When studying the history of urban planning throughout the "growing up" of mankind, one can observe interesting changes in the preference for materials for the construction of buildings. At first, these were buildings made of reeds and branches coated with clay, then wooden architecture appeared, which was replaced by stone buildings, then people approached the 21st century with a large selection of building materials that correspond to modern concepts of comfort and safety.
Houses made of SIP panels that came to us from Canada are very popular today.
History of SIP panels
People are so arranged that they are constantly looking for an opportunity to surround themselves with maximum comfort at a minimum cost. Since bulky and expensive materials no longer suited contractors, manufacturers began to look for an alternative to them. The first were Frank Wright and Elden Doe, who invented sandwich panels, which were based on plywood sheets with thermal insulation between them.
Only after Dow used expanded polystyrene as a heater, mass construction from SIP panels began, which became most popular in Canada, hence the name of the technology for building houses from this material. This was in the early 60s of the 20th century. To date, manufacturers have improved both the panels themselves and their assembly so much that by buying a ready-made house kit from SIP panels from the factory, even a beginner will be able to build his own house.
As practice shows, in our time, houses using Canadian technology are being built all over the world, and this is due to the qualities they are endowed with:
- unique composition;
- mode of production;
- installation features;
- construction speed.
On the modern market, you can find SIP panels, the price of which depends only on the place where the materials for them are produced. Today, you won’t surprise anyone that outdoor slabs are made in one country, thermal insulation in another, and SIP panels are assembled in a third, but it’s still cheaper than transporting finished products from distant Canada.
Therefore, many companies have appeared on the European and domestic markets that manufacture SIP panels using the same technology at home. Feedback from residents (pros and cons, first of all) living in such houses means more to them than any advertisement. It was the cheapness of the material and the high quality of the finished buildings that made them so popular with the population.
Panel composition
As a rule, houses made of SIP panels serve their owners for a long time, have an attractive appearance and are reliable. This is due to the quality of the materials from which they are made:
Important to know: When testing panels, it was found that with a thickness of 22.4 cm they provide a heat transfer resistance of 5.2 W / m ℃, while for a brick wall with a thickness of 40 cm it is only 2 W / m ℃.
Given that the construction of SIP panels is many times cheaper, and the quality and visual appeal of the building itself is not inferior to similar brick houses, it is understandable why many consumers opt for Canadian technology. This is just such an option when you can create maximum comfort at an affordable price.
Advantages of SIP panels
Since technologies do not stand still, but are constantly developing, it is possible that soon houses with walls made of SIP panels will be more common than those made of brick or foam concrete. This is due to the benefits they provide:
- The most important plus in these panels is their thermal insulation. If we take heat transfer equal to 3 W / m ° C as the basis for the wall resistance value, then the thickness of the SIP panels will be 16.4 cm, while:
- timber - 52 cm;
- foam concrete - 60 cm;
- expanded clay concrete - 101 cm;
- brick - 230 cm;
- concrete - 450 cm.
It is important to know: this ability to retain heat inside the house can significantly save energy costs when heating it.
If you believe the information, SIP panels (reviews from residents, the pros and cons of this technology, etc.) are still unmatched in price, quality and reliability. Since manufacturers are always looking for ways to make them even cheaper without changing the technical characteristics for the worse, there is hope that Canadian homes will soon begin to lead in the number of new buildings.
Disadvantages of SIP panels
For more than 50 years, houses have been built around the world using Canadian technology, so we can safely say that it has stood the test of time. To find flaws in a SIP panel, you need to try very hard, because most often complaints are due to negligent sellers or inattentive buyers. For example:
- Everyone knows that this material is absolutely safe for human life and environmentally friendly, but not everyone knows that this applies only to panels of the "E0" category. There are so-called household SIP panels, the price of which is much lower, but they are marked with the E3 sign and are not suitable for building houses, especially for permanent residence in them. Instead of safe polystyrene foam, they are insulated with ordinary foam. It is good to assemble utility buildings from such panels, for example, a firewood shed. The problem is that this “fake”, as unknowing consumers call it, produces harmful substances under the influence of heat, but this does not mean that utility rooms cannot be built from it, where human stay is minimal.
It is important to know: if you want to build a house from SIP panels for permanent residence, you need to look at their certificates not only for quality, but also for safety, and study them visually before buying materials, since polystyrene foam is easy to distinguish from polystyrene foam. In extreme cases, you can give them for examination and, based on its result, decide whether to buy goods or not from this manufacturer.
- If you look for the disadvantages of houses from SIP panels, then one of the most disturbing is the fact that such a structure, if desired, can be destroyed and penetrated inside.
- In the event of violations in the technology, the installation of SIP panels will be unreliable, and their integrity can be easily violated. Slots will appear at the joints, which will have to be further strengthened and isolated. You should act strictly according to the instructions from the manufacturers or hire a team of professionals.
