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STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANEL (SIP)

A lot of people seem to like this system which consists of a sandwich made by polyurethane or polystyrene foam injected between two 4ftx8ft sheets of OSB (Oriented Strand Board, also known as waferboard). The industry refers to these panels as (SIP) Structural Insulated Panels. This system looks good so far but possibly distribution of these panels is kind of thin. It might be nice if a person could buy these panels at the Home Depot or Lowes or some other popular building supply center. Maybe even order them in for you. Most of the projects i have seen on the internet are quite large in my opinion. Probably because of economy of scale situation. These would be useful for small homes and cabins i believe (400-600sqft).

Foam means: Styrofoam or Polystyrene Foam; similar to those white styrofoam cups that hold your hot coffee or cold drinks in a fast food restaurant. But some companies prefer to use polyurethane foam because they feel it is a better quality and holds up better and has better fire resistance & strength.

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  1. sip cottage ECO-PANELS   Of special interest to me and i am sure of some other people also, is that they mention on their website the availability of small dwellings in the form of "Backyard or Garden Cottages". Click on "ABOUT ECO-PANELS" then click on the bottom link "Backyard or Garden Cottages".

    Eco-Panels is a North Carolina manufacturer of the most advanced polyurethane filled structural insulated panels, or SIPs, on the market today. Also known as sandwich panels, architectural panels or stressed skin panels, these panels are comprised of an interior and exterior siding material sandwiching an internal layer of foam insulation. Eco-Panels helps to eliminate much of the time and guesswork associated with proper framing and insulation techniques by connecting together quickly on the jobsite to provide a strong, safe and efficient thermal envelope for your home or commercial building. Today we are applying more than 15 different siding materials to our panels to offer a broad selection of finished material for both the residential and commercial markets.

    Eco-Panels • Ph: (336) 936-0148 • Email: ✉ info@eco-panels.com
  2. SIPs Pyramid House STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANEL ORGANIZATION   This trade organization has much information about SIPs and you can locate dealers close to you if there are any.

    The Structural Insulated Panel Association (SIPA) is a non-profit trade association representing manufacturers, suppliers, fabricators/distributors, design professionals, and builders committed to providing quality structural insulated panels for all segments of the construction industry. SIPs are the 21st Century Building Material. 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 rigid foam plastic insulation between two structural skins of oriented strand board (OSB). Other skin material can be used for specific purposes. SIPs are manufactured under factory controlled conditions and can be custom designed for each home. The result is a building system that is extremely strong, energy efficient and cost effective. Building with SIPs will save you time, money and labor. Are Structural Insulated Panels More Expensive? Building with SIPs generally costs about the same as building with wood frame construction, when you factor in the labor savings resulting from shorter construction time and less job-site waste. Other savings are realized because less expensive heating and cooling systems are required with SIP construction. SIPA does not maintain pricing data from individual manufacturing members. If you are looking for pricing information, please contact our members directly by clicking on "Find SIPs" or complete the form located under "Let's Talk SIPs" and our members will contact you with information specific to your request.

    Structural Insulated Panel Association • PO Box 1699 • Gig Harbor, WA 98335 • Ph: 253.858.7472 • Fax: (253) 858-0272 • Email: ✉ info@sips.org
  3. SIP House THE MURUS COMPANY   They use either Polyurethane, or Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), or Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) for their SIP panels.

    The Murus Company has been producing SIPs since 1987. Our manufacturing facility is located in scenic Mansfield, Pennsylvania, about an hour north of Williamsport, PA. Murus manufactures Structural Insulated Panels - nothing else, using only the highest quality materials and cutting edge technologies. Aside from building the finest and most innovative SIPs available, Murus believes in total client support. We provide outstanding technical assistance and service throughout the term of your project. Murus can provide factory precision pre-cutting with our state-of-the-art CNC (Computer Numerical Control) automatic cutting equipment. Panel layout drawings are included in this service. Murus can also provide professional on-site technical assistance during the installation of your SIPs. Murus does not franchise or license our products to others, nor do we sell products through dealers, distributors, or manufacturers' reps. When you contact Murus, you'll interact with a Murus employee who is your direct link between your needs and the company. We believe the best way to preserve consistency and uniformity in the quality of our products and services is to maintain our tradition of company-owned manufacturing, assuring that you will receive only genuine Murus Structural Insulated Panels. The entire Murus staff is committed to providing the best quality products to our customers. We are proud of the superior workmanship and attention to detail that is built into every Murus SIP. If you'd like to see how Murus SIPs are made, we welcome visits and would be happy to show you our manufacturing facility.

