Structural Insulated Panels

 CONVENTIONAL FRAMED WALLS 

 2x6 wall framed at 16" o.c. installed with R-19 fiberglass insulation.  

STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANELS  Structural insulated panels (SIPs) are high performance building panels used in floors, walls, and roofs for residential and light commercial buildings. The panels are typically made by sandwiching a core of closed-cell rigid foam plastic insulation between two structural skins of oriented strand board (OSB). Depending on the size and needs of the structure, the thickness of the foam is adjusted to increase R-value. 

 CONVENTIONAL FRAMED WALLS

R-Value of 13.7.  

STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANELS 

R-Value of 24.7. Depending on the size and needs of the structure, the thickness of the foam is adjusted to increase R-value. 

Comparing Durability  

CONVENTIONAL FRAMED WALLS  Wood frame walls attract moisture, mold,  and insects which eventually leads to wood rot and deterioration. When real world factors such as air infiltration, extreme temperatures and thermal bridging are present, field-installed fiberglass insulation can lose more than half its R-value.  STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANELS  Research has repeatedly shown that SIPs provide continuous insulation that will maintain its stated R-value for the life of the home and outperform fiberglass insulation every time.
 

CONVENTIONAL FRAMED WALLS  

Each stud location represents a thermal short circuit in the insulating barrier, allowing moisture-filled air to pass. When wood 2x6 framing is used, an average 33% of the wall surface is comprised of 2x6 framing that is R-6.  

STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANELS 

Join high performance closed-cell rigid foam insulation to oriented strand board (OSB) or plywood. It averages only 7% of the lumber used in the shell of a building. 

CONVENTIONAL FRAMED WALLS  Fiberglass can lose as much as 80% of its R-value when exposed to even low moisture levels, which are common below grade. Moisture leads to wood decay.  

STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANELS  When exposed to moisture, the R-value SIPs remains constant and will shed liquid water. 

CONVENTIONAL FRAMED WALLS  Fiberglass insulation loses as much as 40% of its insulating capacity when temperatures fall below 20˚F and over half its R-value below 0˚F.  

STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANELS 

The thermal performance of SIPs are not affected by changes in temperature.  In fact, studies have shown R-values to improve as temperatures decrease. 

CONVENTIONAL FRAMED WALLS  Fiberglass must be fully expanded to work properly.  If it is stuffed into openings or compressed by plumbing or electrical wires, it loses most of its R-value. 

STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANELS  Electrical wire chases are internal in a panel system. 

CONVENTIONAL FRAMED WALLS  Wood building materials and fiberglass insulation are often treated with preservatives and formaldyhyde. Mold and airborne toxins contaminate the indoor air quality. 

STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANELS  The tightness of the SIP building envelope prevents air from gaining access to the interior of the home except in controlled amounts. A controlled indoor environment is both healthy and comfortable. Humidity can be controlled more easily in a SIP home resulting in a home that is more comfortable for occupants and less prone to mold growth and dust mites. SIP panels have no offgassing and use no formaldahyde. 

CONVENTIONAL FRAMED WALLS  Wood frame construction exceeds strength requirements but egrades over time.  Wood framing members warp and twist as moisture levels vary. Nail "pops" are common. 

STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANELS  The structural characteristics of SIPs are similar to that of a steel I-Beam. The OSB skins act as the flange of the I-beam, while the rigid foam core provides the web. This design gives SIPs an advantage at handling in plane compressive loads.  SIPs can be engineered for most applications. 

CONVENTIONAL FRAMED WALLS  Organic wood studs absorb moisture and support mold growth.  Fiberglass insulation also absorbs moisture and promotes mold growth.

STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANELS  An airtight SIP building envelope forms the basis of a successful mold control strategy. The extremely low levels of air infiltration in SIP buildings allow for incoming air to be provided in controlled amounts by air handling equipment. Proper dehumidification of incoming air following ASHRAE standards will create an environment where mold physically cannot grow.  In addition to creating an airtight structure, SIPs are solid and free of any cavities in the wall where moisture can condense and cause unseen mold growth. 

CONVENTIONAL FRAMED WALLS  Basement walls must be able to dry.  For walls built below grade, drying typically means towards the interior. Adding vapor barriers to control the moisture actually keeps the moisture from being able to dry properly.  If placed directly against the masonry wall, an impermeable barrier keeps moisture from being able to dry towards the interior.  If installed over the wood frame moisture is trapped inside the wall cavity causing wood to rot and mold to grow.  

STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANELS  

Air barriers or vapor barriers are not required in SIP buildings because properly sealed SIPs create a code compliant air barrier with a permeability rating of less than 1.0 perm. In addition, the foam core of SIPs is solid and continuous throughout the wall, eliminating the convection and condensation issues that can occur in cavity walls above and below grade. 

CONVENTIONAL FRAMED WALLS 

The performance of the thermal barrier is dependent in part upon the quality of workmanship.  For fiberglass insulation to work effectively, it must be in continuous contact with its surrounding surfaces on all six sides.  It is virtually impossible for installers to achieve this on a job site.  Even the smallest gap allows air circulation which kills the insulation value.

STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANELS  Because SIPs are prefabricated, the amount of additional framing required is minimal. SIPs are always straight and true. There are far fewer callbacks, fewer culling studs, or need to straighten walls. SIPs also provide a uniform nailing surface for both interior and exterior finishing. 

CONVENTIONAL FRAMED WALLS   Wood framing members are produced from trees and treated with preservatives.  Fiberglass insulation is often produced with formaldahyde.

 STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANELS  Since SIPs are prefabricated in the factory, there is less job site waste that needs to be landfilled. Factory fabrication is done using optimization software which recycles factory scrap to make other foam products. Structural insulated panels are one of the most environmentally responsible building systems available. A SIP building envelope provides high levels of insulation and is extremely airtight, meaning the amount of energy used to heat and cool a home can be cut by up to 50 percent.