SIPs
Structural Insulated Panels
Increasingly stringent Building Regulations requiring lower U-Values and a demand for more environmentally friendly construction methods have resulted in an increased demand for Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs). The system was first seen in the UK in the 1970s but has been used in North America and Northern Europe for almost 50 years.
Modern SIPs panels comprise two outer boards of composite wood (OSB), from sustainable forest sources, with a CFC free Polyurethane foam filling. The resultant ‘sandwich’ forms a light and strong structure offering excellent structural load bearing and superior insulation.
Able to be used for walls and roofs, SIPs enables the maximum amount of space to be utilised, a huge advantage when plot space is at a minimum.
Aesthetically, SIP’s are able to be finished with a wide range of materials to fit in to a traditional environment or to stand out as a modern statement. Render systems can be applied to the outer skin or the panels can be covered with timber cladding, granite or brick. Roofs can be finished with both pantiles and slate.
The applications of SIPs does not stop at new builds. They can also be used in extensions to form a large, warm roof space over a traditional construction.
Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) are the next generation of construction.Their unparalleled energy efficiency, high build speed and low site wastage make them the obvious choice for the construction of residential, commercial and public sector projects.
