Long heralded the newest, most innovative housebuilding method around by staunch advocates, amidst all the hype SIPs (structural insulated panels) have quietly slipped into the mainstream. Mark Brinkley reports on the benefits of SIPs as an everyday construction method.

When does a new building method stop being new and become part of the established way of doing things? It’s impossible to say exactly, but public recognition is one of the important factors determining this. An awful lot of what passes as ‘new’ in the construction industry turns out to have been around for 30 years or more: it’s simply never managed to get onto people’s radar.

For a while it seemed that structural insulated panels (or SIPs) would remain in the category of ‘interesting innovations you might like to be aware of but won’t actually use’. But slowly and steadily, SIPs look to be headed for the mainstream, thanks in no small amount to British self-build pioneers, who have always been at the forefront of adopting new build methods. SIPs have indeed been around for a long time – the first SIPs building went up in Madison, Wisconsin in 1937 and is still doing fine – and they now have a proven track record for both energy saving and durability. They have been used in all kinds of climates, in hurricane zones and earthquake belts but, in the relatively tame UK, SIPs were perceived to be just a little bit too expensive to bother with.

Like timber frame, SIPs are a factory-built, panelised building system that arrives on site on a lorry. Instead of using timber studwork for load-bearing purposes, SIPs rely on the structural qualities of glueing insulation between two sheets of a building board, usually oriented strand board (OSB). The resulting benefits are that you create a structure with superb insulation levels, few cold bridges and excellent airtightness — all the things that we are being encouraged to do in this era of carbon consciousness. In addition to this, SIPs advocates reckon that:

• SIPs have the potential for even faster construction speeds than timber frame, as there is less on-site work involved.

• The panelised roof elements lend themselves to building rooms in the roof, in a manner which is much simpler and quicker than traditional methods.

• Having the insulation built into the system ensures a level of quality control. This is particularly true with roofs, where it is difficult to insulate complex roof structures.

• You can build narrower external walls. This is particularly beneficial on small sites where space is at a premium. With a lightweight wall cladding, such as timber board or a rain screen, you can build an external wall, still easily exceeding Building Regulations insulation standards, in a width of around 250mm.

• SIPs offer a relatively simple way of constructing a home which requires very little in the way of space heating. A number of self-builders have now specified homes without conventional central heating systems, relying on the insulation and airtightness of SIPs, combined with a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery, which is used to distribute the heat of a woodburning stove around the house.

To read the rest of this article click here: http://www.homebuilding.co.uk/feature/sips-build-standard

The tentative air date for the Extreme Home Makeover episode featuring a SIP home is February 14, 2010. Tune in to watch the very deserving Tripp family recieve their brand new SIP home that was constructed in less than a week! More information to come soon.

February 23, 10 AM PST/11 AM MST/

12 noon CST/1 PM EST

Speaker: Tom Milton, Technical Director, WoodWorks North Central.

Many architects have heard of structural insulated panels or SIPs, but most architects are unaware of the potentials they offer. SIPs, which are sometimes referred to as sandwich-skin or stressed- skin panels, are typically made of an inner and outer wood structural panel, structurally bonded to an expanded polystyrene (or other foam) core of specified thickness. SIPs are used for walls, roofs, and sometimes floors for both residential and commercial buildings. They are incredibly: energy efficient, green, durable, strong, lightweight, easy to design, cost effective, and fast to construct with. With all the virtues SIPs have going for them-why aren’t they the number one choice of architects in both residential and commercial buildings? How far can SIPs span without additional structural support? How do they compare to familiar and competitive materials for building envelopes? How flexible are they to design with? This presentation will examine SIPs from the design stage, through manufacturing, code approval, construction, inspection and performance testing.

<http://www.woodworks.org/educationTraining/eventRegistration/Webinar-February-2009.aspx>

Click here to register. <http://www.woodworks.org/educationTraining/onlineTraining/webinar-upcoming.aspx

Don’t miss the next coaching session on “Using Technology to Sell More Homes” with Scott Stroud

Today’s technology offers an unprecedented array of sales tools that are both amazing and, at times, overwhelming.  You hear all the ruckus about Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter as being indispensable, but how do you use these – and other technology tools – to increase your sales?  BuilderRadio producer and resident gagethead, Scott Stroud, will share what works, what’s hype, and how to find and use the best new tools to win more business.

Date: December 16th
Time: 3PM Atlantic, 2PM Eastern, 1PM Central, 12 Noon Mountain, 11AM Pacific, 8AM Honolulu
Cost: 1 hour coaching session $37
Click here to register: http://www.builderradio.com/webinars_3.html

1. Energy Efficient Mortgages – Getting the Green for Green Building There is plenty of good training available on how to build and sell green homes. Builders and contractors have the NAHB Green Building Program; Realtors have their own NAR programs and EcoBroker. But, where do mortgage lenders go to bone-up on green building, so that they can adjust their loans to fit new energy-saving construction and retrofits? Listen, as we speak to Dave Porter. Dave spent years as Senior Vice President of one of the largest construction lenders in the country. He and his wife, Anna, also built their own award winning green home in Washington. So, Dave is in a unique position to understand both sides of the issue. He and Anna started Porterworks, to help lenders, appraisers and underwriters understand green construction and to provide specific training that Dave hopes will lead us closer to a true “green mortgage.” Here is the link to this weeks interview: www.sellingmorehomesmedia.com

2. Don’t miss our next coaching session on “Using Technology to Sell More Homes” with Scott Stroud Today’s technology offers an unprecedented array of sales tools that are both amazing and, at times, overwhelming. You hear all the ruckus about Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter as being indispensable, but how do you use these – and other technology tools – to increase your sales? BuilderRadio producer and resident gagethead, Scott Stroud, will share what works, what’s hype, and how to find and use the best new tools to win more business. Date: December 16th Time: 3PM Atlantic, 2PM Eastern, 1PM Central, 12 Noon Mountain, 11AM Pacific, 8AM Honolulu Cost: 1 hour coaching session $37 Click here to register: http://www.builderradio.com/webinars_3.html

Jerry Rouleau

Selling More Homes Media Network
(860) 589-7391
jerryrouleau@comcast.net
www.BuilderRadio.com

On Monday, November 30, 2009, the roof was installed at the latest Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS) “green” home at 711 Hancock Street in the City of Ithaca. The roof as well as the walls are prefabricated Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs), making this house extremely energy-efficient. Because the process requires pre-fabrication, it also means the roof was set in place, with crane assistance, literally before the observer’s eyes.

Think of SIPs as a sandwich – a core of rigid foam plastic insulation placed between interior and exterior sheathing. Because regional builders do not commonly practice this technique, this house was chosen by the New York State Energy Research Development Research Authority’s High Performance Residential Challenge, only 1 of 4 statewide, for partial funding. The collaboration is also helping to educate local builders and planning professionals about this innovative building system.

INHS has applied for certification to the Leadership in Energy Efficiency Design (LEED), the standard for green building construction, where the house is likely to be granted its highest rating of Platinum. In order to meet LEED’s strict requirements the house will be evaluated not just: for energy savings, but also for ways it addresses water efficiency, reduction of carbon emissions, indoor environmental quality, and conservation and selection of materials.

INHS’ is committed to helping working families own homes that are green and affordable. Upon its completion in early 2010, this house will be sold to a first-time homebuyer. You can follow the progress of this house on the INHS blog: www.ithacanhs.blogspot.com.