{"id":2789,"date":"2012-09-10T17:05:21","date_gmt":"2012-09-10T17:05:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/whataresips.com\/?p=45"},"modified":"2014-07-25T12:33:52","modified_gmt":"2014-07-25T12:33:52","slug":"general-dos-and-donts-for-handling-and-installing-sips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sipsupply.com\/sip-blog\/general-dos-and-donts-for-handling-and-installing-sips\/","title":{"rendered":"General Do\u2019s and Don\u2019ts for Handling and Installing SIPs"},"content":{"rendered":"

What are SIPs?<\/a><\/p>\n

SIPs are simple to use.\u00a0 You can order pre-cut panels that arrive on site ready to set in place.\u00a0 Stand them up, fasten them properly, seal all joints, and in a few days your new house is ready for finish work.\u00a0 To help you get the most satisfaction from your SIP experience, the Structural Insulated Panel Association (SIPA) has put together this list of tips and suggestions so you\u2019ll get the best performance from your SIPs.<\/p>\n

General Principles<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Air Movement<\/strong>
\nAll joints must be sealed in such a way to ensure no air infiltration or exfiltration.<\/p>\n

Voids<\/strong>
\nAll voids must be filled with appropriate sealants\/panel adhesives manufactured to ensure against air movement and moisture intrusion into the building envelope.<\/p>\n

Vapor Transmission<\/strong>
\nVapor permeability for all SIP panel joints must meet local building codes and\/or environmental requirements.<\/p>\n

HVAC Design<\/strong>
\nA HVAC system must be designed to (1) Provide proper ventilation due to the inherent air-tightness of the structure; and (2) be properly sized to account for the inherent energy efficiency of the structure.<\/p>\n

Exterior Cladding and Underlayment<\/strong>
\nExterior cladding shall include a primary and secondary weather resistive system, e.g., drainage plane.\u00a0 Underlayment is required, e.g., common building paper, non-perforated housewrap.<\/p>\n

Handling and Storage<\/strong><\/h3>\n

SIPs must be protected from exposure from the elements and must not be stored in direct contact with the ground.\u00a0 SIPs are bulky and heavy.\u00a0 Manpower is enough to move small panels, but larger panels often require a crane or forklift.<\/p>\n

DO:<\/strong>\u00a0Set aside a level spot to store panels.\u00a0 Try to organize your panel delivery for efficiency\u2014store panels from the first floor separate from panels for the second floor, and so on.\u00a0 Stack panels so that you can read the identifying marks or labels and find each piece when you need it.<\/p>\n

Stacking<\/strong><\/h3>\n

DO:<\/strong>\u00a0Lay panels flat on stickers, no closer than three inches to the ground.\u00a0 Give the panels plenty of support, and don\u2019t let them sag\u2014for 8-foot panels, two stickers are enough, but for 12- to 16-foot panels, use three stickers.\u00a0 For longer panels, don\u2019t go more than 6 or 8 feet between stickers.<\/p>\n

Weather Protection<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Panels are rated for exterior exposure during construction, but keep them dry when stored on site.\u00a0 Cover them with a loose tarp or sheet of poly.<\/p>\n

DON\u2019T:<\/strong>\u00a0Leave panels exposed to the elements for extended period of time.<\/p>\n

Assembly<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For maximum efficiency, it\u2019s best to follow an orderly system.\u00a0 Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you start to work:<\/p>\n

DO:<\/strong>\u00a0Study the installation drawings before setting panels.<\/p>\n

DO:<\/strong>\u00a0Set wall plates carefully.\u00a0 Panel skins provide the strength for walls so panel skins must be fully supported.\u00a0 The panel slips over the wall plate, so remember to set your plates a half inch in from the building edge, and leave room where plates meet for the skin to slide by.<\/p>\n

DO:<\/strong>\u00a0Set panels in order.\u00a0 Mark out your wall plates to show where panel edges fall.\u00a0 When setting walls and roofs, it\u2019s a good idea to start in corners or valleys and work out\u2014that way, you won\u2019t \u201cbox yourself into a corner.\u201d\u00a0 At wall corners, one panel \u201cstops short\u201d and the other \u201cflies by\u201d\u2014be sure you know which is which, or one wall will be too long and the other too short.<\/p>\n

DON\u2019T:<\/strong>\u00a0Cut wall panel skins horizontally for installation of electrical wiring.<\/p>\n

DON\u2019T:<\/strong>\u00a0Cut roof or floor panel skins without contacting your supplier.<\/p>\n

