SIP wall systems require expertise from the building designer, manufacturer, manufacturer and installer. The Juneau (Alaska) roof reports that have been published (see the list of publications below) describe evidence that air infiltration into the joints of the SIP roof panels indicated premature deterioration of the upper part of the OSB layer of the roof panel joints. The results of testing fanned doors in a room with SIP walls and ceilings, a window, a door, and pre-routed wiring chains and electrical outlets, compared to an identical room of 2 x 6 studs, OSB cladding, fiberglass insulation and drywall, showed that the SIP structure leaked 90 percent less than the stud structure. Often, large SIP structures rely on a secondary steel or wood frame system to meet the requirements of clear spaces. While the total time to manufacture and assemble a SIP structure is shorter than that of a framed structure, more planning time is required.
Just as wide flange sections increase their strength with increasing depth, thicker cores result in panels that are stronger in terms of compression and flexion. When designing the foundation, the allowable deflection tolerances established by the manufacturer of the panels and sealants must be taken into account. The Forest Products Laboratory in Madison (Wisconsin) introduced the idea of what is now known as structural insulating panels (SIP) in 1935. Other unexpected penetrations that occur in the panels during construction should have a diameter of 1 inch larger than the penetration tube in order to be able to apply sealant in shape of foam. The openings in the panels, the non-orthogonal designs and the electrical and audiovisual coordination must be determined before the manufacture of the SIPs.
The most recent energy standards require that the building envelope be airtight, and a SIP building with properly sealed panel joints is inherently airtight. SIPs are not recommended to be used as floors over an open interior space without the application of an acoustic barrier.
Structurally insulated panels
are composed of an insulating foam core between two rigid cardboard covering materials. If a substructure change occurs, it will compromise the sealing of the panel joints, which can cause moisture to infiltrate.The construction costs associated with SIPs are comparable to those of more conventional construction methods when taking into account the savings associated with labor costs, material waste and energy efficiency. However, the panels can be reinforced on the heads so that no additional structure is necessary during the construction.
