Structural Insulated Panels Serve a Dual Purpose
Insulation, especially for residential construction, is a vital ingredient for a comfortable and functional building interior. Homes require good insulation for families in colder climates to survive harsh winters and warmer climates to be protected from seasonal storms. Structural Insulated Panels, or SIPs, help homes adapt to both of these elemental stresses. They also have unique construction benefits.
Structured Insulated Panels are panels made from structural boards surrounding foam insulation. They are extremely versatile, in that they serve a primary purpose, which is to insulate and block exterior airflow and drafts, and their specific design allows them to assist structural framing for joists and studs. This concept makes them feasible for roof, foundation, and floor applications.
Structural Insulated Panels
A better insulation means less unwanted interior air and fewer repairs. It also lends a hand to lower hydro costs, and creates a much better atmosphere inside. Because of the unique design of SIPs, they cut down on construction time for stick frame homes, and decrease labor construction costs. They can be pre-cut during manufacturing, eliminating even more building time. Expanded polystyrene foam (EPS), which is the foam insulation agent inside the SIP walls, is a non-toxic hydrocarbon, which will emit water vapor and carbon dioxide if burned. EPS foam is tested for its R-value (thermal resistance). The outer shell is most commonly strand board, although other materials like plywood and wheat fiber can be used.
Structural insulated panels serve not only to safely and effectively add insulation to a building’s foundation and interior frames, but also to efficiently improve construction methods, making builders’ jobs easier, becoming dual purpose.