    The Murus Company, Inc. • PO Box 220 • 3234 Route 549 • Mansfield, PA 16933
    Toll Free: 800-626-8787 • Local: 570-549-2100 • Fax: 570-549-2101 • Email: ✉ info@murus.com
  4. All Wall Systems ALLWALL SYSTEMS   The chart on the right shows how the AllWALL SYSTEM out-performs the ICF building system.

    "We provide the concrete walls for the most energy efficient homes that can be built. We are better than ICF (Insulating Concrete Form) construction, framed construction and SIP construction methods in that we offer more total benefits that they can't offer such as: mold resistance, noncombustible, nonflammable, hurricane and tornado resistance, and the most energy savings of any other method of construction."
  5. AllWall System RENEE PECK   He talks about the "AllWall System" a system which integrates concrete, light-gauge steel and insulated foam into a patented panel system. It forms very strong building panels.

    "The system, invented by Florida engineer John Griffin, joins facing panels of fiber cement board with light gauge-steel C-braces; between the boards is a core of foamboard. The panels can be built on or off site. Once in place, they are threaded horizontally with lengths of steel rebar, then filled with wet concrete poured from the top. It's a system anyone can manufacture or install, Griffin said. The components — concrete board, steel studs, foamboard — are universally available. There's no special-mix concrete, no thinking. It's basically a stay-in-place concrete form with insulation. He devised the system, he says, after years of working in steel and concrete construction along the Florida coast, where we never knew that 88 percent of homes in the rest of the world are wood. I'm from the concrete world. And I woke up at 2 a.m. one morning, and saw the whole thing in my head — the C studs faced together, how to fill it with concrete, place the rebar, Griffin said. I wrote down what I felt I could give to the world. I can train you to make the panels in less than two hours, though I'll tell you four hours so we can shoot the breeze for a while. And I can teach you to install the panels in less than an hour. His AllWall training and licensing course runs $2,000. He has licensed installers in Florida, New Mexico, Alabama and Kentucky. The cost of professional installation runs about $10.50 a square foot, while do-it-yourselfers can build and install the panels at a materials-only cost of about $7.75 per square foot."
  6. SIP Panels on truck THERMACORE   They like to use Polyurethane instead of Polystyrene in their panels.

    Thermocore Panel Systems was founded in 1995 under the principle of "there has to be a better way to make panels". Thermocore set out with the aid of a very talented engineer to develop a new and revolutionary structural panel. Thermocore asked builders and architects how panels could be improved and then toured many of the existing panel plants. It was determined that none of the current manufacturing techniques could produce a panel that would offer the many improvements that builders were asking for. Thermocore developed its own manufacturing techniques, combining the best raw materials available with a unique manufacturing technique. The results are nothing less than revolutionary. Thermocore broke the mold and developed the world's first pre-configured/ pre-engineered panel system. Thermocore Structural Insulated Panels are manufactured utilizing the highest quality polyurethane foam sandwiched between two sheets of 7/16" oriented strain board (OSB). Thermocore utilizes a unique manufacturing process that allows for the manufacturing of completely custom panels without creating waste at our plant or at your jobsite. This unique process also allows Thermocore to place all the dimension lumber in your panels as well as all the electrical components before the panels are shipped to your job site. Thermocore panels will allow you to build faster, stronger, and more environmentally friendly. Most importantly, Thermocore panels allow you to build the most energy-efficient home on the planet. Imagine a building product so advanced that not only will it cut down on your build time, but will also pay you back every day with significant energy savings. No other building product used in the construction of your house can return as much to you as panels! Thermocore Panel Systems is the only panel manufacturer to offer panels complete with window and door openings in place and framed with 2X4 wood bucks, as well as all electrical components including electrical boxes and conduit. All panels are cut through the use of CNC machining, assuring each panel is made to your exact specifications. In addition, each panel is thoroughly examined with an infrared camera after it is manufactured to assure each panel's energy efficiency. Then and only then does each panel receive a final inspection stamp and is ready to ship to your job site. Thermocore has advanced panels even further by introducing the industry's first 4" thick pre-configured panel. This unique panel allows you to use standard window jambs when you finish your interior with drywall. All this comes with an industry leading R-24 insulating value. Thermocores 4" panel is easily the best value for your building dollar. Energy smart, ecologically friendly, and the highest R value per inch in the world ...Thermocore panels are the smart choice for your new home.

