SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels)
I like cool stuff. I’m never right at the front of the line for new bright shiny things – but I am close enough to check out the first few and see if the bugs are out or not.
SIPs, in my humble opinion, are pretty cool stuff. I’ve never been asked specifically by a client to design a post frame (pole) building with SIPs for the roof and walls, but I can see it coming soon as SIPs appear to be gaining in popularity.
What are SIPs?
From www.sips.org: “Structural insulated panels (SIPs) are a high performance building system for residential and light commercial construction. The panels consist of an insulating foam core sandwiched between two structural facings, typically oriented strand board (OSB). SIPs are manufactured under factory controlled conditions and can be fabricated to fit nearly any building design. 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.”
Here, in the very near future, I will be discussing the applications with the director of www.SIPSchool.org.
I will share with my readers what I learn, pretty much as I learn it. Hopefully with some practical applications.
In my ideal dream world, a post frame (pole) building skeleton (columns and trusses) would be erected, then large SIP panels would be attached to them. For best economy length multiples of 12’ would be used, so 24 foot long panels could be placed lengthwise on the building.
The lowest wall panels could be fabricated from pressure preservative treated plywood and embedded into the ground, as needed, to meet heat loss requirements.
My “new bright shiny things” are rarely the least expensive solution, but I can’t say I’ve regretted them – especially not in my own personal buildings. I’ve done some work for myself which had to be remodeled later, as the buildings were repurposed and I hadn’t given enough thought to what future uses might be.
I am looking forward to being educated, and if SIPs turn out to be what I think they might be – the post frame/SIPs combination could become very, very popular.
