Structural Insulated Panels, SIPs

Sean Miskelley from Clarum Homes explains the use of SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels) in the Menlo Passive home. Structural insulated panels (SIPs) are high performance building panels used in the external envelope – floors, walls, and roofs for residential buildings. The SIPs panels are typically made by sandwiching a rigid core of foam plastic insulation between two structural skins of oriented strand board (OSB). They offer great air tightness and insulation with superior R values. The resulting home is extremely strong, energy efficient and cost effective. Building with SIPs will save you time, money and labor.

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) are not more expensive. Generally, 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. You will also realize other savings over time because less expensive heating and cooling systems are required with SIP construction.

Comment for Structural Insulated Panels, SIPs

Barbara Smith

I like the idea of SIPs, but I wonder if they would be suitable for chemically sensitive persons. If the insulation is sanwiched between OSB, than OSB is what is going to be facing the interior of the living space, and OSB offgasses. Maybe it can be sealed so it doesn’t offgass into the living space with plaster or paint or taped, painted, dry wall. On its own, with ventilation, it takes about a year to offgass, in my experience.