Achieving High-Performance and Energy-Efficient Buildings with Structural Insulated Panels

Running head: Achieving high-performance and energy-efficient buildings by use of structural insulated panels 1
ACHIEVING HIGH-PERFORMANCE AND ENERGY-EFFICIENT BUILDINGS BY USE
OF STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANELS
Name of Student
Institution Affiliation

Achieving high-performance and energy-efficient buildings by use of structural insulated panels 2
ACHIEVING HIGH-PERFORMANCE AND ENERGY-EFFICIENT BUILDINGS BY USE
OF STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANELS
Abstract
Structural Insulated Panels are a high-performance building system for light commercial and
residential construction. The panels contain an insulating foam core which is sandwiched
between two structural facings, usually oriented strand boards. The Structural Insulated
Panels plays a significant role in slowing down the transfer of air, vapour, and heat through
the building. They also radically reduce the drying potential of the building, reducing its
ability to recover from unintended water intrusion. Such airtight building with high thermal
resistance can result in achieving a durable and high-performance building if built and
detailed correctly, or at the same time can result to rapid decay and rot of the building
structure if built is built incorrectly. There are many benefits that are attributed to use of SIPs
in construction projects such as; they increase the structural integrity of the building because
they are a two-in-one product. SIPs offer interior comfort in that they block moisture and
wind, reduce the noise levels in the building and maintain a constant indoor climate. Even
though the SIPs has many advantages, there are many limitations which are also associated
with their applications. The disadvantages in most cases result to the increase in the
construction costs, and they can take their troll to the comfort of the occupants of the
enclosure. Various methods will be used to collect data regarding the topic of study some of
the methods that will be employed include; case studies, literature review, and interviews.
Keywords: Structural Insulated Panels, oriented strand boards, structural integrity

Achieving high-performance and energy-efficient buildings by use of structural insulated panels 3
Table of Contents
Abstract...................................................................................................................................1
1.0 Introduction...............................................................................................................3
1.1 background.......................................................................................................................3
1.2 Aims and objectives of the study......................................................................................4
1.3 Significance of the research..............................................................................................4
1.4 Scope of the research........................................................................................................5
2.0 Literature review............................................................................................................5
2.1 Properties of Structural insulated panels..........................................................................6
2.11Exceptional strength........................................................................................................6
2.12 Superior insulation.........................................................................................................6
2.13 Fast construction and finishing......................................................................................6
2.2 Benefits of Structural insulated panels in construction....................................................7
2.3 Drawbacks of Structural Insulated Panels in Constructions.............................................8
3.0 Research Methodology.................................................................................................10
3.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................10
3.2 Interviews.......................................................................................................................10
3.3 Case studies....................................................................................................................11
3.4 Literature review/secondary sources..............................................................................11
3.5 Rationale for the research strategy.................................................................................11
4.0 Research timeline..........................................................................................................12
5.0 Conclusion.....................................................................................................................13
6.0 References.....................................................................................................................14

Achieving high-performance and energy-efficient buildings by use of structural insulated panels 4
1.0 Introduction
1.1 background
In the Current world civil engineers, architects and contractors are faced with the urgent duty
of achieving high-performance and energy-efficient building enclosures. Structural Insulated
Panels offers an alternative to part of the building construction that assist in achieving these
goals. Structural Insulated Panels are a high-performance building system for light
commercial and residential construction. The panels contain an insulating foam core which is
sandwiched between two structural facings, usually oriented strand boards. They are
produced under industry controlled conditions, and therefore they can be fabricated to fit any
building design (Edminster, 2012). Usually, the SIPs can be utilized as a wall, roof/wall, and
roof/wall/floor component systems of various construction projects.
The Structural Insulated Panels plays a significant role in slowing down the transfer of air,
vapour, and heat through the building. They also radically reduce the drying potential of the
building, reducing its ability to recover from unintended water intrusion. Such airtight
building with high thermal resistance can result in achieving a durable and high-performance
building if built and detailed correctly, or at the same time can result to rapid decay and rot of
the building structure if built is built Michael et al. (2013) incorrectly.
There are many benefits which are associated with Structural Insulated Panels such as; they
increase the structural integrity of the building because they are a two-in-one product. SIPs
offer interior comfort in that they block moisture and wind, reduce the noise levels in the
building and maintain a constant indoor climate. The Structural Insulated Panels constructs
energy efficient buildings in that they are airtight and outdo the traditionally framed buildings
in energy efficiency. The figure below shows the structure of a Structural Insulated Panels.