SIPs Panel Details & Tools
See all you need to know about the technical information for SIPs construction, including SIPs panel sizes, SIPs material options available, and some special tools to assist during SIPs installation.
Timber supply
As Timber costs have escalated, higher-end panel framing options (such as Smart SIPs) are now more cost-effective than traditional 140mm x 35mm stick-framed structures. SIPs also offer proven benefits over stick-framed structures, such as being stronger, straighter, quicker to install and greener.
As building energy codes change, traditional framing methods will no longer qualify alone when building high-performance homes. Structural Insulated Panel Systems easily help building owners, designers and builders achieve new high-performance requirements.
With the uncertainty on rising timber material costs and trying to maintain a budget, now is the time for builders and architects to make the move to SIPs construction. It's the right move for your budget and the planet.
Prefabrication
Smart SIPs OSB Panels are fully prefabricated and, when using our OSB and Cement SIPs panels, all Timber Splines, OSB Splines, Top Plates, Bottom Plates and Lintels are included with our supply.
Panel skin material
We can supply a range of materials for your SIPs panels.
The Skin material options are:
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OSB
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MgO
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Cement Sheet
Options are subject to building design and engineering.
Fig 1. Smart SIPS MGO skin with graphite GPS floor, wall and roof SIPs.
Fig 2. Smart SIPS OSB skin with graphite GPS floor, wall and roof SIPs.
Fig 3. Smart SIPs Cement skin with GPS (cSIPs) for wet areas, and fire rated for 30/30/- BAL 40, floor wall, and roof SIPs.
Fig 3.
Fig 2.
Fig 1.
Panel core material benefits
Smart SIPs has standardised on the Neopor core material as it brings added benefits to the new home for a similar cost.
We have listed the different core options used in SIPs construction as a guide to why the Neopor out performs the other materials for performance and safety.
Smart SIPs Graphite filled EPS (GPS) (Neopor by BASF)
BASF Neopor® GPS is a graphite polystyrene (GPS) rigid foam insulation that gives maximum efficiency, cost-effectiveness and sustainability on construction projects. Planners, architects, contractors and builder-owners benefit from insulation made of Neopor GPS because of the special advantages this material offers. Silver-Grey Neopor GPS is comprised of many small pockets of air within a polymer matrix containing graphite.
The graphite reflects radiant heat energy like a mirror, increasing the material's resistance to the flow of heat, or R-value. Most polymer-based foams exhibit a greater ability to slow the movement of heat as the temperature decreases.
Neopor GPS is in a unique class because it increases in R-value as the temperature outside drops. With an R Value of 1 per 25mm of panel.
Fire Neopor® Plus Graphite Polystyrene (GPS) insulation boards are fire and code approved by UL and ICC for ASTM E84, NFPA 285 and NFPA 286 for use in commercial cavity walls with a wide range of cladding approvals.
Neopor® Plus Graphite Polystyrene (GPS) insulation boards are qualified to bear a label with a flame-spread index of 25 or less and a smoke-developed index of 450 or less when tested in accordance with ANSI/UL723 (ASTM E84).
Neopor is easy to modify on site and most SIP installers will easily adapt to using Neopor over EPS.
GPS is also an affordable and safe option to using EPS.
EPS
Over 80% of the SIP panels installed are EPS. EPS core material is widely available. It is easy to modify on site and most SIP installers have experience dealing with EPS. It's also the least expensive option in terms of material cost. With an R Value of 0.63 per 25mm of panel.
XPS
XPS has many of the best characteristics of both polyurethane and EPS. It has a high R-value (1 R-value per inch of panel). It is dense and stable yet has a relatively low melting point so on-site modifications are as easy as EPS. Also, like EPS, it bonds easily to OSB and gypsum board. However, it is much more costly.
Polyurethane
The main advantage of polyurethane (or the much harder to pronounce derivation, polyisicyanurate) is that it has the highest R-value of any SIP panel. After what's called thermal drift, it's about 1.2 to 1.36 of R-value per inch of panel. However it is much more costly and more difficult to work with.
Standard dimensions of Smart SIPs
OSB SIPs dimension
Size Width & Height:
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1.220 x 2.440 / 4'x8' (feet)
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1.220 x 2.700 / 4'x9'
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1.220 x 3.050 / 4'x10'
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1.220 x 4.880 / 4'x16'
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1.220 x 6.100 / 4'x20'
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1.220 x 7.200 / 4' x 24’
Each panel size above can be manufactured to the following thickness: 114mm / 165mm / 209mm / 260mm / 310mm /410mm & 610mm
Used for floor, walls and roof applications.
Cement SIPs (cSIPs)
Fire Rating of 30/30/- using our 9mm compressed fibre cement board on each side of our SIPs panel.
Dimensions:
Size Width & Height:
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1.220 x 2.440 / 4'x8'
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1.220 x 2.700 / 4'x9'
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1.220 x 3.050 / 4'x10'
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1.220 x 3.600 / 4'x12'
Each panel size above can be manufactured to the following thickness:
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Thickness: 110 / 160 / 206mm/ 255mm/ 306mm /410mm & 610mm
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Thickness: 4.5" / 6.5" / 8.25" / 10.25" / 10.25”. (Inch)
Types of splines: Dimension Timber, OSB, Light Gauge Steel.
Used for floors, decks, balconies, walls and roof applications.
