I am considering the possibility of using a SIPS construction system for a potential new build. The house would be small, on a very restricted site, and the budget limited, and I am keen to make it as enviromentally sound as possible. My understanding is that a SIPS system could maximise internal space, simplify the construction in a restricted area and be more environmentally sound than a block built house, in terms of the materials themselves and the energy efficiency of the structure.
I would be very interested in hearing from anyone with experience of this type of build system...
1) Are my assumptions reasonable?!
2) For anyone with experience of self-build using a SIPS 'kit' - was it positive or negative? (or would it be worth going down the full supply and build route if possible?)
3) Has anyone had any particularly good/bad experiences with SIPS companies covering south west England?
Any thoughts or information would be much appreciated.
Thank you
Hannah
Biff
posted on 03-06-06
A 'negative' might relate the your perception of the greeness of the foam filling in the SIP
Tony
posted on 04-06-06
Some people on here like them and you could find other comments using the search function. To me the idea of combining structure with insulation is a very bad idea. It is very difficult to upgrade the insulation levels and difficult to change or alter the building. Why not get a larger plot? Certainly from the slendesness of construction point of view they seem good. There is also a long running debate as to wether light weight buildings or high thermal mass ones are best so you have that to consider too.
What heating system are you thinking of? Why not mega insulate and not have one! And what cladding will you use?
Liz M
posted on 05-06-06
We're looking at using them on a large housing development. Be careful of what the insulation material is.
Polystyrene doesn't have a good eco-reputation. Rigid polyurethane is better. There's one company, who recently showed off their "60K" house in London, who sell theirs with rigid polyurethane. The insulation contains 60% recycled materials and has an ozone depletion potential and global warming potential of 0. It is also rated as A in the Green Guide to Specification. U-values are currently available at 0.2 W/m2.K and will soon be available at 0.15 W/m2.K. This is very low, so you probably wouldn't need to improve the U-values in the future. It is also thinner than the polystyrene version for the same u-values.
If you use SIPS, then the airtightness becomes an issue and you should consider mechanical heat recovery ventilation. This will provide most of your heeting if the other elements have good u-values.
Building regulations stipulate a maximum air permeability of 10 m3/hr.m2. SIPs buildings can be as low as 1 m3/hr.m2.
Biff
posted on 05-06-06
>global warming potential of 0.
How does that work then?
Liz M
posted on 05-06-06
Carbon has a global warming potential of 1. Methane is 11 times as bad and had a GWP of 11. Rigid polyurethane manufactured by this company has a GWP of 0 as they don't use gases with GWPs to manufacture the insulation i.e. an inert gas. I don't think energy use in manufacture is taken into account. Lots of insulation materials (non-organic) are "blown" with gases - to give them the little air bubbles I guess.
