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Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)

Background

During my 22 year career in building custom homes in the Midwest, we were always looking for new technologies to build a better product. A few years back, we were introduced to Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs). We loved the product so much that we started a business in San Diego designing, fabricating, and installing this new framing system. We had discovered properly detailed designs for SIP construction can create economies of scale that make SIPs cost neutral in comparison to conventional light frame practices and real dollar savers over the life of a home. Below are a few other reasons to frame with SIPs.

Everyone loves Straight walls and Low Energy Bills

SIPs are more uniform in composition than conventionally – framed walls, so houses built with this technology can be made more air tight, energy efficient, and comfortable with fewer labor hours and trades involved in system integration. And because SIPs can provide a tighter building envelope with a nearly-continuous thermal barrier, customers spend up to 50% less to heat and cool their homes. Think of it this way. An 8 foot by 24 foot wall conventionally framed wall section has 19 studs and 72 feet of linear plates. A lot of that wall is wood not insulation. A comparable SIPs panel, with wood on the edges only, reduces by 71% the area where wood displaces insulation in a conventional wall. This means that whole wall thermal resistance is much higher in a wall built of SIPs.

SIPs are Strong Structurally Engineered High Performance Walls

The two OSB skins, stiffened by the adhered foam between them, can outperform a conventionally built wall of similar dimension and we have the data to prove it. The SIPs that we use have an ICC-ES Legacy Report complete with test results and characteristics of the product.

Greener Walls

It always bothered us (and still does) how much waste goes into a dumpster when framing a house. Environmentally responsive SIPS produce 30% less waste than traditional construction, reducing operating costs and conserving natural resources.
The EPS foam that makes up the insulation core of the panel is dimensionally stable and inert – there is no off gassing. In addition, EPS material emits no ozone –depleting chemicals during the manufacturing process.
Many Energy efficient SIPs buildings have achieved LEED Platinum (highest level) status. LEED is the yardstick used by the US Green Building Council to measure the environmental impact of buildings.

Termite Resistant

Our panels have been treated with an insecticide protecting against destructive termites.

Fire Resistant

The panels that we use have had extensive fire testing and carry the mark of Underwriters Laboratory Inc. The panels also have documented performance having been subjected to test standards of ASTM – E 119, E-84, and UBC 26-3. Higher fire resistive standards beyond minimum standards can be achieved by using 5/8 type X gypsum (instead of ½) or coating the panels with fire resistant paint such as NoBurn.

 

Call Today for your FREE Estimate @ 858-761-1004
California SIPS is located in San Diego, California