DO:<\/strong>\u00a0Always follow the manufacturer\u2019s recommended joint sealing techniques.\u00a0 Seal joints as you work.\u00a0 Panel joints must be thoroughly sealed to ensure there is no air infiltration from the outside or exfiltration from the inside.\u00a0 Be sure to follow the manufacturer\u2019s recommendations for sealing joints properly.<\/p>\n

DON\u2019T:<\/strong>\u00a0Be afraid to field-trim panels for an exact fit.\u00a0 Contact your supplier when in doubt.<\/p>\n

DON\u2019T:<\/strong>\u00a0Install panel skins in direct contact with concrete.\u00a0 Provide a capillary break between panel skins and concrete.<\/p>\n

DON\u2019T:<\/strong>\u00a0Install recessed lights inside the panels.<\/p>\n

DO:<\/strong>\u00a0Install standard deterrents to resist termites and carpenter ants such as insect clips and flashing.<\/p>\n

DO:<\/strong>\u00a0Install proper flashing and sealants around all rough openings and penetrations as required.<\/p>\n

Weather Details<\/strong><\/h3>\n

SIPs are durable, but they aren\u2019t designed to get wet.\u00a0 Your house needs exterior finishes that protect the structure from water.<\/p>\n

DO:<\/strong>\u00a0Use high-quality roofing and siding.\u00a0 High performance asphalt shingles are suitable for use on a SIP roof.\u00a0 Popular siding materials such as steel or tile, vinyl, wood, brick, or fiber-cement are also fine for SIP houses.<\/p>\n

DO:<\/strong>\u00a0Use proper underlayments for roofing and siding.\u00a0 SIP walls are airtight without housewrap, but they do need a drainage plane material (either housewrap or asphalt paper works well).<\/p>\n

DO:<\/strong>\u00a0Flash all penetrations.\u00a0 Most windows will eventually leak some water at the window sill; install flashing under and around windows and doors to direct water away from the wall structure.\u00a0 Hose bibs, dryer vents, exterior lights, and the like must also be flashed, as should roof penetrations such as plumbing stacks, chimneys, and skylights.<\/p>\n

Interior Comfort<\/strong><\/h3>\n

SIP houses are airtight, so they let you control the indoor environment.\u00a0 A modern ventilation system will let you have fresh air when, how, and where you need it.<\/p>\n

DO:<\/strong>\u00a0Provide adequate ventilation to maintain indoor air quality.<\/p>\n

DO:<\/strong>\u00a0Provide a mechanical ventilation system.\u00a0 Passive air infiltration will not be enough to provide indoor air quality.\u00a0 In cold climates, use a heat recovery ventilator; you\u2019ll save energy, and the incoming air will be tempered for comfort.\u00a0 In hot, humid climates, an energy recovery ventilator is best: these systems take humidity out of the incoming air and transfer it to the exhaust stream, reducing the load on your air conditioner and improving your comfort.<\/p>\n

DO:<\/strong>\u00a0Control indoor humidity.\u00a0 High humidity levels can be unhealthy and can damage your building.\u00a0 Set your ventilation system to keep indoor humidity around 40 percent.\u00a0 Install exhaust fans in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms to expel moist air as needed.\u00a0 Moisture intrusion through slabs, crawlspaces, and basements can be significant, so make sure your foundation has good drainage and provides for control of moisture vapor.<\/p>\n

DON\u2019T:<\/strong>\u00a0Install or use unvented combustion equipment.\u00a0 \u201cVent-free\u201d gas logs, fireplaces, or heaters are not appropriate for an airtight SIP house.<\/p>\n

General Do\u2019s and Don\u2019ts for Handling and Installing SIPs<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What are SIPs?<\/a><\/p>\n

SIPs are simple to use.\u00a0 You can order pre-cut panels that arrive on site ready to set in place.\u00a0 Stand them up, fasten them properly, seal all joints, and in a few days your new house is ready for finish work.\u00a0 To help you get the most satisfaction from your SIP experience, the Structural Insulated […]<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

General Do\u2019s and Don\u2019ts for Handling and Installing SIPs<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[57,58,51,50],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sipsupply.com\/sip-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2789"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sipsupply.com\/sip-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sipsupply.com\/sip-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sipsupply.com\/sip-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sipsupply.com\/sip-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2789"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sipsupply.com\/sip-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2789\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sipsupply.com\/sip-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2789"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sipsupply.com\/sip-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2789"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sipsupply.com\/sip-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2789"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}