Smart SIPs OSB jumbo size panel
Size Width & Height:
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2.440 x 2.440 / 8'x8' (feet)
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2.440 x 2.700 / 8'x9'
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2.440 x 3.050 / 8'x10'
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2.440 x 4.880 / 8'x16'
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2.440 x 6.100 / 8'x20'
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2.440 x 7.200 / 8'x 24’
Each panel size above can be manufactured to the following thickness:
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Thickness: 114mm / 165mm / 209mm / 260mm / 310mm /410mm & 610mm
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Thickness: 4.5" / 6.5" / 8.25" / 10.25" / 10.25”. (Inch)
Types of splines: Dimension Timber, OSB, Light Gauge Steel.
Used for floor, walls and roof applications.
MgO SIPs dimension
Size Width & Height: 1.1 x 2.440 / 1.1 x 2.700 / 1.1 x 3.000
Each panel size above can be manufactured to the following thickness: 111mm / 161mm / 206mm / 260mm / 310mm /410mm & 610mm
Types of splines: Dimension Timber, OSB, Light Gauge Steel.
Used for wall applications.
Further information
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AS 3959-2018 Construction of Building In Bushfire Prone Areas, calls for a 9mm cement sheet to be installed over a timber frame when building in a BAL 40 area.
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By using Smart SIPs Structural cSIPs panels, you will be building the structural wall and the Fire Rated cladding all in one action, and then the building will be ready for your final cladding of choice to be installed.
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cSIPs are also useful for bathroom and wet area installation and are ready for your waterproofing to be applied to the BCA requirements, and your tiles can be fitted directly to the cSIPs panel. This saves on the need of installing a cement-based lining as required by other suppliers of OSB type SIPs.
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With Smart SIPs, we can supply both OSB SIPs for your living areas and cSIPs for any wet area applications all in the same order.
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Smart SIPs supplies the correct material for each application in your building.
Panel weights
1.2' x 2.4 | 1.2' x 3 | 1.2' × 4.88 | 1.2' x 6.1 | 1.2' × 7.2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
114mm | 45kg | 56.25kg | 90kg | 112.5kg | 132. kg |
165mm | 47.5kg | 59kg | 95kg | 119kg | 137kg |
209mm | 50kg | 62.5kg | 100kg | 125kg | 143kg |
260mm | 52.5kg | 66kg | 105kg | 131kg | 149kg |
310mm | 54kg | 70kg | 110kg | 136kg | 155kg |
Panel R-values and U-values
Panel Thickness | White EPS Core Thickness | R-Value White EPS Australia | R-Value Graphite EPS Australia | White EPS U-Value | Graphite EPS U-Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4 1/2" (115mm) | 3 5/8" (92mm) | 3.2 | 4.2 | 0.355 | 0.21 |
6 1/2" (165mm) | 5 5/8" (143mm) | 4.8 | 6.2 | 0.237 | 0.16 |
8 1/4" (210mm) | 7 3/8" (187mm) | 6.6 | 8.2 | 0.172 | 0.13 |
10 1/4" (260mm) | 9 3/8" (238mm) | 8.0 | 10.2 | 0.142 | 0.10 |
12 1/4" (311mm) | 11 3/8" (289mm) | 9.8 | 12.2 | 0.116 | 0.07 |
Note 1
R Value is based on using Smart SIPs and plasterboard to the inside. Additional cladding fixed to the external side of Smart SIPS will provide an increased R value based on the additional R value of the cladding material used.
Note 2
Engineering capabilities are based on Smart SIPs testing. Each project we supply will include an engineering design provided by our external consulting engineer to your site and building design requirements.
Note 3
MgO refers to Magnesium Oxide Board. Smart SIPS uses MgOSO4 board as it is a low chlorine material Less than 0.01%.
What's a Magnesium Oxide Board?
“An innovative mineral based, environmentally friendly, green building material comprised of”:
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MgOSo4 Magnesium Oxide
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Fibreglass reinforcement for strength
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Other proprietary filler
Smart SIPS Tools (for sale with your SIPs purchase)
SIPs Saw Attachment
Smart Sips can supply an attachment to fit to most standard saws that will allow for the cutting of any MgO and OSB sips panel.
Smart SIPs Electrical and Plumbing Channel Cutting Tool
Smart SIPS have developed a channel cutting tool that will cut a 50mm hole through the EPS of a SIPs panel, making the job of adding additional channels in a panel on site where required.
Smart SIPs Foam Scoop
Smart can supply foam scoops to assist with cutting a recess on the edge of the Smart SIPs panel for fitting a stud in the panel.
This tool is handy for when onsite cutting is required during installation.
Sizes available:
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4" or 90mm
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6" or 150mm
Smart SIPs panel installation
1. Bottom plates are set out and bolted to the slab or subfloor in line with the construction plans.
4. The carpenters can now start working on the centre walls. Each window will have a lintel as specified in the engineer's design.
7. Every Smart SIPs panel has two channels provided for plumbing or electrical installations. This photo is showing the top of a panel with an additional 50mm Chanel cut with Smart SIPs Chanel tool for extra plumbing or electrical requirements.
2. The first corner panels are dropped over the bottom plates and fixed by screws to the plates and a corner joining stud.
5. A top plate is dropped into the top recess and fixed to the panel.
8. The Smart SIPs walls are now ready to install the roof system, then just pop in the windows and the building is locked up in record time. Smart SIPs equals a Smart Building system.
3. The carpenters can now keep working out from the corner by sliding the recessed side of the next panel over the protruding spline of the first panel (tongue and groove). Smart SIP panels have the joining splines installed in the factory for faster installation.
6. With the top plate installed in the top recess of the panel, now the floor SIPs for the next level can be fixed to the top plate. Or if you are building a single story home the roof system can be installed.
9. The Smart SIPs home is ready for your building wrap and cladding material of your choosing.
