Structural Insulated Panels
Mechanical resistance and
stability
SIPs provide unbeatable strength,
mechanical resistance and stability;
they are strong, reliable, durable and
suitable for all walls, roofs and floors
in domestic, industrial and commercial
construction.
Assessing mechanical resistance and
stability
Hemsec adheres to the European
Technical Assessment (ETA) document,
specifying precisely the rigorous
tests followed as part of the Factory
Production Control (FPC) process.
SIPs panels are manufactured by
sandwiching together a core of rigid
closed-cell polyurethane foam (PUR)
insulation bonded to the two OSB skins.
This bonding makes them intrinsically
strong, air and water-tight.
The six elements to verify mechanical
resistance and stability are:-
1. Horizontal load capacity for walls
SIPs are composited structurally
insulated panels, pre-engineered and
carefully designed to withstand vertical
and horizontal loads. The load bearing
ability of SIPs derives from the strong,
structural bond between the three
layers.
2. Vertical load capacity for walls
(with or without eccentricity)
Under the Eurocodes our industry-
leading panels generally provide a
vertical loading capacity of 80kN/m.
3. Combined vertical/horizontal load
capacity
Although SIPs are relatively light, they
have the ability to bear high loads as
a result of the strong structural bond
between the layers. The load supported
by SIPs is conveyed to the ground
by the OSB skins, with the structure
held in position by the fully bonded
insulation core. SIPs can therefore bear
considerable vertical and horizontal
loads with reduced internal studding.
4. Racking load capacity for 150mm
thick walls:
SIPs provide a stable racking resistance
for modular buildings and can reduce
the overall frame of the module. In
addition, by using SIPs it is possible to
reduce some of the components of the
frame (e.g. the amount of cross bracing)
or sometimes remove the external
frame of the module.
Panels demonstrate racking resistance
of 13.9 kN for an example panel height
of 3 metres.
This determination of the racking
strength of walls constructed using
SIPs is a measure of a building system’s
ability to resist wind loads.
SIPs are fixed with either nails or
screws. Both fixes provide sufficient
strength although screws are stronger
and recommended.
6. Roof structural capabilities
SIPs are equally as strong and effective
for use with roof systems. A SIPs
125mm panel thickness, a panel span of
3.0m and a roof slope of 60° has Panel
Design Capacities of 5.04 k/N.
Conclusion
SIPs are the ultimate solution for all
types of construction projects, whether
they are residential, industrial or
commercial.
We are proud to be one of the UK’s
largest and longest-standing insulated
panel manufacturers. We work in
partnership across the supply chain;
trusted by companies who need
absolute confidence in the timely
delivery of high quality, durable
building materials.
It can be an attractive solution to
integrate SIPs with other materials in
construction projects, whether as a
load-bearing structure, for insulation,
speed of construction etc. When
we consider that SIPs are very easy
to incorporate with a wide range of
materials, such as CLT, it’s an important
consideration when planning a project.
5. Fixing capacity
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