Frequently Asked Questions

 

WHY SHOULD I CONSIDER USING YOUR SIP PANEL SYSTEM FOR MY PROJECT?

WHAT FACTORS IMPACT THE ENVIRONMENT?

WHAT STYLE OF HOUSE CAN BE BUILT USING SIPS?

CAN YOU ADAPT SIPS TO AN EXISTING FLOOR PLAN?

WHAT TYPE OF FOAM INSULATION IS USED IN THE PANELS?

IS THE INSULATION VALUE OF THE STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANELS BETTER THAN STUD WALLS FILLED WITH FIBER GLASS BATTS?

ARE THERE PROBLEMS WITH MOISTURE CONDENSATION?

HOW DO FOAM CORE PANELS DECREASE THIS PROBLEM?

I AM BUILDING IN A WOODED AREA. COULD I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH INSECTS?

WILL PUR FOAM GIVE OFF TOXIC GASES IN MY HOME?

IS PUR FOAM A FIRE HAZARD?

HOW ARE SIP PANELS INSTALLED?

HOW MUCH DO THE PANELS WEIGH?

WILL SIPS WORLDWIDE INSTALL PANELS FOR ME?

HOW DOES A SIP HOUSE COMPARE IN COST TO A CONVENTIONALLY BUILT HOUSE?

CAN SIP HOMES INCORPORATE PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN?

DOES PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN THEORY CHANGE FOR SUPER-INSULATED HOUSES?

DO SIP HOMES REQUIRE SPECIAL FOUNDATIONS?

WHAT ABOUT INTERIOR WALLS?

HOW ARE WINDOWS AND DOORS INSTALLED IN FOAM CORE PANELS?

WHAT KIND OF EXTERIOR FINISHES CAN BE USED?

WHAT KIND OF ROOFING CAN I USE?

HOW IS ELECTRICAL WIRING INSTALLED IN FOAM PANEL WALLS?

WHAT ABOUT PLUMBING?

WHAT KIND OF HVAC SYSTEM CAN I USE?

DO I NEED TO MAKE SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR VENTILATION?

WHY SHOULD I CONSIDER USING YOUR SIP PANEL SYSTEM FOR MY PROJECT? SIPs offer many advantages compared to conventional construction. Some of the major advantages include integrity and strength of the finished building, energy efficiency, speed of erection and overall higher quality of the completed building. Superior Insulating Qualities: The foam core of the panel provides a much higher R-value in less space than fiberglass or cellulose insulation and maintains this performance indefinitely.  SIPs inherently permit significantly less air infiltration. Wall studs in conventionally-built homes transmit some exterior temperature (heat and cold) through the walls and air leakage is common around electrical outlets and switches. The solid foam core provideS an almost foolproof method of creating a tight building envelope. The molded in electrical boxes and PVC conduit also helps eliminate air infiltration. Speed of Erection: A building can be dried in more rapidly than a site-built stud frame or a concrete block structure.  Return to Top

WHAT FACTORS IMPACT THE ENVIRONMENT? SIPs are kind to the environment. Our SIPs use recycled steel materials for most requirements and use no dimensional lumber.  The polyurethane foam core used in the panels is recyclable; thus reducing the need for raw material and reducing the amount of material that may eventually reach our landfills. Construction scrap is kept to a minimum, thus reducing the amount of construction material waste that will be hauled to the landfill. Return to Top

WHAT STYLE OF HOUSE CAN BE BUILT USING SIPS? SIP construction is suitable for nearly every architectural style and can be used on many types of building sites. SIP homes can be built on most types of foundations. Return to Top

CAN YOU ADAPT SIPS TO AN EXISTING FLOOR PLAN? We can design & supply SIPs for any floor plan. If you do not already have a plan we can help you design an original floor plan.  Return to Top

WHAT TYPE OF FOAM INSULATION IS USED IN THE PANELS? Our standard panels have a core of Polyurethane Foam (PUR) that is produced by BASF. PUR provides higher R-values per inch than other types of foam. The R-value of our panels is extremely high, 6.85 R per inch.  Return to Top

IS THE INSULATION VALUE OF THE STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANELS BETTER THAN STUD WALLS FILLED WITH FIBER GLASS BATTS? Yes. When evaluating the insulating performance of a wall system, several factors should be considered. Most common among these is R-value. R-value is a measurement of the ability of different materials to resist conductive heat transfer (movement of heat through solid material). The higher the R-value of an insulating material, the better it is able to resist heat loss or gain. Our SIP panels from range from min. R13 through min. R36, compared to R-11 which is common in stud built walls. Return to Top

ARE THERE PROBLEMS WITH MOISTURE CONDENSATION? Moisture condensation is an area of concern in fibrous insulations. In recent years there has been growing concern about the effects water vapor has on wall systems in tightly constructed buildings. The theoretical basis for this concern is as follows: vaporized water generated by daily living activities penetrates the interior sheathing (usually drywall) and enters the wall cavity. As the vapor contacts the cold outside wall, it can condense into actual water droplets which create the potential for mold and mildew, blistering paint, degraded insulation and even structural damage due to rotted studs. Return to Top

HOW DO FOAM CORE PANELS DECREASE THIS PROBLEM? The combination of the foam core material used in the panels and the fiberglass skins allow the SIPs to become a vapor barrier without using expensive wraps to protect a structure. Second, the panels are manufactured in large sheets (from 4' x up to 20' long) consisting mostly of insulation. The seams are sealed during erection with an adhesive canned foam, creating a continuous blanket of insulation.  In SIPs the continuous mass of high density foam nearly eliminates air movement within the wall and the heat loss caused by convective looping of air within the insulation.  PUR foam is only marginally affected by moisture condensation.  In addition, PUR insulation is an inert, organic material. It provides no food value to plants, animals, insects or microorganisms. It will not rot and is highly resistant to mildew. Return to Top

