S I P s TECHNOLOGY PRECISION MADE HIGH PERFORMANCE STRUCTURALLY INSULATED PANELS FOR NEW ZEALAND HOUSES
“Provides exceptional green and cost effective architectural solutions to the construction market.”
Contributors to stronger, more energy efficient, comfortable, cost effective homes and buildings. Is it any wonder that Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) are rapidly gaining popularity within the new construction market?
Modular e Solutions utilise Formace NZ made SIPs technology to provide exceptional green and cost effective architectural solutions to the construction market.
Formance Panels are walls, roofs, floors and foundations made of panels consisting of a rigid foam insulation core sandwiched between two structural skins. The seamless closed cell rigid foam core helps reduce air leakage and thermal bridging to an absolute minimum by providing a continuous span of insulation.
Durability
Structural characteristics similar to steel I beams. Superior structural stability with stiffness strength and predictable performance. Lower maintenance requirements. S I P s panels comply with 82 Durability requirements of the NZ Building code.
Sustainability
Reduced heating and cooling loads over lifetime of the building. High Thermal R Value ie 165mm thick panel R 4.3, 215mm thick panel R 5.7 Low Air leakage rate. Low environmental impact of materials. Low maintenance required. Lightweight materials reduce transportation and lifting capability.
Design Freedom
Flexible roof forms.complex designs are made simple with Formance S I P s panels. Simplicity of manufacture allows variable building elements to be made easily and efficiently. Almost any shape can be cut for S I P s panels. Creates open and airy spaces with no need for false ceilings or timber trusses. Ability to maximize space and obtain extra floor space.
Energy Use, High Thermal Performance
Structurally Insulated panels (S I P s) are one of the most airtight and well insulated building systems available, making them an inherently green product, An airtight SI P s building will use less energy to heat and cool, allow for better control over indoor environmental conditions, and reduce construction waste. Building with S I P s creates a superior building envelope with high thermal resistance and minimal air infiltration.
Healthy Indoor Environments
A S I P s house or commercial building allows for better control over indoor air quality because the airtight building envelope limits incoming air to controlled ventilation. Controlled ventilation filters out contaminants and allergens and also allows for incoming air to be de humidified, reducing the possibility of mould growth. A variety of ventilation strategies can be used to provide fresh air to airtight homes. These are relatively inexpensive and operate on automatic control systems. S I P s do not contain and V C O s or other harmful chemicals that can affect occupant health.
Increased Construction Speed Lower Waste
With SIPs panels ranging in size from 1.220metres x 10.000 metre's plus the ability to enclose wall and roof spaces very quickly given the lightness and easy handling ability of the panels. Two 1.220 metre wide panels can be assembled together in the pre-site assembly factory and easily transported on most building merchant delivery trucks operating in the Industry today.SI P s are fabricated in a controlled environment and final panel sizes can be designed, factory made and assembled and sent to site with very little wastage occurring.
Cost Effectiveness
With experienced Builders assembling S I P s panel houses the labour component of the builder can be significantly reduced. Main wall and roof panels can be erected in days and applied with a building wrap which gives a minimum of 30 days weather protection before claddings and roofing materials are required to be installed. This allows the Builder more freedom and flexibility to complete the closing in of several houses at one time sequence and then allow the internal finishing tradesman and Building services subcontractors to complete their work. S I P s construction is essentially a carpentry trade and experience carpenters have no difficulty in picking up the key issues around fast installation and quality control.
Life Cycle Analysis
Life cycle analysis (LCA) is the evaluation of the environmental impact of a particular product that takes into account its entire life cycle, from raw material extraction through production, operation and demolition.
A comparative LCA study conducted by BASF Corporation in the USA reveals that SIPs have a significantly lower environmental impact than conventional wood framing and fiberglass insulation. Not only do SIPs save energy, they also help decrease carbon emissions, water pollution, deforestation, damage to natural habitats, and emissions of other ozone harming gases.
Formance Panels
Formance panels are NZ's own SIPs supplied and distributed by Method Building Systems Ltd of Christchurch, using APA approved OSB board from Canada, the composition of Formance panels exactly matches that of OSB-EPS SIPs manufactured in the USA, ensuring the tests results found in this report will bachieved with Formance SIPs. Formance SIPs has a Codemark Certificate of Conformity which demonstrates compliance with the following clauses of the NZ Building code, B 1, B2, F 2. H 1, Formance NZ have published a Design Guide for use by Architects and Designers to comply with the NZ Building code requirements without reference to specific Engineering design certification.