- One of the advantages of the technology is the tightness, which forms the effect of a thermos. But this is also considered a disadvantage of such material as SIP panels. The disadvantages here are that if ventilation is not carried out in the house, then soon it will be possible to observe the effect of wet walls, followed by fungus and mold.
- A prerequisite for the installation of walls from SIP panels is the protection of the joints with timber or mounting foam in order to avoid moisture ingress into the thermal insulation.
As a rule, the technology itself has no drawbacks, unless the manufacturers of SIP panels are cunning and, for the sake of economy, do not use cheap materials or the installation rules have not been violated. Other than that, it's a great building material.
Features of the foundation for houses from SIP panels
As a rule, a house starts with a foundation, and any kind of it is suitable for panel houses using Canadian technology. Most often used:
It is important to know: when deciding on the foundation for a "Canadian" house, you need to rely on such indicators as the composition of the soil, the weight of the structure and the type of heating and ventilation.
Connection nodes
The assembly of SIP panels should be carried out with careful monitoring of the reliability of the connections of each part of the structure. The main nodes for connecting buildings from sandwich panels are:
- Places of docking of floor panels with the base.
- Knots for connecting wall corners.
- Joints connecting walls, ceilings and roofs.
- Nodes connecting the roof with SIP panels.
It is important to know: all installation work on joining panels must be fixed with self-tapping screws and fixed with mounting foam.
House decoration outside
No matter how attractive the shape and layout of a house made of SIP panels, outwardly it looks completely unattractive. To provide it with not only a presentable appearance, but also to protect it from bad weather or mechanical damage, finishing work should be carried out. For houses assembled using Canadian technology, the following types of facade work are suitable:
It is important to know: decorative plaster and natural stone can give a fairly inexpensive SIP-panel house an incredibly attractive look, but keep in mind that these materials require professional skills when laying them and are expensive.
Interior decoration
A house assembled using Canadian technology can be given elegance on the outside and comfort on the inside. Walls made of SIP panels are an excellent material for interior decoration, which consists of the following steps:
- Wall decoration, for which completely different materials can be used: from tiles in the kitchen and bathroom, to PVC panels, wallpaper and drywall in other rooms. The material must be selected based on the condition of the room, for example, with high humidity, the best solution would be to use plastic, and for additional wall insulation - decorative plaster or cork wallpaper.
- Ceiling decoration does not need additional alignment, so you can immediately start decorating it. It can be stretch ceilings or plasterboard finishes. To reduce the cost of interior work, many consumers use expanded polystyrene tiles, which are both inexpensive and look spectacular.
- Everyone chooses flooring according to their taste and wallet. It can be tile or linoleum, laminate, parquet or underfloor heating system.
It is important to know: when choosing materials for interior finishing work, you need to focus not so much on their cost as on safety. Some attractive-looking materials change their properties under conditions of temperature difference, which you should know before buying them.
Manufacturers
Today you can find both one-story houses made of SIP panels, as well as two and three-story mansions. This suggests that the technology, which has been popular all over the world for more than 50 years, has begun to take root in the domestic construction market.
This is due to the fact that the possibility of producing ready-made sandwich panels on the spot has significantly reduced the cost of the material, and now the consumer has only one task: to figure out which manufacturer can be trusted. The most popular domestic firms are:
- The Hotwell company, which has won the hearts of customers not only with its discounts and promotions, but also with high-quality goods, which are made both according to standards and to order. This allows the consumer to independently decide what size SIP panels should be for his home.
- The Bauen House plant is famous not only for the quality of its products, but also for the high price, which is not at all surprising, because materials from Germany are used here for the production of SIP panels.
- The company "Building Together" also uses German components in its technologies, but its distinctive quality is work without intermediaries, which significantly reduces the cost of panels.
This is not a complete list of domestic manufacturers that guarantee the quality of their goods, but even with the most positive feedback from customers, you should ask to see certificates for the quality and safety of their SIP panels.
Sometimes inexperienced customers become victims of unscrupulous manufacturers who, in order to reduce the cost of the manufacturing process of SIP panels, use deliberately poor-quality materials or glue. This leads to the fact that, at first glance, a strong house, after a winter or two, begins to literally crumble. To avoid this, you need to carefully study all the documents for the products, and not just ask about their availability.
If the choice fell on Chinese firms, then you need to be prepared that in their SIP panels, flammable polystyrene foam is used as a heater. Perhaps the house of them is not destined to be on fire, but no one knows for sure. Cheap material ignites quickly and, when burned, releases smoke harmful to the human body, while real polystyrene foam is difficult to set on fire, and when ignited, it quickly goes out.
