As an expert in the construction industry, I have seen firsthand the incredible strength and durability of Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs). These panels not only provide superior resistance to wind loads, but they also offer exceptional structural performance and longevity. In fact, SIPs can withstand winds of up to 145 mph without any additional tie down, and some manufacturers have even designed panels that can withstand winds of up to 200 mph. So, what makes SIPs so strong? It all comes down to their unique structural design.
Similar to a steel I-beam, SIPs are able to uniformly withstand compressive loads in the plane. This, combined with their proven manufacturing process, allows SIPs to stand firm for decades without compromising their structural integrity. SIPs are made up of rigid expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam insulation sandwiched between two sheets of oriented fiberboard (OSB). This "SIP sandwich" is incredibly strong and provides superior compressive and flexural strength.
Manufacturers like Extreme Panel use an automatic laminating press to apply adhesive and stack the material, ensuring a strong and square panel every time. SIPCO is another reputable manufacturer that produces high-quality SIPs. Their panels are designed to provide load-bearing capacity, crack resistance, and wind resistance, as proven by their BBA certification tests. SIP walls are able to effectively withstand both vertical and horizontal loads, with the OSB layers securely held in place by the insulating core.
SIPCO panels undergo rigorous testing, including uniform distributed load (UDL) tests, axial load tests, shelf loads, shear and flex load tests on panel joints, and more. In addition to meeting British standards such as BS 5534, BS 5628-3, BS EN 338, and BS EN 594, SIPCO SIPs also comply with BS EN 846-6, BS EN 1995-1-1, BS EN 1995-1-2, and BS EN 1996-2.This ensures the quality and performance of these panels, giving builders and homeowners peace of mind. One of the most impressive demonstrations of SIP strength is their ability to withstand extreme weather conditions. In fact, there have been documented cases of SIP houses being lifted by tornadoes, dropped a few meters away, and then lifted again by cranes and placed on a new base with little to no damage to the structure.
This is a testament to the durability and resilience of SIPs. SIPCO takes great pride in their strict quality control procedures during production to ensure the consistent performance and quality of their panels. These panels are composed of two high-density coatings, typically OSB, that adhere self-adhesively to a low-density foam core. This unique combination provides exceptional structural performance and wind load capacity.
In fact, an 8-foot tall by 6.5-inch thick SIP can effectively withstand side loads of up to 70 pounds per square foot (PSF), making them ideal for areas prone to strong winds. The ability to disperse loads easily allows SIP wall panels to support a significant amount of weight while providing the right amount of stiffness and flexibility to withstand compressive forces in an effective way.
