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Structural
Insulated Panel (SIP) construction
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way Aquila Homes builds with maximum efficiency is by using
SIPs panels. Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) are high-performance panels
made of expanded polystyrene (EPS), a rigid foam insulation sandwiched between
two structural skins of oriented strand board (OSB). SIPs are solid, one-piece
structural components that can be used in walls, floors, and roofs. They
have 30 to 50 percent greater energy efficiency over frame (“stick”)
construction; a six-inch-thick SIPs wall has an R-value of 21.6 compared
with R 13.7 for a six-inch stud wall. This equates to 30 to 50 percent savings
on heating and cooling costs. SIPs and similar products have become a very popular method of building throughout the country. The improved construction speed, lower relative cost, enhanced strength and energy efficiency have increasingly attracted homebuilders as construction and fuel costs have skyrocketed during recent years. Under building loads, SIP facings act as slender columns, while the core stabilizes the facings and resists forces that might deflect the columns. The thicker the core, the better the panel resists buckling. Because of their superior strength, they are being used in the gulf coast rebuilding effort. Laboratory tests have shown SIP homes capable of surviving devastating storms and hurricanes. Homes built using SIPs tend to be quieter and less drafty than conventional frame homes because SIP homes have few seams where noise could enter or energy escape. Because of their energy efficiency and the use of small, plantation-grown trees, SIPs homes are considered a form of green building. Also, the tight construction of a SIPs home means less condensation buildup within the walls, so mold and mildew is not a problem, and dust accumulation is minimized. Building with SIPs creates less waste. Although the EPS foam is a petroleum-based product, it has been calculated that the energy a SIP house saves in its first year equals nineteen times the energy that was used to make the foam in its panels. Building a SIPs house generates much less wood waste than building a conventional home, lessening the impacts on landfills, as well as dumping fees. The foam waste can be returned to the manufacturer for recycling; if landfilled, the EPS foam is stable and does not leach toxic chemicals into the earth. In place of separate pieces of framing, insulation, and sheathing, a SIPs panel provides all three components and comes ready to install. Custom lengths and skins of panels can be ordered for a variety of applications. Either the builder can cut the panels for each use and part of the home, or the manufacturer can ship a “packaged unit,” which contains pre-cut panels designed for each wall, roof, and other application, with doors and windows already in place. The building exterior can be finished as desired. In Taos, Aquila Homes has built Southwest-style homes with typical flat roofs, plastered interior walls, stucco exterior walls, and features such as vigas, canales, nichos, and kiva fireplaces. SIPs panels are easily cut and finished to resemble adobe, if desired; they can also have stone, tile, or other finishes. The SIPs panels come with electrical wire raceways, or “chases,” built into them. Plumbing conduits are usually created through the walls or by using a loop or island vent, depending on what local building codes require. All of this translates into simpler, speedier construction. Roofs can be flat or sloping; a sloping roof naturally creates a cathedral ceiling inside. SIPs panels provide the bending strength necessary to withstand live loads, such as snow, and dead loads, such as roofing materials and equipment. If greater rigidity is needed, they can be made with increased bending strengths and reduced deflections. SIPs homes meet all building codes and pass the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards of safety. Fire investigators have found that SIPs construction has held up especially well in fire. The combination of superior safety and comfort, environmentally friendly features, and cost-effective construction make SIPs homes an attractive option. For more information, contact the Structural Insulated Panel Association (SIPA) at: 1511 K St., NW - Suite 600 Washington, D.C. 20005 Phone: 202-347-7800 http://www.sips.org |
Cross Section of a SIPs Panel
505-770-4234 |
PO
Box 853 Taos NM 87571 |
website by High
Mesa Productions |