When choosing SIP panels for assembling a house, you need to study the company, find out how many years it has been on the market, what materials it uses and on what equipment it produces products.
People always dream of having their own inexpensive, high-quality, reliable home. Today, construction companies place lucrative ads for the construction of a full-fledged house kit at reasonable prices, but the offered housing consists of structural-insulating panels, about which potential owners are heatedly debating. Main topic: advantages and disadvantages of Canadian technology low-rise frame-panel construction.
What is SIP
The fashion for them came from Canada and the USA, where climatic conditions are similar to the weather in Russia and the CIS countries. There, the erected structures serve for decades without any complaints, and several generations have time to live in them. Here, panel SIP houses are an untested innovation, although there are positive reviews among those who managed to build them.
To understand the advantages and disadvantages of SIP, you need to understand what is structural insulation panel.
This is a three-layer construction, consisting of two OSB boards and a layer of insulation made of expanded polystyrene or mineral wool. The OSB board itself is 95-97% wood chips, the remaining 3-5% are resin, hardeners and other fillers that have a protective function. The connection takes place under pressure using a harmless adhesive base.
All elements are assembled in the factory with program control, the dimensions are adjusted to the millimeter. They vary in thickness. The standard option is two OSB sheets of 12 mm and a layer of insulation of 150 mm. If thicker/thinner walls are needed, other parameters are possible. As a rule, roof panels are lighter and thinner, wall panels are thicker and heavier. The whole house is assembled from them, with the exception of the foundation and the truss system / strapping (timber).
Advantages
The main advantages of SIP include a long list of sub-items. 
First of all, their use does not require a special approach to the choice of soil. Such buildings are installed on pile or strip foundations. If the structure is placed on screw piles, then the terrain may be embossed or be near water.
- Light weight and expandable
- All weather construction
- Assembly speed
All the elements are so adjusted to each other that the construction resembles a game of Lego, where you just need to connect the parts correctly. This also includes the assembly speed - a few days, and the box is ready!
- No cold bridges
The panel is glued at the factory under pressure, and the appearance of unnecessary gaps is excluded. This advantage cannot be boasted by other multilayer structures.
- No extra spending on internal repairs
The finished house has even walls, so there are no extra costs for leveling the surface. Finishing elements are fixed easily and firmly.
- Heating
If we talk about the arrangement of communications, then heating a house from SIP panels will also not cause big problems. The building owner has several options for obtaining heat:
- electricity - convectors, fan heaters, underfloor heating, infrared emitters, oil radiators;
- gas, if a gas pipeline passes nearby;
- water heating system;
- air heating, in which in parallel the owner receives not only heat, but also ventilation.
In order to have a truly warm housing that can withstand frosts of -30, when building a house from SIP panels, it is necessary to seal all existing joints with mounting foam as much as possible. It is applied before attaching an adjacent structural element. In this case, the owner is provided with 100% tightness!
If we compare the energy efficiency characteristics of SIP buildings with buildings made of other materials, then the former have a great advantage over the latter. Such housing is very warm, because the insulation layer in the SIP panel keeps the temperature better than the same mineral wool. The house warms up quickly, and the heat received from heat carriers and residents retains for a long time. Over time, the insulation does not lose its properties, unlike other building materials. It simply shows huge savings on heating, which has become a top priority in Russia since electricity prices skyrocketed.
The thickness of the "Canadian" outer walls is small. This not only saves space inside, but also allows you to insert neat windows that let in enough light. Again, a plus in favor of savings - there is no need to increase the glazing area.
As already mentioned, in Russia and the CIS countries, SIP is a fairly young introduction to the construction of frame-panel houses, so it is too early to talk about their huge service life. If you look at the experience of Canadians and Americans, then their home has been standing for 70-80 years without signs of destruction.
And, of course, the main plus is the price for the house itself, the delivery of all elements and installation work. During construction, lifting equipment is not needed, and 2-3 euro trucks are enough to bring a complete house kit to the construction site. If a person has experience in construction and installation work, then he will be able to assemble housing with his own hands without the help of a team of craftsmen.
disadvantages
The disadvantages of SIP houses include only a few points that, with a thorough approach, are completely eliminated.
There are legends about the increased flammability of this type of housing. This is not entirely true, because both a brick and a stone house can burn down, just like a SIP building. The question is how long can walls and roofs made of such material withstand open fire. Of course, stone and brick masonry last longer, but compared to wood housing, “Canadian” technologies last 2 times longer.
As a rule, a fire is a consequence of violations of safety rules by residents, the installation of heating and household appliances that do not meet fire requirements, or improperly arranged electrical wiring. To increase fire resistance, it is necessary to sheathe the panels with drywall or treat them with fire-retardant paints and compounds.
