Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) are prefabricated insulated structural elements for use in building walls, ceilings, floors and roofs. They replace conventional stud or "stick frame" construction. They are made in a factory and shipped to job sites, where they are connected together to construct a building. SIPs may be called foam-core panels, stress-skinpanels, sandwich panels, or structural foam panels. They were first developed and tested by the Forest Products Laboratory of the United States Forest Service in 1935.

Frank Lloyd Wright used them in the Usonian houses in the 1930s. Until about ten years ago, they were not in wide use. However, the SIP manufacturing industry has greatly expanded in recent years in response to increasing demand by builders for these labor, material, and energy saving products.

A SIP consists of an engineered sandwich or laminate with a solid foam core 4 to 12 inches thick (10.2 to 30.5 cm) and structural facing or sheathing on each side. The facing is glued to the foam core and the panel is either pressed or placed in a vacuum to bond the sheathing and core together. The most common types of facing materials are oriented strand board (OSB) and plywood, though manufacturers can customize the exterior and interior sheathing materials according to customer requirements. They can be produced in various sizes or dimensions. A SIP has a high strength-to-weight ratio and a high R-value.

SIPs can be used in almost any construction setting, but are most common in residential construction. The greatest advantage of these panels is that they provide superior and uniform insulation in comparison to more common methods of house construction. When installed properly, SIPs also provide a more airtight dwelling. This makes the building more comfortable, energy-efficient, and quieter.

The speed of construction when using SIPs is much faster than other types of residential construction, especially if the builder is familiar with them. Shells can be erected quickly, saving time and money, without compromising quality. Testing has shown that a wall panel with two, half-inch (1.3 cm) thick OSB skins is nearly three times stronger than a conventional 2*4 inch (5.1*10.2 cm) stud wall, even though the SIPs were assembled many times faster than a "stick" framed wall of similar size.

"Building with Structural Insulated Panels" by Gary Pugh - Article on Structural Insulated Panels

For more information about Structural Insulated Panels, click HERE

 

“When David and I meet to discuss the design and building of my office he mentioned wall panels to me. He explained all of the benefits but all I could see was that the cost was more than the conventional way and that was an issue. I agreed to do them and now looking back it was one of the best decisions we made in the construction process. The construction was faster, the outside noise level in the office is very low, but most of all the savings from my energy costs have more than offset the initial cost of the panels.” -Rick Elliot Team Builder