Half of our energy use is in buildings, which form an excellent focus for actions to reduce CO2 emissions, starting with energy efficiency. In Europe, the largest share of energy in buildings is heating. Insulation, air tightness and good thermal design can dramatically reduce heat loss. Heating demand in new buildings can be reduced by up to 90%, by using Structural Insulated Panel technology coupled with design knowledge.

Design for low energy involves optimising the thermal properties of the walls, roof, ground floor and windows and also by adopting an airtightness and ventilation strategy. Using structural insulated panels you can achieve U-values as low as 0.15 W/m2.K, effectively zero heat loss. This means low running costs and impressive comfort for the lifetime of the building. By positioning the building to allow south facing glazing we have experienced the house's heating system being rarely used.

In addition to the panel's excellent thermal performance, the closed cell structure of the rigid urethane insulation core does not allow movement of air within the wall. The insulation will not sag or physically deteriorate over time, as may be the case with conventional insulating materials.

FLEXIBILITY

The design of buildings using SIP's plays a major part in its success. The SIP Building System leaves ample scope for bespoke design. The panels are cut in factory conditions according to the customers plans, which allows challenging structures to be easily accommodated. The complete building is delivered to site in kit-form ready for erection. SIP's are used to create the walls & roof with the floor's created using engineered timber I joists.

SPEED OF BUILD

Structural Insulated Panels are easy and fast to work with on site under all weather conditions & so buildings can be installed on site in only a few days. The SIP's Building System enables builders to shorten build programmes because the system incorporates the insulation into the panels.

SPACE

The SIP Building System is ideally suited to creating useable room-in-roof space, giving the customer an extra 25% floor space for about 10% on the price. Room-in-roof construction is becoming ever more popular. Reducing the buildings footprint size allows builders to create family homes on challenging sites & fully utilise all of the potential for space that a building has.

THERMAL PERFORMANCE
Buildings constructed using SIPs can provide a U value of as low as .15 W/m²K. Current U-values for walls & roofs required in the UK are again being revised to help achieve the overall improvement in the revised SAP requirements. SIP's are clearly bringing future building standards to customers today. These superb insulating values will reduce heating costs and improve the overall efficiency of the building substantially.

LIMITED COLD BRIDGING/CONDENSATION
A cold bridge is when the insulated envelope of the building is penetrated, this will result in the warm moist internal air condensing on the cold spot & creating a damp area, much like the condensation you used to see on single glazed windows. Due to the continuity of insulation within its Structural Insulated Panels, the SIP's Building System provides greatly enhanced thermal reliability when compared with other more traditional forms of construction.

The SIP's Building System does not suffer from:

• Sagging insulation;
  
• Wet insulation due to exposure on site which could reduce thermal performance;or
• Gaps and voids in insulation coverage left by poor site workmanship.
  

AIR TIGHTNESS
The SIP's Building System is ideal for the construction of an airtight building envelope & as such we pressure test all of our builds prior to hand over (please see relevant page). The tongue and groove sealed jointing system provides an effective air seal. SIP's Buildings don't suffer from the problems associated with other common construction techniques in relation to air tightness.

At this level of air tightness a strategy for providing adequate ventilation must be considered. It is normally considered that 0.5 air changes per hour is required for a comfortable and healthy living environment. Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery is widely accepted as being a suitable ventilation strategy for an extremely air tight building.