Criticism towards structural insulation panels is quite justified - without additional cladding with noise-absorbing material, residents will hear everything: street sounds spoken in the next room, ordinary children's games on the second floor. Drywall in several layers inside + carpet on the floor, good facade decoration with siding or facade stone, and silence sets in.
- Environmental friendliness
It is believed that rodents start up in polystyrene foam, and the resins that make up the protective layer of the plates emit toxic fumes. This is not entirely true. Firstly, formaldehyde, which everyone is so afraid of, is present in SIP panels no more than in natural wood, and its amount is in any case less than allowed by regulatory documents. Secondly, the insulation, to which rodents could show interest, is tightly closed with OSB boards. The chips included in the OSB are impregnated with a special composition and laid in such an order that, when chipped, it forms sharp chips.
Based on these facts, it can be argued that the level of environmental friendliness of SIP is in no way inferior to other building materials.
As can be seen from reasonable arguments, the advantages of Canadian house building technology noticeably prevail over its shortcomings, so if you want to have inexpensive, warm and prefabricated housing, do not be afraid to buy SIP panels! Our company sells only high-quality SIPs that comply with all Uniform hygienic and sanitary-epidemiological requirements established by the state.
SIP panels are fairly simple products made of expanded polystyrene and oriented strand boards. Due to the fact that 90% of the thickness of the panel is foam, the product is obtained with very high thermal insulation properties. Standard slabs are about 17 cm thick, which makes it possible to build very thin walls and partitions, creating spacious rooms.
The brochures explain in detail what SIP panels are and assure that it is faster and more economical to build a house from SIP panels than a traditional brick or concrete structure. How advertising is true, we have to figure out our review.
The Canadian way of building houses from sip panels has been known for many decades. The climatic conditions of our country are in many respects similar to those of Canada. The construction method of the building is based on frame construction using SIP panels. Abbreviation " SIP» means - structural insulated panel. It serves as the main structural element in this method of low-rise construction.
Structurally, the SIP-panel is a three-layer plate - a heater in the middle and along the edges of two sheets of OSB, glued together with a special glue under high pressure. Foamed polystyrene foam is most often used as a heater.
Simply put, SIP is a structural insulating panel, even simpler: a building element for the construction of wall partitions and house frames. It is a combination of a pair of OSB boards enveloping extruded polystyrene foam. The layers of the “pie” are smeared with polyurethane glue and under a press with a force of 18 tons are securely glued to each other.
A building built from SIP panels has its own advantages and disadvantages. The frame method of housing construction using multilayer panels has become one of the most popular in our country, as it allows you to build light and at the same time strong, durable houses with excellent thermal characteristics.
For cottages made of SIP panels, severe frosts are not terrible, since the enclosing structures made of such materials meet modern requirements for heat saving. To maintain a comfortable microclimate in the winter in your own cottage, the owner does not have to spend huge amounts of money on heating.
What are SIP panels, their application and purpose.
Sip panel is a wonderful and versatile material with the purpose of the main application in the building complex. It greatly facilitates the construction of frame houses and buildings.
As mentioned, SIP is a structural insulating panel made according to the “sandwich” principle, two sheets of OSB hold a layer of polystyrene insulation inside. Polyurethane glue acts as a connecting link, the entire “pie” is fastened using a press with an external pressure of 18 tons.
Sheet OSB- nothing more than oriented strand board, a modern analogue of the usual chipboard, only more durable and elastic. Recently, OSB sheets are increasingly replacing chipboard from the construction market. Instead of sawdust, OSB sheets use layers of wood shavings interconnected by resins with a minimum formaldehyde content. Externally, OSB sheets resemble plywood.
The insulation layer with SIP panels is a material similar to polystyrene, but with better technical characteristics, famous entitled - . The properties of expanded polystyrene do an excellent job of keeping warm in the house and not letting cold air flows into the room.
Despite the fact that Canadian technology allows you to build a house in a week, and it has been used for more than forty years, this method of construction is perceived by the domestic consumer with great distrust. Indeed, people are prejudiced against everything new, especially since SIP panels look rather fragile. A brick building is still a priority in the domestic market, even if it is several times more expensive, longer and requires resource-intensive measures.
American and European construction colleagues, in order to explain to the inhabitants the advantages of technology, create special associations. While we express distrust and look at SIP panels as an overseas curiosity,practical foreigners assist newcomers in developing technology-based projects using SIP panels.
Companies give practical advice, help with recommendations for the installation and construction of frame walls. Photos of SIP panels illustrate the simplicity of the construction method and we hope that in the near future they will become a competitor in the choice of material from which you will build your own house.
Benefits of Sip Panel
A logical step before building a house is to clarify all the pros and cons of building a dwelling from SIP panels. The main properties of SIP panels, their advantages and disadvantages, are determined by the inner layer of the central part. It is clear that OSB sheets play a significant role in the strength of the structure, but it is stone wool, foamed polyurethane foam, or extruded polystyrene foam stand guard and do not allow the penetration of cold.
