structural insulated panels 55
Waking up to the benefits of SIPs
Chris Duckworth of SIP Build UK discusses the slowly rising trends of using SIPs and off-site construction, and ponders why it’s taking the industry so long to adopt this effective method.
but even some of the very good were left casualties. The industry fell into a state of confusion and panic, coupled with an abundance of tradesmen who would chew off their own arm to secure a wage. Fast forward four years and we find ourselves
I
with an ever increasing need for homes, schools and healthcare buildings. Schools and healthcare places remain the responsibility of the Government, and as a result they have to carry on. Housing on the other hand has largely been left to private developers. The improvement in the economy and the
recovery of the housing sector has seen demand for the trades return, only to find that there is a large gap in the availability of skilled labour. This
t’s not that long ago that the recession left both good and bad housebuilders obliterated. The bad were the first to go,
ever increasing rise in standards for thermal performance that building regulations demand
“Three years ago, it would be inconceivable that a housebuilder would consider using SIPs to build their project. Phrases such as ‘cost-prohibitive’ and ‘over- performing’ were often used to describe the method”
has only exacerbated the need for skilled trades. Three years ago, it would be inconceivable that
a housebuilder would consider using SIPs to build their project. Phrases such as ‘cost-
prohibitive’ and ‘over-performing’ were often used to describe the method. Fast forward to the increased standards of thermal performance and airtightness that Building Regulations now ask, and you have a situation that requires ever increasing wall thicknesses and secondary systems or far greater quality control to achieve the performance required. Unlike traditional construction, SIPs are
produced off-site and have an incredibly quick installation time. It is not inconceivable to erect a four-bedroom house in less than two weeks, which includes all external structural walls, all internal walls, as well as floor joists, floor decks and the roof structure. With the need for space at an all-time high, a
major benefit of using SIPs is the thinness of wall that can be achieved. A wall build up of only 230 mm using a rendered system to give a U-
respond online at
www.hbdonline.co.uk
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