waste and the thermal properties provide a long term investment in energy savings and conservation.
• The Orientated Strand Boards (OSB) are sourced from timber from routine thinning of managed plantations, traced to a certified, responsibly
managed forest through all stages of processing and production.
• The manufacturing process for SIPs consumes very little energy.
• Pre-cut panels result in less site wastage and landfill, reducing the building’s impact on the environment.
• Carbon footprint is reduced with excellent insulation and air-tight construction that reduces energy needs for heating and cooling.
A heat recovery ventilation system installed will produce filtered air giving further energy savings and an allergy free environment.
• The demand for fossil fuel consumption (gas, coal, oil) and the releasing of greenhouse gas emissions (such as carbon dioxide) into the atmosphere
are greatly reduced during the years a Structural Insulated Panel house is heated and cooled, resulting in a cleaner environment both inside and out.
• Structural Insulated Panels also conserve forest resources as they produce almost no waste.
• Research is being done on making Structural Insulated Panels even more environmentally friendly with foam being made from soy and other
organic agricultural products and orientated strand board being produced from products such as rice hulls or hemp.
Cost Effective
Comparing the costs of a conventional build to that of a Structural Insulated Panel build takes into account a lot of factors including the price and availability of labour, the site costs and design of the build.
The price of Structural Insulated Panels is bound to come down as more owners, builders, designers use them. The cost effectiveness of using Structural Insulated Panels is a long term investment where the energy savings, quality and technology, structural integrity, speed of construction
and labour savings will pay for the initial extra costs and offers significant savings over the life of the build.
Cost Benefits Using Structural Insulated Panels includes:
• The panels are engineered off site and delivered flat packed eliminating costly on site errors and transportation costs as well as less waste,
site rubbish and huge tip fees.
• Assembly with pre-cut panels is fast and efficient with less labour and trades required on site saving time and money.
• A fast build allows a quicker lock-up reducing exposure to theft, vandalism and the elements.
• Speed of completion means less cost in interim rent, interest or mortgage payments and/or earlier and improved cashflow.
• The strength, durability and lifespan of Structural Insulated Panels means no movement or cracking of the building reducing maintenance costs.
• Unmatched thermal efficiency reduces heating and cooling costs compared to a conventional build.
• Resilience to mould, mildew and condensation also reduces maintenance costs.
• Plumbing and electrical can be completed quickly and efficiently saving money.
• There is no need for steel or timber frames or brickwork.
• Some Structural Insulated Panels are pre-finished eliminating the need for gyprockers, bricklayers, painters, tilers, renderers and associated costs.
• Less maintenance due to the lifespan, strength and durability of the Structural Insulated Panels.
• Structural Insulated Panels limit condensation from external sources forming in the walls or roof eliminating mould and mildew and reducing
maintenance costs again.