SIP
The combination of materials in an SIP (structural integrated panel) makes it an airtight and efficient building material
An SIP, or structural insulated panel, has a foam center sandwiched between wood, metal or concrete panels, creating a solid, strong, and airtight sheet that is used for floors, foundations, roofs and walls. SIPs are all-in-one materials that can be used instead of framing with wood studs and insulation.
Typically SIPs are made with a polyurethane foam core between sheets of oriented strand board (OSB), but they can be manufactured with metal or concrete also. SIPs are used for walls, ceilings, and floors.
This kitchen island was made with SIPs; they can be decorative as well as structural.
The walls of this living room were created with SIPs and translucent polycarbonate glazing. SIPs are structural, like a wood stud. The foam core stands in for the insulation, and heating and cooling costs can be reduced because of its airtight nature. The fewer the seams, the better, as the only areas with SIPs that are not completely airtight are where the panels meet.
See photos of projects built with structural insulated panels (SIPs)
See photos of projects built with structural insulated panels (SIPs)