I AM BUILDING IN A WOODED AREA. COULD I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH INSECTS? Ants, termites and other insects are not inclined to nest or borrow in the PUR. In areas that are particularly prone to insect problems such as heavily wooded areas or low shaded areas where the ground stays damp, consider treating the foundation with a long-acting pesticide prior to backfilling. You may also want to treat the soil around the house after backfilling.  Structural Insulated Panel system construction is less prone to insect infiltration than regular construction. Return to Top

WILL PUR GIVE OFF TOXIC GASES IN MY HOME? PUR begins as a two chemical component and contains Freon as a blowing agent. Most of the off gassing is done within 24 hours of production, some of the Freon that is contained in the closed cells of the foam remains and is released over a period of time and is not considered to be any kind of a health concern. PUR foam contains no formaldehyde. Return to Top

IS PUR FOAM A FIRE HAZARD? We use polyurethane foam which contains a flame retardant additive that retards its burning characteristics. Our PUR foam has a Class 1 fire rating and the smoke released during burning is no more hazardous than wood or wool smoke. Return to Top

HOW ARE SIP PANELS INSTALLED? Each panel is designed for a specific wall or roof location per the supplied shop drawings. Installers use construction adhesive, foam adhesive and self drilling screws to permanently secure each panel in place. Return to Top

HOW MUCH DO THE PANELS WEIGH? Weight varies with the panel thickness and sheathing configuration. Our most widely used panel is 3.62" thick and weighs approximately 2.5 - 3 lbs. per square foot. Return to Top

WILL SIPS WORLDWIDE INSTALL PANELS FOR ME? No, SIPS Worldwide does not offer this service as part of our package to the home owner or contractor. We can reccomend trained crews and supervisors who travel throughout the United States installing our SIP systems for homes and commercial buildings. Return to Top

HOW DOES A SIP HOUSE COMPARE IN COST TO A CONVENTIONALLY BUILT HOUSE? If you compare the cost of building two equal structures – one using conventional methods and one using SIPs – the difference in the price will be a negligible amount. However, the structure built with SIPs will provide a higher quality structure and the cost of maintaining a comfortable interior temperature (utility cost) will provide very significant savings for years to come. Return to Top

CAN SIP HOMES INCORPORATE PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN? Certainly. However, passive solar design is a deceptively simple concept in its simplest form it’s the application of certain techniques to collect and store the sun's beat and of certain others to keep it out in order to reduce the demands for purchased energy to heat and cool a building.  SIP construction can greatly simplify energy efficient design due to the outstanding thermal efficiency of the structural envelope.  Return to Top

DOES PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN THEORY CHANGE FOR SUPER-INSULATED HOUSES? Passive solar design theory (and practice) does change when it is incorporated into a super-insulated building such as SIPs can provide. Because of the extremely low heat loss of these structures, there is rarely a need for a vast expanse of glass on the south wall.  Return to Top

DO SIP HOMES REQUIRE SPECIAL FOUNDATIONS? No. They can be built on block, poured, slab, pier or treated wood foundations. Return to Top

WHAT ABOUT INTERIOR WALLS? Interior walls are built using wood or metal studs in the conventional manner. We can manufacture the steel stud interior walls upon request but they are normally done on the jobsite. Return to Top

HOW ARE WINDOWS AND DOORS INSTALLED IN SIPs? Openings for windows and doors are cut and framed in the manufacturing process at the plant. They are located per the approved drawings. Return to Top

WHAT KIND OF EXTERIOR FINISHES CAN BE USED? Almost any kind of exterior finish can be used. The exterior walls can be finished with brick and/or stone, siding or any other kind of traditional exterior coverings. Stucco products are being used extensively on SIP homes throughout the United States. Return to Top

WHAT KIND OF ROOFING CAN I USE? SIP homes require no special roofing materials. Fiber glass, asphalt, wood, clay tile, concrete and metal are all suitable. If using shingles, a plywood base will need to be installed over the panels for nailing purposes.  Return to Top

HOW IS ELECTRICAL WIRING INSTALLED IN FOAM PANEL WALLS? Wiring a foam core wall is not difficult, but does require planning. Although much of the wiring will be run in the conventionally-framed interior walls, there will certainly be some wiring in the panelized exterior walls. Our wall panels are manufactured with a PVC conduit and metal electrical box molded into the panel. When we develop the shop drawings we locate and provide for openings in the walls for outlets and switch locations.  Return to Top

WHAT ABOUT PLUMBING? As with any construction, outside walls or the shell of a house has some plumbing requirements in them. In developing our shop drawings we identify the areas that have vents or water pipes for fixtures and outdoor faucets and accommodate them in the panel design.  Return to Top

WHAT KIND OF HVAC SYSTEM CAN I USE? SIP homes require no special type of hvac system. Forced-air, electric, solar radiant and wood-burning systems are all suitable, though some are more appropriate than others for a specific home design.  Return to Top

DO I NEED TO MAKE SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR VENTILATION? Yes. A properly constructed SIP home has a very low air infiltration rate. That's great for reducing heating and cooling costs, but it isn't always healthy for the home or its occupants. We strongly recommend that a whole-house ventilation system be installed at the time of construction, and certainly before the first heating season.  Return to Top