Source: BUILDING PRODUCTS Magazine
Publication date: August 24, 2006
By Stephani L. Miller
Structural insulated panels (SIPs) have hovered at the far edges of the building industry for decades but have yet to make a large dent in market share. Nevertheless, builders who use these panels say they offer numerous advantages.
Primarily constructed with two outer skins of OSB and an insulating foam core, SIPs provide a more energy-efficient, airtight alternative to stick-and-batt construction, according to testing conducted by Oak Ridge National Labs. SIPs also offer faster installation, structural strength, efficient use of natural resources, and beefy warranties.
"There is a growing interest in this product because they're more energy efficient," says Dale Waters of Preservation Trade in Huntley, Va. Waters also says his SIPs structures are super strong and have survived 145-mile-per-hour winds. "These buildings are just engineered so well," he says.
"We can install the product fast," adds Steve Short of Short Construction in Georgetown, Ind. Short also says SIPs are ideal for building structurally difficult spaces, such as vaulted ceilings.
Building Market Share
A few major production builders use SIPs in some developments, including Pulte Homes in Virginia and KB Home in California. Yet SIPs still make up less than 2 percent of the residential construction market, according to the Structural Insulated Panel Association (SIPA). A new partnership between SIPA and A...
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