Superior Strength of Structural Insulated Panels - 30 November, 2010

There are multiple benefits of using structural insulated panels (or SIPs), from their environmental credentials to the speed of construction, but one feature which is particularly impressive is their inherent strength, reports leading SIPs supplier SIPs Direct http://www.structuralinsulatedpanels.co.uk/. Construction using SIPs can be up to seven times stronger than with traditional timber construction.

The strength to weight ratio of structural insulated panels makes them a far superior construction method than traditional building processes. The average SIPs weigh just 25kg per square metre, which makes them easy to handle on site and maneouvre into place. This eliminates the need for cranes and means the foundations can be of a lower specification as there is a lighter load to bear. Structural insulated panels are constructed off site, arriving on the back of a lorry ready to be formed quickly into the shell of the building. This shell has been formed by rigidly securing the SIPs to one another, allowing them to share the weight load and resulting in a completely air-tight and water-tight fit. The strength of the panels and the fact that they are impervious to water and air also means that a lightweight roof can be used on top of the shell. The nature of structural insulated panels also allows for a more flexible design of foundations: their strength means that open spaces can be designed without requiring additional timber support framing.

The strength of SIPs is an important benefit and one which is overlooked by those who erroneously consider the materials of a flat pack house to be more lightweight than traditional timber construction. In fact, the strength and durability of SIPs has been tested in areas of the United States which suffer from earthquakes and tornadoes and found to be able to withstand tremendous force. Structural insulated panels from SIPs Direct have undergone extensive load testing to ensure that they have the greatest possible strength to weight ratio, making their strength just one of many benefits behind the popularity of this type of flat pack house construction.

To find out further information and to see SIPs construction in action in a video from foundation to completion, go to http://www.structuralinsulatedpanels.co.uk/.