Frequently Asked Questions About SIPs
1.) WHAT ARE STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANELS (SIPs) SIPs are high-performance building panels for floors, walls, and roofs in residential and commercial buildings. Each panel is typically made using expanded polystyrene or rigid foam insulation sandwiched between structural skins of oriented strand board. The result is a building system that is strong, energy efficient, and cost effective. 2.) HOW DO SIPs COMPARE TO CONVENTIONAL CONSTRUCTION IN COST? According to the Structural Insulated Panel Association, building with SIPs generally costs about the same as building with wood-frame construction when labor savings from shorter construction time and less job-site waste are taken into account. Cutting and fabricating is done in a manufacturing plant, which reduces site labor and the time building materials are exposed to the weather on the job site. 3.) HOW ARE ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING SYSTEMS INSTALLED? "Chases," or channels, which act as conduits, are built into the foam cores of SIPs panels. 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. Where exterior wall vent pipes are necessary, chases can be formed in the foam cores. Installing island vents or loop vents is also a common practice and can be found in plumbing codes. 4.) ARE SIPs ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE? SIPs save on energy costs compared to conventional stick-frame construction. SIP technology provides higher whole-wall R-value, tightens the building envelope, and reduces air infiltration. You will also enjoy the green building benefits of less job-site waste, better utilization of material resources, and more environmentally friendly building practices. 5.) HOW STRONG ARE SIPs? 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. Not only do test results show panels are stronger, but natural disasters have proven it time and again. 6.) HOW DO SIPs REACT TO FIRE? Fire has three requirements: fuel, ignition, and oxygen. SIPs have no "air" within their solid cores of insulation. The fire cannot "run up the wall" cavity even when balloon framed. SIPs have passed every standard fire test required of wood-based or type V construction. A key element of fire safety is protection of the SIPs and any other underlying structure with 15-minute thermal barriers, such as gypsum wallboard. 7.) WHAT IS THE STRUCTURAL PERFORMANCE OF SIPs? SIPA manufacturers make their panels to meet code requirements and are listed with the National Evaluation Service, Inc. (NES) or the International Construction Code (ICC). These reports have load design charts showing allowable loads for given sizes of structural insulated panels. 8.) HOW MUCH DOES A SIP PANEL WEIGH? A 4x8x4½” SIP weighs about 100 lbs. 9.) ARE THE PANELS STRUCTURAL? Yes. And tests indicate CBS SIPs are significantly stronger than conventional 2x4 or 2x6 walls. In fact, houses built with SIPs have withstood the force of Class 6 hurricanes, such as Andrew, Hugo and Mitch. 10.) WHAT IS THE R-VALUE OF A SIP? The 4½” inch thick SIP has a rating of R-20. However, it is important to note that SIPs are much more efficient than conventional types of insulation with the same R-Value. A home built with SIPs will use about 50%-75% less energy than a typical stick-framed house. The solid, air-tight construction of these panels is what gives them their superior thermal performance.
104 Rock Bridge Road Dothan, Alabama 36303 dave@cbssips.com | www.cbssips.com Office: 334-352-4200 | eFax: 216-803-3865
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Frequently Asked Questions About SIPs continued
11.) DO SIPs NEED A VAPOR BARRIER? No, as long as the panel joints and connections are protected against moisture ex-filtration as detailed in CBS’s installation manual, a vapor barrier is not needed. 12.) HOW MUCH DO SIPs COST COMPARED WITH TRADITIONAL STICK FRAMING? SIPs can add approximately 1% to the overall cost of a home (or they can be approximately 1% less than the overall cost of a home) compared to a home built with traditional building materials. However, even if the cost is a little more, the resulting energy savings of the CBS SIPs system can quickly make up the difference. 13.) DO SIPs COME WITH WINDOWS AND DOORS PRE-CUT? Yes. All windows and doors can be cut at the factory assuring accuracy. 14.) WHAT TOOLS DO I NEED TO INSTALL SIPs? You will need regular carpentry tools plus a hot knife and expanding foam. A hot knife is a tool for holing out grooves in the EPS, and is needed whenever SIPs must be cut to size. Hot knives are easy to use and can be purchased or rented from CBS. Expanding foam is used to seal all connections between individual SIPs and top and bottom plates ensuring the structural integrity of the system. 15.) HOW DO YOU INSTALL WIRING? CBS SIPs are both simple and easy for electricians to wire. Two 1½” diameter horizontal wiring chases at 14" and 44" are standard in all wall panels. These chases can be easily accessed from interior partition walls or from beneath the floor deck. 16.) HOW DO CBS SIPs PANELS CONNECT? SIPs are fastened over a bottom plate and connected at the sides with EPS splines that are supplied with the CBS system. Two top plates are fastened to complete the process. 17.) HOW DO I FINISH SIPs? You can do this by siding or strapping the SIP walls directly. A moisture membrane is needed on the outside of the panel. After that, it’s just a matter of following the installation details from the siding or finishing manufacturer. 18.) WHAT IS THE FIRE RATING OF A SIP? With 1/2" gypsum board, SIPs have a 15-minute fire rating which meet residential fire code regulations. CBS SIPs also meet the International Building Code. As with any fire resistance issue, however, requirements vary by region, occupancy and building classification. You should contact your local building or fire departments to determine the necessary requirements and ensure compliance with local fire codes. 19.) WHAT IS THE WARRANTY ON CBS SIPs? CBS offers a 10-year structural warranty.
104 Rock Bridge Road Dothan, Alabama 36303 dave@cbssips.com | www.cbssips.com Office: 334-352-4200 | eFax: 216-803-3865
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