The thickness of the inner layer varies from the climatic zone of the building and from the wishes of the customer. Thickening varies within 50 - 250 mm. In central Russia, PSB-25 or PSB-S-25 polystyrene foam is usually used, with density characteristics of 25 kg per cubic meter. As practice shows, in such a house a comfortable temperature is maintained all year round.
Of course, each technology has advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage of using SIP panels is the speed of building a house, convenience and a high degree of comfort obtained as a result. The decision to realize a dream house from SIP panels will be a rational approach, since the main advantages of building from such a material are:
pros
1. Simplicity and high speed of construction. The large dimensions and low weight of the panels make it possible to quickly erect any buildings without special skills and with a minimum set of tools.
2. A small mass of material (about 20 kg per square meter of the panel) greatly lightens the total weight of the building structure, and it does not require the construction of a complex massive foundation (as for brickwork). H It will be possible to start building a house after installationsimple strip foundation. ApplicationSIP panels relieve the foundation from heavy loads, the weight of the SIP panel rarely exceeds 60 kg.
3. High performance thermal insulation. SIP panels have a very low thermal conductivity value. It will take a wall with a thickness of more than two meters to replace one SIP panel according to this indicator. High rates of thermal insulation of premises allow you to save significant funds on heating.
4. Excellent sound insulation. Expanded polystyrene significantly prevents the penetration of sounds. Even a small thickness of polystyrene blocks the propagation of sound waves. Peaceful sleep is guaranteed, street noise will remain outside the window.
5. SIP panels are not affected by fungus, which is very important for a humid climate.
6. Durability of panels is more than 60 years.
7. All-season building. Installation of buildings from the described material can be carried out all year round and in any weather. The short time for construction is especially attractive for customers of a garden house. A small dacha made of SIP panels will be built during the May holidays. For a more serious house, it will not take much more time, so a two-story building with an area of 150 m2 will be delivered on a turnkey basis in 3-4 weeks.
8. When installing SIP panels, no waste is generated.
9. Easy transportation of SIP panels. The insignificant mass of one SIP panel allows you to organize unloading work with small forces. Another plus, as it is possible to significantly save on delivery and refuse the services of professional movers.
10. SIP panels, the price of which pleasantly surprises with its affordability, and does not exceed $30 per m2, are increasingly becoming an alternative tool for building houses, in comparison with traditional building materials.
Tests and tests of the SIP panel
Factory tests are carried out constantly, products are tested according to numerous indicators. During research, SIP panels are subjected to longitudinal and transverse multiple loads, checking the resistance to destruction by mechanical methods of impact. So it was revealed that the SIP panel is able to withstand a longitudinal load of 10 tons. It is possible to break a SIP panel across only by loading the ceiling only with a mass of 2 tons per m2.
Disadvantages of SIP panels
There are some disadvantages of this type of building material:
1. Combustibility. Due to the treatment with a special composition, the combustibility of SIP panels is several times lower when compared with that of ordinary wood. Expanded polystyrene does not burn, but smolders with a self-extinguishing process.
The main concern among potential buyers is the problems associated with the fire resistance of SIP panels. It is reasonable to take care of fire safety, since OSB sheets are, first of all, 90% wood chips. But upon closer examination, it turns out that there is no reason for concern.
First, each panel is treated with a specific solution flame retardant - a means of resisting combustion processes. The flame retardant increases the fire resistance of OSB sheets by 7 times when compared with ordinary wood. Secondly, the properties of extruded polystyrene foam, not suggest combustion at all, the material only melts and, without third-party direct exposure to the flame, simply self-extinguishes.
2. From the point of view of environmental friendliness and safety of impact on the human body, it has been proven that the amount of harmful volatile substances emitted does not pose any threat. The material is not hazardous to health. Adhesives and resins of course contain a minimum amount of formaldehyde in SIP panels, but no more than a closet in your hallway.
3. When assembling the structure, small gaps and cracks are formed, which leads to drafts. This requires additional sealing measures.
4. Condensation may accumulate at the joints of the plates and the frame of the building.
SIP panels and rodents
Brick and concrete structures perfectly protect dwellings from the penetration of rodents. What about SIP panels? The material is far from reinforced concrete, environmentally friendly, warm, doesn’t this attract mice to make passages and minks? Any villager will say that mice enter human dwellings by gnawing through wooden structures.
In addition, there is a fear that expanded polystyrene will attract rodents to build their nests in it and become a favorable environment for breeding. The above concerns are not being realized for two reasons. Firstly, the heat-insulating layer is reinforced on both sides with OSB sheets.
