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SIPs
Outperform Stick & Batt
(Oak
Ridge National Labs R-Value Test)
When someone says "R-value", what they're really talking about is
resistance to heat flow in a given medium, such as fiberglass insulation.
The higher the number, the greater the resistance. So when a builder is
asked "What's the R-value of this wall?", the natural inclination is to
think of the material that most commonly specifies its rating. More often
than not, it's the insulation, and the response is something along the lines
of "Oh, that wall has an R-value of 24" - fairly impressive, but also
strikingly inaccurate.
It's not that the builder is intentionally misleading his client or
associate, but that he's just following common practice. In reality, this
reasoning doesn't take into account all the other components that go into
making a wall: wood or steel studs every 16" or 24", bracing, nails or
screws, wiring and switch boxes - any number of things that are not
insulation, and in all likelihood, have R-values that fall well short of the
stated R-24.
A new study by
the Oak Ridge National Labs (ORNL) proves that a 4-inch SIP wall outperforms
2"x4" stick and batt construction, and even edges out 2"x6" construction in
terms of thermal performance. Because SIPs are the structural elements,
there are no studs or braces to cause breaks in the insulative action. The
end result is a more comfortable, energy efficient structure that performs
up to spec in real-world conditions. Unlike stick and batt construction,
which can be subject to poorly installed - even missing - insulation, the
nature of SIPs is such that the structural and insulative elements are
joined as one. There are no hidden gaps, because a solid layer of foam
insulation is integral to panel construction.
By contrast, state-of-the-art technical analysis of whole wall
performance indicates that the losses in a stud wall are much greater than
you might think: on average, the other standard components in stick and batt
construction can reduce R-values in as much as 30% of the wall area.
Fortunately, that's not the case with structural insulated panels. The ORNL
study found that SIPs perform at approximately 97% of their stated R-value
overall, losing only 3% to nail holes, seams, splines, and the like. Wiring
chases are precut or preformed into the foam core, providing a continuous
layer of insulation keeping the elements at bay and the interior free of
drafts and cold spots.
A SIP wall also outperforms stick and batt when it comes to maintaining
consistent interior temperatures, and that translates to improved occupant
comfort. As shown in the graph below, the interior surface temperature of
frame construction drops precipitously at every stud, while the SIP wall
remains consistent across its entire surface. No temperature dips mean
improved occupant comfort, regardless of where you are in the room. That's a
big part of what people are talking about when they say they can immediately
"feel the difference" in a SIP-built residential or commercial space. With
SIPs, thermal efficiency and comfort are built in at the factory, and now
the lab results prove it.

Interior surface temperature comparisons indicating constant temperature
for SIP wall and reductions in temperature at stud locations for 2"x 4' and
2" x 6" wood frame walls (ORNL).
Energy Savings
"If you are not using SIPs as your core building
material you are not serious about energy efficiency."
Michael Morley, Builder & Author -
"Building with Structural Insulated Panels"
Energy Payback
There are five reasons foam-panel homes should have lower heating
and cooling bills than homes insulated with common wall and ceiling
insulation materials:
- Structural Insulated Panels achieve thermal ratings of between
R-4 and R-7 per inch; batt and loose-fill materials are about half
that.
- With less wood, panels reduce thermal bridging (the transfer
of heat into or out of a structure through a solid piece of
lumber). A 16-foot SIP wall section with one 3 x 4-foot window
contains 5 percent wood and 95 percent Insulation. The same wall
framed with 2 x 4s 16 o.c. has 20 percent wood and a variable
amount of insulation.
- If not installed properly, batt insulation is susceptible to
voids. Batts are either jammed into narrow cavities, improperly
split around wiring or around electrical boxes, or cut too short
or too long. In some remodeling jobs, insulation is removed, but
not replaced. When used with a trussed roof system, batts won't
cover up the bottom chords, allowing heat to transfer directly
from the interior of the house into the attic area in the winter
and from the attic into the house in the summer. A solid foam
panel eliminates these problems.
- Any air moving within a conventionally insulated wall or
ceiling decreases the energy performance of batt insulation. When
properly sealed, foam panels do not allow air movement.
- Depending on proper installation and effective sealing of
joints and openings, Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) construction
lends itself to tighter-than-average construction. This is
especially true when SIPs are used for both walls and ceiling
because the systems are engineered to connect to each other easily
and tightly.
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Energy Tables |
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R Value |
Panel Thickness |
Weight (PSF) |
16.87 |
4.50" |
3.31 |
25.60 |
6.50" |
3.47 |
33.20 |
8.25" |
3.61 |
41.90 |
10.25" |
3.78 |
50.60 |
12.25" |
3.95 |
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CASE STUDY 1
Place: Watertown, S.D.
Heating degree days: 9,000
Size of home: 1,040
square feet with a full basement, identical floor plans
Energy source: Natural gas, forced-air furnace |
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Conventional frame |
Panel frame |
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Walls |
6' fiberglass batts with 1"
foil sheathing; R-24 |
5"EPS-core panels, R-24 |
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Ceiling |
12" fiberglass; R-38 |
71/2" EPS-core panels, R-32 |
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Heated
area |
Main floor |
Main floor and basement |
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Heating bill
Jan.-March |
$263 |
$85 |
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Source: Enercept, Inc., Watertown,
SD |
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CASE STUDY 2 Place: El Jebel,
Colo.
