Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) Manufacturer
Manufacturer
of Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)
Copyright
2008-2011 Foam Laminates of Vermont, a division of Energy Smart Building,
Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Supporting the Green Building Industry.
Engineers
from Forest Products Laboratory weren't the only ones churning out structural
panels. In fact, the 1930s saw sandwich-panel technology emerge from another
source. Indeed, some of the earliest examples of SIPs can be found in the
Usonian houses designed by none other than the famed architect Frank Lloyd
Wright.
Frank Lloyd Wright was exceptionally innovative, and his SIPs were a result
of his efforts to incorporate beauty and simplicity into cost-effective homes.
Wright's attempt at a panel contained no insulation; they consisted of three
layers of plywood and two layers of tar paper. Due to the lack of insulation,
this prototype failed to achieve widespread popularity and they were never
produced on a large scale.
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The
origin of a structural insulated panel or SIP - according to many sources
- can be traced back to 1935. At this time, engineers working at Forest Products
Laboratory (FPL) located in Madison, Wisconsin speculated that plywood and
other forms of hardboard sheathing could provide the necessary structural
support in wall applications. With their concept in mind, the FPL engineers
built a panel which consisted of insulation sandwiched between two skins with
additional framing members placed within the panel for extra support.
After the creation of their prototype, Forest Products Laboratory entered
their custom designed SIP into the marketplace where it sold for next thirty
years. During this time, these SIPs underwent an extensive testing period.
Indeed, these sandwich-panels were constantly disassembled and reexamined
in order to find the best combination of components. FPL engineers also experimented
with new designs and materials in order to maximize both strength and efficiency
in their SIP.
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