Secondly, the OSB material is impregnated with resin and is not edible for rodents. It has good strength, which serves as a serious obstacle for them. In addition, of the mouse kingdom, there is no interest in inedible tinsulating polystyrene. You can also always use metal nets around the basement floor, decorative, which, to an even greater extent, will create a protective barrier against mice.
Video showing how SIP panels are made:
What awaits the owner of a house from SIP panels
The excellent thermal performance of SIP panels makes them more profitable in comparison with aerated concrete, as well as conventional wooden building materials. During the heating season, you can save quite a significant amount due to the fact that the walls of SIP panels are completely sealed, and the building envelope does not accumulate heat.
To heat a cottage of a small size (up to 100 sq. m), an electric heater with a power of only 4 kW is enough. The amount of energy spent on this is several times less than when heating brick and wood buildings.
Since the consumption of electricity is small, it is quite profitable to heat the house in this way. An electric heating system does not require large installation and maintenance costs, and does not require fuel. In areas located far from gas mains, this heating option seems to be the most successful. Structures made of SIP panels do not accumulate heat, therefore, when heating rooms, the system heats only the air.
It should be more detailed about tightness. Since there are no gaps between the panels (thanks to the tenon-groove connection), there are no "cold bridges" in the outer walls. Lightweight panel structures are not subject to shrinkage and deformation, so tightness is maintained for decades.
It should also be taken into account that expanded polystyrene does not absorb moisture at all and does not lose its thermal insulation characteristics for many years.
Since SIP-panel houses have very tight walls, it becomes necessary to create a powerful ventilation system that provides a constant supply of fresh air. In winter, more heat is consumed, since the heating system has to warm up the cold air coming from the street.
In order to reduce heat losses, in this case it is recommended to install recuperators that heat the incoming air due to the heat given off by the outgoing exhaust air.
Since SIP panels are characterized by low thermal conductivity and can serve for a long time at extremely low temperatures, it becomes possible to build houses using this technology in regions with a harsh climate. The house can be used not only for permanent residence, but also as a country house in the summer.
What heaters are found in SIP panels
Structures made of SIP panels are not damaged by sudden temperature changes and do not lose their characteristics even during the absence of heating. Thanks for this should be modern thermal insulation components. There are a lot of thermal insulation materials on the modern market, but the following thermal insulators reveal their properties best of all:
- extruded polystyrene foam,
- fiberglass boards,
- expanded polyurethane foam,
The most common core layer of SIP panels is made from extruded polystyrene foam. The cellular structure holds a lot of air, while the polymer component adds a number of unique advantages to the product:
- Complete absence of water absorption. Repeated tests have shown no absorption of moisture, even after 10 days of immersion in water. The maximum absorption was 0.4% liquid to the test volume.
- Vapor permeability within 0.05 Mg/m*hPa, which corresponds to the values of pine or oak tree species.
- Low vapor permeability prevents the formation of a favorable environment for the reproduction of microorganisms and pathogenic fungi.
- Rodents can make holes and passages in Styrofoam, but do not eat it. OSB boards, external metal mesh and decorative elements on SIP panels will serve as an obstacle.
- The service life declared by the manufacturers of expanded polystyrene exceeds 60 years.
Another advantage for which installers and builders are so fond of SIP panels is their low weight. Depending on the density, the mass of expanded polystyrene in 1 cube does not exceed from 10 to 15 kg. The construction of a cottage from SIP panels is carried out in record time, this is largely facilitated by the low mass of the structure.
Rarely used materials
A mineral product that provides high heat and sound insulation characteristics of SIP panels. Stone wool does not burn, does not come into contact with external aggressive media. Can withstand high temperatures without damage.
There are practically no minuses, only it is necessary to strengthen the rigidity of the SIP panel structure with intermediate partitions. In addition, during installation work, protection against fine stone dust should be used and contact with open areas of the body should be avoided.
In a humid climate, polyurethane foam will become an indispensable filler. Possessing the same thermal insulation characteristics as extruded polystyrene foam, in terms of hydro and vapor barrier, it has no equal.
Fiberglass boards are rarely used. The material has no hardness and deforms already at +40 C. An indisputable advantage is only excellent sound absorption, but the best solution would still be to replace glass wool with basalt filler.
Recall that “Quality is never cheap”, today a large number of manufacturers offer products at low prices. The production is not difficult, to the point that you can make SIP panels with your own hands.
The whole question is as a heat-insulating material and adhesive composition. All problems arising after the purchase of SIP boards " come out outside” due to excessive savings on the quality of components, leaving the choice for cheap products.
The main subject of economy of an unscrupulous manufacturer is the banal use of a low-quality adhesive composition. An uneven layer of glue, the lack of high-quality adhesion to the insulation all this leads to delamination of the “pie”. Oriented strand board, in this case, under any impact, tends to peel off from the expanded polystyrene.