    Thermocore Panel Systems, Inc. • 1801 Hancel Parkway • Mooresville, IN 46158 • Toll Free: (877) 550-8973 • Ph: 317 831-8888 • Fax: 317 831-8889 • Email: ✉ salesinfo@thermocore.com
  7. Jeep on SIP House ENERCEPT   I guess these SIP panels are so strong you don't need to build a garage for your car or jeep - just park your vehicle on the roof like this one man did after running out of cash (too much diet soda!).

    Save 40% to 60% on your home heating and cooling costs - FOREVER - when you build green with energy efficient Enercept Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs). Building a new home is something you've been planning and dreaming about for years. You've probably flipped through a hundred different building magazines - looking for the perfect floor plan, the perfect light fixtures, the perfect bath fixtures, the perfect countertop, the perfect decorating and so on. But what about building the perfect exterior framing? How much thought have you given to the structure that will protect you, your possessions, and especially your family? How much thought have you given to building a home that is more energy efficient and 2 1/2 times stronger than a stick framed building. SIPs are super energy efficient building panels for walls, roofs and floors. Enercept panels are made using expanded polystyrene (EPS) rigid foam insulation laminated between oriented strand board (OSB). The result is a very strong, predictable, highly energy efficient framing system. SIPs are used in residential, commercial and agricultural applications. You will also see SIPs referred to as sandwich panels. SIPs are assembled using the same tip-up method used in concrete tilt-up panel construction.

    Enercept, Inc. • 3100 9th Ave SE • Watertown, SD 57201 • Toll Free: 1-800-658-3303 • Ph: (605) 882-2222 • Fax: (605) 882-2753 • Email: info@enercept.com
  8. Steel Panel Construction STEEL PANEL CONSTRUCTION   This method is called: "Structural Insulated Panels".

    Steel SIP's are engineered panels made from a dense core of EPS (expanded polystyrene) sandwiched between two exterior layers of galvanized steel, resulting in a solid one-piece that provides structural framing, insulation, and exterior sheathing. The 4' wide interlocking panels are strong, and easy to handle. The technique of sandwiching a foam core between casing has been used in refrigeration technology for decades. Many screen room additions and carports have been built using these panels. What is relatively new is their acceptance and approval as a material suitable for home construction in the construction industry. SIP's systems are now recognized by all major code organizations and have received the highest seismic rating available from California. With today's new technologies, builders can make better choices. SIP is structurally superior to metal and wood framing methods currently available in the market and significantly easier to install.
  9. R-Tight Panels R-TIGHT PANEL   This business is located in Jeffersonville, Vermont. It appears that their system is most compatible with the "Timberframe" style of construction. They have good examples on their website.

    "SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels) are a high tech laminate of different building materials. Essentially, SIPs are a sandwich of an insulated foam core with exterior faces made of OSB (Oriented Strand Board) or drywall. The first SIPs were used way back in 1952, when Architect Alden Dow (related to the Dow Chemical Company founder) started designing SIP homes. These homes are still lived in today. More recently, many important, high tech innovations have occurred to make SIPs even more reliable and environmentally friendly. R-TightŪ Panel has a written guarantee on our panels, and we stand 100% behind our products."
  10. Dreaming Creek DREAMING CREEK   This site specializes in SIP's for Timber Frame buildings.

    Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) are rigid foam insulation sandwiched between oriented strand board (OSB). These panels can be used as wall, roof & floor components & have been proven to be structurally sound, energy efficient & fire resistant. The solid foam core of the SIP panels allow for significantly less leakage & drafts while the built-in wire chases do not interfere with the structure's electrical systems. SIPs are a structural composite, with the three components (outer OSB, foam core & inner OSB) working together instead of against each other for optimal strength. Rigid insulation (the foam core) allows for less air movement, which means fewer leaks & drafts. The structure retains the heat (or cool) & the HVAC system does not have to work as hard for the same indoor climate. This translates to lower energy bills & less use of non-renewable fossil fuels.
  11. sip panel cut-out view INSULSPAN   Apparently these SIP panels can be used to build even the smallest of buildings right down to a dog house.

    The Insulspan SIP (Structural Insulated Panel) system consists of solid, one piece, pre-cut SIP units that are ready to install as wall, floor, or roof components suitable for many residential and commercial building applications. Insulspan has been manufacturing Structural Insulated Panels for more than 27 years. Based out of Blissfield, Mich. and Delta, B.C., Insulspan continually works to maintain the highest quality standards in the industry. As part of our continuing process to create the highest quality product, we subject our product to rigorous tests, and strive for continued improvement. Our goal is to provide you with the best energy-efficient building products for your project. The Insulspan Quality Assurance program is certified to ISO 9001. Insulspan products are manufactured under factory-controlled quality with third-party certification provided by Intertek testing services.

    Insulspan • 9012 East US Hwy 223 • PO Box 38 • Blissfield, MI 49228 • Ph: (517) 486-4844
    Fax: (517) 486-2056 • Email: ✉ insulspan@insulspan.com.
  12. Thermapanel THERMASAVE BUILDING SYSTEMS   Lots of information on this website and good pictures also of their system.

    "ThermaSAVE is the manufacturer of a totally new building system that outperforms nearly every other construction method
    used today. It consists of laminated building panels called ThermaSAVE panels, manufactured under rigid control and testing procedures. Consisting of an inner and outer skin and a core of super-insulating expanded polystyrene (EPS) glued together with a special high-strength glue and dried under extreme pressure, the result is a stressed-skin panel that has amazing capabilities. The inner and outer skins can be of a variety of materials that can form the inner and outer finish or act as an underlayment for the final surface. The result is a single panel that has amazing strength, durability and thermal efficiency. With the patented spline connection system, the 4' wide panels join together to build walls, floors and roofs that are lightweight yet can withstand high wind loads and the twisting and flexing that slowly deteriorate conventional buildings."

    Email: ✉ info@thermasave.us
  13. SIP Panel Use FOAM LAMINATES OF VERMONT   Very good website with lots of explanation about Insulated Foam Panels.

    Structural Insulated Panels or SIPs are a sandwich assembly consisting of a lightweight EPS (expanded polystyrene) core glued between two sheets of Oriented Strand Board (OSB). The lamination process is performed under carefully controlled conditions, insuring a quality product. The panels create a system which provides high load bearing capabilities, exceptional insulation, and an uninterrupted wall surface, all in one. The system is designed to be mounted over timber framing or can be used as a standalone product. Either way, SIPs form an uninterrupted insulating blanket with an R-value much greater than that of conventional walls with fiberglass insulation. An EPS core has been selected because of it strength and low rate of heat transfer. In addition, polystyrene is an inert non-formaldehyde, moisture and mildew resistant material that can withstand temperature cycling. Our panels can be used as roofs, floors, and walls for residential and commercial buildings. SIPs from Foam Laminates are strong, durable, and can easily support the necessary load and strain of a two story building. With their high insulating value, our panels can withstand the harshest elements of a northern climent all the while keeping the occupants comfortable and safe. If you are a builder, architect, or an individual building your own home, we encourage you to consider the advantages of the most energy efficient insulating system available: Structural Insulated Panels by Foam Laminates of Vermont; A product so green, it's even in our name.

    Foam Laminates of Vermont • 22 Varney Hill Road • Starksboro, VT 05487
    Toll Free: (800) 545-6290 • Ph: (802) 453-4438 • Email: info@foamlaminates.com

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Insulated Foam Panel
LOOK CLOSELY AT THIS PANEL EXHIBIT
Notice the two sheets of wood sandwiching a core of white foam.


Date Last Updated:   December 30, 2009