1.
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What does SIP mean?
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Structural Insulated Panel. A high insulating structural
sandwich of OSB (Oriented Strand Board)
skins and EPS foam (Expanded PolyStyrene)
bonded with a continuous film of durable and water-proof
urethane adhesive.
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2.
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What is the application of SIPs?
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Walls, Roofs, Floors --they can do it all. They make
excellent walls, replacing dimensional framing. As a
roof they work very well in place of, or in conjunction
with roof trusses. SIPs don't span as far as trusses
and require beam or truss girder support for longer
spans. Reinforcing joining spline can be employed flush
in the system to increase the spans. Dropped or flush
beams also work. Floors from SIPs perform better than
any other floor for vibration, and insulation.
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3.
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What thickness' are available?
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Foam cores
are available 1" foam to 12". Typically SIP
foam thickness matches out to dimensional sizes then the
OSB adds another 1" total.
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4.
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What size are SIPs?
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Size ranges
are 4' x 8' up to 8' x 24' panels. The larger size allows
the panel to be run horizontally 8 feet high x 24 feet
long or they can be oriented vertically up to 24 feet
high. 4' wide panels in varying lengths up to 24' are
the most common used. They are easily manoeuvred on-site
and only require 2 men to move and lift them without the
need of expensive crane time.
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5.
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How do SIP's replace dimensional walls?
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SIP Building
System's wall, roof and floor systems replace all exterior-supporting
walls or roof sections in buildings. Diverse in application,
Structural Insulated Panels are used effectively in conventional,
timber-framed, log home, multi-unit and
light commercial construction. SIPs can also be used for
interior supporting walls if there is a desire for added
seismic strength or fire separation.
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6.
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Why are SIPs so strong?
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The sandwich
principle creates an I-beam type structure where the loads
are carried by the OSB and spread over the entire surface
of the wall on both sides. The result is amazing strength
-just like a surfboard or a composite wing of an aircraft
that utilizes the same foam sandwich technology.
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7.
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How well do SIP's insulate?
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A 6.5"
SIP has 5 ½" of foam and provides an R Value
of R-23 COMPARED TO a 2x6 dimensional framed wall assembly
which provides a system value of R-14 due to thermal bridging
at stud locations at 24" o.c.
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8.
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What is stud loss?
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This has nothing
to do with horse ranching. A conventional wall has wood
or steel studs at on-center intervals with insulation
placed in-between. Relative to insulation, the wood is
a poor insulator -although it is 100 times better than
steel. The studs draw down the total system R-value by
conducting cold into the building faster than the insulation.
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9.
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Why do SIPs insulate better than their relative R-value
rating?
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Air tightness
is the main factor, setting up a chain of thermal characteristics.
Air movement through an insulation member tears away thermal
value. SIPs are 15 times more air-tight than a framed
assembly. High efficiency is attained through a combination
of the solid EPS insulation without air spaces and the
air-tightness created by the urethane glue film and the
EPS foam. Ratings of fibreglass R-value are done in static
air conditions -not with the reality of the applications.
Wind movement on a building creates significant pressure
differentials across the wall section and literally sets
up a 'wind' in the wall. Also -air voids and channels
form at all edges & corners in stud frame with fibreglass
batt-insulation systems. This network of voids of insulation
are air conduits, allowing the colder air within the stud
frame walls to drop to the bottom of the wall cavity is
the starting point for condensation and molds. Further,
in terms of comfort, the temperature gradient created
by the stud wall puts the cold air at the bottom of the
wall, which chills out the foot area of the room adding
to very real living discomfort. Occupants of SIP homes
can tolerate a cooler living space than a conventional
home and still feel cozy and warm.
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10.
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I keep hearing about condensation and mould in walls,
how does an SIP handle condensation?
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FIRST,
no condensation = NO moulds. The dew-point in a
SIP wall is in an area with no air and no air movement
through. Condensation is formed by air presence and changes
in temperature. As air cools, its capacity to hold moisture
decreases. Extreme condensation is caused by a continued
supply of new air through a location that creates a lowering
of the air stream temperature and thus repeated condensation.
A properly assembled SIP home is more than 15 times more
air tight than a new stick-built home.
SIP Building Systems ensures and warrants that at all
levels from fabrication to installation that every junction
of any material is adhered and has a gasket seal. Further
more after installation we provide a once over sealing
from the inside for a double and triple seal of the
entire assembly at every possible joint. No other structure
type receives such attention to detail. R2000 building
methods attempt to do so with much added costs and labor.
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11.
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Conventional homes have poly vapour barriers -isn't
this better and cheaper?
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Vapour barriers
create challenges and compromises to the structure when
climate conditions change. Vapour barriers are supposed
to be placed on the warm side --what about in the summer
when the warmth is on the outside -or the nightly cycle
change from hot out to hot in. Depending on the weather
of the day or night there are numerous occasions for condensation
to occur in the wall. If the wall is breathing (as they
do, but are not supposed to) the air entering the wall
smacks into the vapour barrier and continues until it
finds one of many potential entrances or exits from the
building. It is impossible to poly and tape all openings.
Somewhere condensation will occur -conventional walls
can only dry outward since there is a vapour barrier on
the inside. This reduces the wall capacity to 'dry-out'
by 50 %.
Moisture in a home can come from either outside sources
or inside. The inside moisture will always damage walls
in bathrooms and kitchen sink areas if the inside air
is not circulated and balanced. An SIP wall is an hi-
diffusion vapour barrier that allows the wall to slowly
dry inwards or out -depending on season and conditions
and also has no air channels or spaces for air to travel
and condense. An HRV -Heat Recovery Ventilator, is essential
in any home, but in a SIP home they are also essential
to retain the heat energy of the home while evacuating
the moist and stale air. Efficiencies range from 70%
to 85% heat recovery.
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12.
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Can you put conventional trusses on panel walls?
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Absolutely.
The panel has a top chord of kiln dried dimension lumber
ready to fasten trusses or the next floor level to --
just like a normal wall. If there is a need or want to
add a feature vault section in trusses, SIPs do the job
more cost effectively than any other building product
in terms of total materials cost, installation labour
and the excellent insulation properties.
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13.
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How long does it take to fill an SIP order?
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All orders are different
dependent on the details of the job. Specification prior
to panel fabrication is all-important. A small square
building is easiest and may be turned around in less than
a week while greater complexity in specification take
from three weeks to two months to deliver.
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14.
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Why would I want SIPs in my Garage?
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A garage of SIPs does not
require any drywall inside to create a finished surface
and automatically becomes a warm and cozy workshop in
the winter months and cool in the summer. There are excellent
primers and fire guard sprays that will enhance the look
as well as protect the building at a cost much lower than
drywall. Attachments to the walls are limitless with a
rated holding capacity of the panels.
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