Structural
Insulated Panel
Structural Insulated Panel, known as SIP or SIPs is a high-performance
strong prefabricated building panel for walls, roofs, foundation walls,
and floors, in residential and commercial buildings. Greensmart’s panels
are typically made using expanded polystyrene rigid foam insulation
(EPS) sandwiched between two oversized structural skins of oriented
strand board (OSB), and other exterior surfaces are also available
to meet your needs. The result is a building system that is very strong,
predictable, energy efficient, and cost effective.

SIP FEATURES
-Affordable
-Environmental
-Radiant heat
-Lifetime roof
-Lifetime siding
-Highest standards in the industry
-New home warranty
-High energy efficiency
-Exceeds US Energy Star rating
-Exceeds CMHC R2000 rating |
SIP BENEFITS
-Low maintenance
-Save thousands on heating & maintenance
-Dust free healthy living
-Can be constructed in any environment
-Insect & rodent proof
-3 X stronger than a traditional home
-Environmentally Friendly
-Sound proof
-Earthquake resistant
-Tornado resistant |
Why OSB?
OSB is manufactured from waterproof heat-cured adhesives and rectangular
shaped wood strands that are arranged in cross-oriented layers, similar
to plywood. This results in a structural engineered wood panel that shares
many of the strength and performance characteristics of plywood. OSB panels
are environmentally smart and manufactured from a wide range of fast-growing
trees and shrubs once considered waste by the lumber industry.
Why expanded polystyrene?
Expanded polystyrene is a polymer impregnated with a foaming agent which,
when exposed to heat, creates a uniform, closed-cell structure highly resistant
to heat flow and moisture penetration. In addition to its excellent insulative
properties, EPS resists compression and bending, as well as providing good
cushioning properties. EPS is very resistant to moisture retention and
is much less combustible than wood. Polystyrene is also a safe, non-toxic,
clean product and for these reasons is approved for and widely used in
the food packaging industry.
Installation
SIPs construction relies on careful planning and design prior to delivery
and site assembly. Greensmart offers pre-designed house packages with wall
and roof panels of standardized dimensions to help control costs. For custom
designs, a completely customized panel layout must be produced. Greensmart
uses computer controlled equipment that transfers panel cutting instructions
directly from digital CAD (computer aided design) drawings.
The panels are then tarped and shipped to the jobsite for assembly. Ideally,
panels are offloaded and stacked in the exact reverse order needed, so
that no sorting or shuffling is required. After the bottom plate is attached
to the perimeter, placement of the wall panels begins. Panels weigh approximately
three pounds per square foot, so panels can be designed light enough to
be carried and set by hand.
Exterior walls for most houses can be erected in less than a day. Nails
and adhesive foam are used to fasten the panels to top and bottom plates,
and to make vertical connections. Review the shop drawings in detail, as
it explains how many nails will be needed for secure connections. Long
screws are used for SIP corner connections.
Walls must be properly braced and plumbed, and interior walls are typically
constructed with conventional framing. Beams that carry roof loads may
require stud supports incorporated into wall panels, to carry point loads
downward. This is shown in the engineered shop drawings. Heavier roof panels
are usually set in place with a crane.
To take full advantage of SIPs insulating capacity, care must be taken
to seal all joints properly, but the relatively small number of connections
makes this easier to accomplish. Spray polyurethane foam, gaskets and caulking
is used to fill any voids or gaps.
Some trades may find their work made simpler by SIPs construction. For
instance, drywall and siding installers need not worry about locating studs.
Others, such as electricians, may need to make special accommodations.
Most panels include a formed chase in the core for electric wiring, but
insets for boxes and additional channels must be mechanically routed, then
resealed with aerosol foam. Generally, best practices for plumbing design
route pipes through interior walls, but if placement of pipes in near exterior
walls is necessary, significant routing and foaming may be required.
|