Q:  How are electrical and plumbing installed?
A:  In commercial construction, wiring is pulled through conduit. “Chases” or channels are built into the foam cores of a SIP panel that work like conduit. Electricians use a fish tape and feed the wires through panel chases without compressing insulation or drilling through studs. Typically, plumbing is installed in interior walls and floors, but not in exterior walls. Where exterior wall vent pipes are necessary, chases can be formed in the foam cores.

Q:  How do SIPs react to fire?
A:  Fire requires three components:  fuel, ignition, and oxygen.  SIPs have no “air” within their solid cores of insulation.  A key element of fire safety is protection of the SIPs and any other underlying structure with the use of plasterboard a single thickness would provide 30 minute barrier and a 2nd thickness would comply to 60 minute barrier.

Q:  How do SIPs save on Labour?
A:  Cutting and fabricating, based on your construction drawings, are done for you in a SIP manufacturing plant. That reduces site labour and time building materials are exposed to the weather on the job site. SIPs are also made in large sizes so assembly on-site is faster, framing crews are more productive, and the project is water tight sooner. That means other subcontractors can get a head start on the jobs they need to do.

Q:  Why are SIPs more environmentally responsible?
A:  When you build with SIPs, you are building homes that can save 50% or more on energy costs when compared to conventional timber frame construction. That means less fossil fuel consumption and less greenhouse gas emissions. SIP technology provides higher air tightness that allows you to downsize the heating and cooling equipment. Its the combination of these systems that makes up the technology of a high-performance SIP home. You will also enjoy the green building benefits of less job-site waste, better utilisation of material resources, and more environmentally friendly building practices.

Q:  Why are SIPs so much stronger?
A:  SIPs structural characteristics are similar to a steel I-beam. The skins act like the flanges of an I-beam, and the rigid core provides the web of the I-beam configuration. This composite assembly yields stiffness, strength, and predictable performance.

Q:  Why do SIP homes outperform others?
A:  SIP buildings are vastly more energy efficient, stronger, quieter, and more draft free than other building systems, such as stud framing with fibreglass insulation. Fibreglass is sometimes used for furnace filters because air moves through so freely. Rigid insulation is used as solid component insulation in almost every industry for its inherent efficiency and lack of air movement. These attributes are built right into a SIP building. Less air leakage means fewer drafts, less noise, lower energy bills, and a much more comfortable indoor environment.