Structural insulated panels (SIPs) are high performance building panels used in floors, walls, and roofs for residential and light commercial buildings. The panels are typically made by sandwiching a core of rigid foam plastic insulation between two structural skins of oriented strand board (OSB). Other skin material can be used for specific purposes. SIPs are manufactured under factory controlled conditions and can be custom designed for each home. The result is a building system that is extremely strong, energy efficient and cost effective. Building with SIPs will save you time, money and labor.

SIP homes go up faster than traditionally framed buildings. A properly trained SIP installation crew can save a significant amount of time in a build cycle. Panels can be manufactured as big as 8- by 24-ft, so entire walls or Roof Panels can be put up quickly, reducing dry-in time. SIPs can be supplied as ready to install building components when they arrive at the jobsite, eliminating the time needed to perform individual jobsite operations of framing, insulating and sheathing stick-framed walls. With the proper training and equipment, a SIP crew can put up an entire roof with as little as 2 days worth of effort, not only saving on building time and cost but also allowing the Log Home to be under roof faster to speed up other building operations.

Builders and Homeowners can save money through decreased construction and labor costs. The superior whole wall or Roof R-values and building tightness capable with SIPS allow HVAC equipment to be downsized and ductwork to be minimized. Builders or Homeowners can also significantly reduce jobsite waste disposal and temporary heat during construction. Homeowners that incorporate other energy efficient features with SIP construction can benefit from the energy efficiency of a SIP home with reductions in heating

Most importantly, in terms of structural integrity, The structural characteristics of SIPS are similar to that of a steel I-Beam. The OSB skins act as the flange of the I-beam, while the rigid foam core provides the web. This design gives SIPS an advantage at handling in plane compressive loads. SIPS can be engineered for most applications. Detailed information on the structural performance of SIPS is available from SIPA member manufacturers