The second, as you might guess, is the use of low-quality insulation and expanded polystyrene foam. Non-certified products may support combustion and release harmful substances. While an expensive and high-quality product does not burn and self-extinguishes in the absence of exposure to direct fire.
From the above, it is worth highlighting practical tips that will be useful and help you choose SIP panels without errors:
Before ordering a batch, do not be lazy, go to the supplier and personally verify the proper quality of production.
Try to stick to the "golden mean", remember that it's cheap - most likely due to savings on components, "the miser pays twice", you are unlikely to be pleased with the prospect of buying a house a second time.
If possible, it is better to order SIP panels directly from the manufacturer, in which case it will be easier for you to resolve warranty repair issues. Resellers, as a rule, try not to participate in disputes and do not solve any problems, they are limited only to making a profit.
Negotiate the price, taking into account delivery, payment if possible, also negotiate after delivery. The material is fragile, it is advisable to pay for it after you make sure that it is safe and sound on the construction site.
Features and manufacturers of SIP panels
Taking into account the fact that the frame of the SIP panel is made of wood chip boards, their shrinkage or expansion is possible, taking into account humidity. SIP panels "breathe", even high-quality German suppliers could not get away from this.
It should be noted that the European concern Egger has been considered one of the leaders in the stable and high quality of products for many years. By the way, the concern has production sites in Russia.
We will not say, but most likely the Glunz company claims the second place. SIP panels from these manufacturers have proven their quality in numerous projects. The high reputation of suppliers is beyond doubt.
How your dream home might look like in the end, you can see in the video review:
Sip panels are a convenient material with excellent characteristics and a long service life, allowing you to build buildings in the shortest possible time. Sip panel houses have their strengths and weaknesses, which will need to be studied in detail. This material gained its popularity in Canada, but after it began to be actively used around the world. Sip technology for building houses is not particularly difficult, so this material has recently been used more and more often.
Panel composition
The advantages of sip houses are provided due to the composition of this material. It consists of the following elements:
- The basis of such a product is OSB-plate. These slabs are made on the basis of long and narrow chips, stacked in layers and compacted so that they lie perpendicular to each other on all sides of the sheet. Such a production technology increases the flexibility of the product under loads in different planes, such properties are not available in ordinary wood. Often, chips based on pine or aspen are used for sip panels. These boards are 97% wood, the rest is binder components. The structures are treated with a special water-repellent solution, which provides protection against moisture, decay and mechanical stress.
- Expanded polystyrene is also used, which is characterized by low thermal conductivity with light weight. During manufacture, gas is added to the polystyrene mass. Depending on the properties of the product, the substance can vary greatly, for example, carbon dioxide is used for fire-resistant structures. A sheet of such a product with a thickness of only 11 cm is able to provide a level of thermal insulation comparable to a wall consisting of silicate brick 2 m thick.
Knowing what sip panels are, what are their pros and cons, it is easy to understand why this material is so often used for the construction of buildings.
Video description
Together with Sergey Petrusha (StroyKhlam) we will show the results of an air test in a SIP house in this video:
Panel characteristics
To evaluate the quality of a house made of sip panels, the pros and cons of using such material, you need to carefully study its characteristics. According to European standards, the material has the following dimensions:
- The width can be 1.25 or 1.2 m.
- The length can be 2.5 or 2.8 m, in some cases 3 and 6 m.
Sip panels in standard sizes
Product thickness can vary greatly. Basically it depends on the layer of thermal insulation. The insulation can be 100, 150 or 200 mm thick.
On our website you can find contacts of construction companies that offer the service of building houses from SIP panels. You can directly communicate with representatives by visiting the exhibition of houses "Low-Rise Country".
Advantages of using sip panels
For the construction of any building, you first need to make a foundation. When using brick or monolithic structures, it is necessary to create a basis with a large laying depth. Sip technology will help to significantly reduce the size of the foundation. This is because the walls after construction will not exert much pressure on the base. The average weight of one panel will be no more than 60 kg.
The main advantages of such panels include:
- High rates of fire resistance. During the experiments, experts found that the material is able to hold fire for a whole hour. The product also has the ability to self-extinguish. This is due to the presence of an antiperine in the composition. Stories of well-burning sip panels are a myth that usually refers to craft products from unverified manufacturers.
- The material is environmentally friendly and does not emit any harmful substances during combustion. All components are completely safe for humans.
- High levels of strength. This is one of the key advantages of the panels, which is very important in the construction of buildings. Walls made of such material are able to withstand heavy loads.
- stability. This characteristic can be improved by adding a stiffening frame using bars inside the structure.
- The rigidity of the material. It is achieved thanks to a special production technology.