Heating degree days: 7,635
Size of home: 1,336 square feet
Heating source: Electric baseboard; HRV |
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Conventional 2 x 6
frame |
Panel frame |
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Walls |
51/2" fiberglass batts plus
1/2"exterior Insulated, R-22 with airtight drywall (5/8") |
R-22 |
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Ceiling |
Fiberglass batts, R-38 (R-30 in
slope) |
R-38 |
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Heated area |
Whole House |
Whole House |
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Heating bill
Oct.-Dec. |
$450 |
$112 |
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Source: Big Horn Construction Services,
Carbondale, Colo. |
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CASE STUDY 3 Place: Ludlow,
Mass
Heating degree days: 5,600
Size of home: 2400 square feet
Heating source: Electric |
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Conventional 2 x 6 frame |
Panel frame |
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Walls |
51/2" fiberglass
batts, R-19 |
R-25 |
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Ceiling |
9"Fiberglass batts, R-30 |
R-33 |
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Heated area |
Whole House |
Whole House |
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Heating bill
Oct.-Dec. |
$131/mo |
$30/mo |
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Source: Waverly Heights Development
Corporation, Ludlow, Mass. |
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The walls of this Idaho State Liquor Store in
Nampa, Idaho (pictured above the tables) are 6.5" thick (R 25.6) and 9'
high. Most panels measured 8' wide x 9' high. The total square footage
of this building is 2,990 square feet and the walls were installed in
one day. The General Contractor on this project was Sage Construction of
Caldwell, Idaho.
According to the Idaho State Liquor Dispensory, the
building saves them operating expenses every month. There is a similar
building located approximately 10 miles away in Caldwell, Idaho that has
a total of 3,010 square feet and was framed using 2 x 6 studs at 16" on
center. Below is the comparative energy costs for the (2) buildings
during the winter of 1997 / 1998:
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Building 1 |
Building 2 |
|
2 x 6 Stick Frame |
6.5" Precision
Panel |
December 1997 |
$158.92 |
$38.45 |
January 1998 |
$176.46 |
$64.85 |
February 1998 |
$112.85 |
$29.36 |
March 1998 |
$72.81 |
$22.07 |
Totals |
$521.04 |
$154.73 |
Savings over a 4 month period =
$366.31 |
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Some of the benefits of
our patented structural building system and
structural panels are as follows:
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- Higher Resale Value
- Less expensive than stick construction
Easier
to work with and less expensive than traditional SIPs construction
with OSB
Less expensive than metal skinned SIPs panels
Higher STC Values
Ability to meet geophysical hazards
Ability to meet structural and energy building codes
Energy Efficient
Easier and faster to assemble in the field
Superior energy savings
Environmental sensitivity
Enhanced safety and convenience
Significant cost savings
Less waste
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For More Information
E-Mail us at
info@advancedstructuralbuildingsystems.org
or use the contact
form below. |
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Contact form:
Please
provide the
following contact
information; |
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All
personal information
is held strictly
confidential.
Sips Home
Manufacturers.. Sips
Homes for sale.. SIPs
Buildings for sale,
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Are Structural Insulated Panels More Expensive?
~
Building with SIPs generally costs about the same as building with wood frame construction, when you factor in the labor savings resulting from shorter construction time and less job-site waste. Other savings are realized because less expensive heating and cooling systems are required with SIP construction.
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SIPs Homes Out Perform Traditional "Stick Built"
~
SIP buildings are vastly more energy efficient, stronger, quieter, and more draft free than other building systems, such as stud framing with fiberglass insulation. Fiberglass 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. |
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Save
construction time
and
"MONEY"
on your "CONSTRUCTION
LOANS" ~
SIPs Homes
construction also saves costly labor
hours. A project using stick frame
construction may take several weeks with
a 4-person crew, but will take as little
as 3 days, with the same crew, using our
SIPs Homes system.
What makes SIPs even
better is the wire chases which are
factory milled in the EPS (Expanded Poly
Styrene) insulation, so wiring is as
easy as just fishing the wiring through.
Insulation costs and installation are
also a thing of the past; the
EPS
(Expanded PolyStyrene) replaces the
normal insulation and gives a better
long-wall insulating value and
performance with minimal thermal drift. |
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Some
of the advantages
of a We Home are: |
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Insect and Mold Resistant
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High Energy Efficiency Components
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Increased Home Resale Values
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Decreased Building Time
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A True Green Product
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Decreased Mortgage & Payment Rates
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Potential Energy Tax Credits
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Reduced Energy Costs
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Increased Life Expectancy of Building
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High Wind Load Survivability
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Reduced Thermal Loss
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Reduced Insurance Rates
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Higher Overall Resale Value
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Reduced Costs For Heating and Cooling
Equipment
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Real Estate Financing Available in:
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado,
Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine,
Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi,
Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey,
New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio,
Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina,
South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia,
Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming |
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Please contact me at
info@advancedstructuralbuildingsystems.org
for all of your real estate financing
needs |
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