Pinshed. Building Using SIPs

[DRD]

Planning to get my shed up this year.

I was anticipating a very similar construction technique to @Jsyjay used on his.

Someone has suggested that I use SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels). This is a much faster building technique. The building basically goes together like Lego. The floor, walls, roof are all made out of these SIPs which act as an exoskeleton - so you do not need separate roof trusses or ladder frame walls.

You can either buy the panels and cut them yourself, or buy kits to slot together. Where they meet you use timber that is a snug fit that locks them all together. For large roofs, you use box steel that is foam filled to cover larger spans. You can roof and clad with whatever you want. You can batten out then plaster the insides. They are supposed to be very warm and quiet as they are totally sealed by membranes on the internal and external surfaces of the SIPs

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...498FA70E7AE2D91A2D69498FA70E7AE2D&FORM=VRDGAR



kit prices ...

http://www.sips.uk.com/uploads/article811/SIPS_gardenbuildingsnew.pdf

Has anyone used this stuff ? Any opinions ?

 

[JMP]

Not used it David but come across it with work occasionally. Definitely a fast option with good insulation and all hidden with some nice aesthetic cladding on the outside. Just suggest you ensure it's fire approved (can get you the reference if you want it) PIR insulation, not PUR/EPS (polyurethane/polystyrene) simply to reduce the fire load/risk and 'getting into the details' with your house insurer.

 

[Cmor111]

I've not used this but did briefly looked into it. It is very quick to build but it's also expensive, you need to workout time against money costs.

Internally you could just varnish or paint it and have all wiring surface mounted in conduit, if you like a more industrial look. If your covering the walls it's not going to matter what they look like.

 

[DRD]

@JMP , thanks for the tip off

Could you drop me the fire details please ? Much of the foam used in SIPs is the cheaper (non Celotex) stuff which could cause an issue.

If I were to clad in hardie plank (cement board), I think that should deal with the outside. Similarly, if I were to use fire rated plasterboard, does that deal with the inside ?

I was talking to a fire installer about a wood burner a few years ago. They seem to care about the layer immediately behind the fire, not what was behind that. He said that in terms of signing off my installation, I could store plastic bags filled with petrol in my stud walls provided they had a layer of fireboard in front of them !

 

[JMP]

Looks like it falls under LPS1181-1 when it comes to LPCB approval (same as normal composite insulated panels with metal facings) as they both can form the external envelope of buildings.

http://www.redbooklive.com/search/d...companyid=216&productid=0&productgroupid=1494

After a quick look, Hemsec have an approved product - SIP firecheck wall system:

http://www.redbooklive.com/search/companylist.jsp?companyid=216&searchgrouptypeid=14&id=184

http://www.hemsecsips.com/products-SIP_Residential.html

If you look at their FAQ's, they have EPS & PUR cored panels that will likely be cheapest, but suspect their approved Firecheck panel will be PIR (Polyisocyanurate) core as approved composites are usually this or mineral wool.

It may simply be best to check how bothered your insurers are. Presume it will be a detached outbuilding which are often timber anyway! I just know that the mention of SIPS can be an issue as there are highly combustible versions like EPS/PUR with no fire-stopping (despite what the sales pitch may say). Your insurance policy should have a definition of words or similar when it comes to construction and what they call 'standard' and/or whether it applies to outbuildings.

Non-combustible linings, particularly internally and enclosing the SIP if applied externally too can only be a positive feature.

No clear answer on all this and sorry if complicating, but would hate you to have an issue down the line after building.....