- High service life. On average, sip panels can last more than 50 years.
- Small material thickness. This property is very useful when building a building.
- Various materials can be used for interior and exterior wall cladding. Ideally smooth surfaces of the panels do not require any preliminary preparations.
- There is no need for additional insulation of the structure, sip materials are already equipped with foam insulation.
Cons of sip panels
They have sip panels and disadvantages, which will also need to be taken into account when choosing such a material. Knowing the weaknesses of such structures, you can try to fix them, this will help extend the life of buildings. The main disadvantages of sip panels include:
- Flammability is one of the main disadvantages of sip panels. Although compared to wood, panels have a high resistance to fire, they still burn easily. When building a house, it is extremely important to do the wiring correctly, choose the best places for placing sockets and switches, in order to avoid a possible fire in the house. For additional protection, you can use a substance - antiperine. Also, to increase the fire resistance, you can sheathe the walls with non-combustible material.
- In rare cases, panels can be damaged by rodents. During construction, it is important to take into account all the joints so that there are no gaps through which rodents can penetrate.
- A structure made of such material can be destroyed by intruders, which will allow them to get inside the house.
- Building tightness. If ventilation is not taken care of in a timely manner, the humidity in the room will increase significantly, which will lead to the formation of fungus and mold.
- During operation, the plates gradually dry out, which leads to a decrease in their size. Because of this, gaps can form between the plates.
- Finishing the house will need to be carried out in any case. The fact is that the plates are subject to mechanical stress, and if they are scratched, they will quickly lose their attractive appearance. So it is better not to put off facing procedures indefinitely.
After evaluating the sip panels, the pros and cons of their use, you can decide whether to use such material. When choosing, you will also need to take into account the nuances of construction using such structures.
Video description
What are manufacturers of sip panels hiding? Ecology in the vulture house. What is she really like? Do manufacturers of SIP houses deceive us? See this video for answers to all your questions:
Features of construction using Canadian technology
In order for the building to turn out to be reliable and durable, you will need to take into account the features of using sip panel technology. These include:
- It is necessary to try to choose the highest quality materials. Only high quality panels will be able to withstand all the pressure exerted on them. Some manufacturers may use a poor quality adhesive that will cause the designs to come loose quickly. Also, poor-quality materials can lead to easy ignition of the structure and the release of harmful substances during a fire. The choice of the manufacturer must be approached with all responsibility.
- When choosing a foundation, it is better to give preference to screw piles or tape monolith. This will reduce construction costs.
- The special manufacturing technology of the panels provides them with high rigidity. Thanks to this, the construction of the building can be carried out at any time of the year, even at low temperatures. The building after construction does not shrink and is protected from seasonal soil movements.
- Particular attention must be paid to the frame that will hold the walls. For exterior decoration, it is better to use thicker varieties of sip structures; ordinary panels are suitable for interior partitions.
Knowing the characteristics of sip panels, the disadvantages of their use, it is possible to erect a building without any special complications. The main thing is to carry out all the work in stages and in compliance with the technology.
Assembly of sip panels
The assembly of such material should be carried out with careful control of the reliability of the connection of each section of the structure. The main fastening points for sip panels are:
- Areas of docking of the floor structure with the main part.
- Elements for fastening the corners of the walls.
- Joints connecting walls, ceilings and roofs.
- Elements fastening the roof with panels.
All installation procedures for joining structures must be additionally reinforced using self-tapping screws and fixed with special foam for installation. Although the material has good thermal insulation performance, poor assembly may cause a problem of drafts. Cold air can enter the space where the panels are poorly connected to each other. If such complications arise, you can get rid of them with the help of construction mounting tape.
Video description
In this issue, we will analyze in detail the common mistakes in building a house from sip panels. A sip house is the same frame house, but inside with a wooden skeleton, inside of which panels are laid. What should the frame of the house be made of? How to know the moisture content of a material? About all this: in the next video?
The choice of foundation for sip houses
The construction of any house begins with the choice of foundation. For panel buildings using Canadian technology, the following types of base can be used:
- A screw foundation is the most optimal solution, as it will allow you to build a plinth with ventilation, which is extremely important for sip panel buildings with contraindications to high humidity. This basis has a long service life and allows you to expand the house at any time by adding an extension.
- A shallow foundation is also an excellent solution. It is durable and low cost.
- For unstable ground, an excellent solution would be to use a base based on reinforced concrete slabs.
When choosing a foundation for sip houses, you need to take into account the composition of the soil, the weight of the building, the type of heating and ventilation.
Conclusion
Like any other construction technology, a sip panel house has its pros and cons. But it is important to remember that a house built according to the technology of sip panels can serve as a full-fledged year-round dwelling. Subject to all norms, he will delight his owners for many years.
