SIPs Core Materials - Structural Insulated Panels

Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) Manufacturer

Manufacturer of Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)
Copyright 2008 Foam Laminates of Vermont. All Rights Reserved.
Supporting the Green Building Industry.

Most manufacturers use foam as the core material in a SIP. There are currently three main categories of foam core: EPS, XPS, and urethane foam. While each of these cores have unique properties, they all provide the necessary structural and fire resistance characteristics as required by the various building code authorities. In addition, foam offers exceptional thermal protection and energy efficiency.

Foam Laminates of Vermont uses EPS as the core of its panel, since it is proven and wildly accepted technology. EPS foam is essentially a closed-cell, moisture resistant structure composed of millions of tiny air-filled pockets. It is manufactured from beads that are formed by the polymerization of a styrene monomer with an expansion agent acting as the catalyst.

This expandable polystrene was first patented in 1950 by the BASF Corporation, and has since reached overwhelming popularity. In fact, it has been estimated that 85% of all SIPs use EPS as the core.

Our EPS foam core has the industry standard density of 1 pound per cubic foot (pcf), giving it an R-value of 3.85 at 30 degrees F per inch of thickness. To view our comparison of EPS foam core SIPs versus traditional fiberglass stick frames, click here. Finally, extensive testing has shown that our EPS foam panels are not susceptible to thermal drift, which is the tendency of a material to lose its insulating value over time.

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