2021 Newsletters

Hot Off the Press — SIP DESIGN Best Practice 8: SIP Roof and Wall Assemblies

Dec 16, 2021 - It is important to understand in which climate zone the project you are designing is to be built, to control air and moisture migration at panel joints for long-term durability. Depending on the geography, the appropriate use and position of vapor retarder products like sealants, tapes and liquid applied barriers will change. Open Newsletter

IBS 2022 Will Be Here Soon. Visit the Expo for Free on SIPA!

Dec 2, 2021 - Plan to attend IBS 2022 in person February 8-10, 2022, in Orlando, FL. Register for a free expo hall pass on SIPA at BuildersShow.com. Open Newsletter

SIP Creep and Deflection Questions? MSU Will Soon Have Answers

Nov 18, 2021 - Over 120 SIPs recently arrived at Mississippi State University (MSU), in collaboration with SIPA and ACME Panel, to begin a series of 90-day, long-term loading tests simulating roof deflection of typical building roof loads. Open Newsletter

The Housing Innovation Alliance Presents 'The Future of Housing'

Nov 4, 2021 - A half-day event November 16, 2021 – learn about SIPs as the best way homeowners & builders achieve high-performance, healthy and zero energy homes Open Newsletter

SIPs are the Future of Building Construction … Are you Ready?

Oct 21, 2021 - SIPA is taking this season to spotlight the achievements of our Master SIP Builders. These 19 SIPA members and building professionals are coupling SIP technology with innovative designs to meet the highest codes and occupant health standards. This online builder program is free, and it includes courses and tests that can be taken at a pace that mesh with any builder’s schedule. Completing the Building Education with SIPs Training (BEST) is the first tier to becoming a Master SIP Builder. The BEST program is comprised of 10 credentialed courses with topics on SIP building practices and methods, each section followed by a test. This comprehensive SIP training is promoted by the Department of Labor’s Job Corp, the Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA) and Team Zero accredited training programs. These courses are also AIA HSW for 7.5 CU hours. Open Newsletter

Clifton View Homes and Premier Building Systems Create an ADU SIP DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Award Winner

Oct 7, 2021 - On September 14, 2021, at EEBA’s (Energy & Environmental Building Alliance) High-Performance Home Summit, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm announced the award winners of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) 2021 Housing Innovation Awards, the highest honor builders can receive for constructing Zero Energy Ready Homes. This year’s awards feature 29 homes from 27 builders across 14 states. Open Newsletter

TC Legend Homes and Premier Building Systems Partner to Create a DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Grand Award Project Winner

Sep 23, 2021 - On September 14, 2021 at EEBA’s (Energy & Environmental Building Alliance) High-Performance Home Summit, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm announced the grand award winners of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) 2021 Housing Innovation Awards, the highest honor builders can receive for constructing Zero Energy Ready Homes. These high-performance homes are so energy-efficient, often 40 to 50% more efficient than typical new homes, that they can easily offset most or all the energy they consume with renewable energy. Open Newsletter

New Blog Posting: Measure a Home by its Energy Performance

Sep 9, 2021 - A Home Energy Rating Score (HERS) on a house can be a compelling metric to the mindful consumer and understanding this rating has significantly broadened thanks to the Residential Energy Service Network (RESNET). The HERS Index Score is simple; the higher the rating, the more energy required to live comfortably in the home. A lower energy score indicates the home is more energy efficient. Open Newsletter

Builder Interest Grows for Offsite Alternatives

Aug 26, 2021 - Home Innovation Research Lab’s survey of 348 home builders repeated a question regarding offsite housing construction methods asked in August 2019 and September 2020: “Considering only the new homes your company builds, how often do you anticipate using the following construction practices in FIVE YEARS compared to the past year.” In terms of accelerating interest, turnkey framing, while not necessarily confined to offsite production, structural insulated panels (SIPs) and precast concrete panels seemed to get the biggest boost in the past year. Open Newsletter

New Study: SIPs Found Advantageous in Hot and Arid Climates

Aug 12, 2021 - In hot and humid climatic conditions, cooling tends to dominate building thermal energy use. Cooling loads can be reduced through the adoption of efficient building envelope materials, such as Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs). Open Newsletter

SIPA Submits Building Excellence Award Winners to NAHB and Building Systems Councils' Jerry Rouleau Awards for 2021

Jul 29, 2021 - SIPA will again recognize winners from the 2021 Building Excellence Awards (BEA) as contestants in the Jerry Rouleau Awards for Excellence in Design this year. The top projects from the BEA residential categories will highlight the sustainability, beauty, cost and labor-saving aspects of the off-site/panelized building industry. Open Newsletter

3rd Tuesday Event: Roundtable Discussion on Supply Chain and Labor Issues, SIPA Promotes SIPs as a Proven Solution

Jul 15, 2021 - What can we do in the short term when products and materials needed are not available to keep production moving forward? How best to leverage scarce labor resources, ensure quality in the supply chain and ensure profitability while keeping commitments to our customers? How do we prepare if these short-term issues are just a taste of what is to come? Open Newsletter

SIPs vs. Hurricane … SIPs Earn Florida Approval

Jul 1, 2021 - June marked the start of hurricane season, and hurricane preparedness is a number one concern for residents in areas affected by storms. Unsecured objects coupled with 120-200 mph winds become projectiles likely to hit buildings and homes, threatening property as well as lives. For this reason, building materials such as SIPs are scrutinized for their durability, how securely they are fastened in place and strength to safely withstand the forces of mother nature. Open Newsletter

Your FAQs, Our Answers: How Much Money Can I Save with SIPs?

Jun 17, 2021 - From a builder’s perspective, builders can save money through decreased construction and labor costs. And a SIP’s high-performance building envelope often allows for downsized HVAC equipment and minimized ductwork. Builders can also significantly reduce jobsite scrap disposal and temporary heat during cold weather construction. In a March 2021 example for a typical 2,000 sq. ft. home, using SIPs saved over $16,000 in eliminated 2 x 4 raw material costs alone due to the high costs of lumber versus OSB used for SIPs. Open Newsletter

Skyrocketing Lumber Costs — Another Reason to Consider SIPs

Jun 3, 2021 - There has never been a better time to look at SIPs as an economic building option – blog published May 10, 2021. Spikes in lumber demand since the COVID-19 pandemic are having a detrimental effect on construction costs for homebuyers and builders alike. Nationally, the housing market is experiencing sharp increases in demand that have only furthered the housing shortage in many parts of the country. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), lumber projects increased in average price by $34K (+240%) since April 2020 for a standard 2,000 sq. ft. home. Structural insulated panels (SIPs) building cost for a similar standard 2,000 sq. ft. home saw an increase of only $8K or about +30%. Open Newsletter

Introducing a Better Website and a Better SIP Resource

May 20, 2021 - That's right! Our new website has launched including fully mobile friendly functionality. Visitors will find new features and hundreds of additional award-winning SIP projects loaded into the case study maps rolling out over the next weeks, so check back frequently. The project maps now allow for searching of SIP projects based on location, building type, HERS rating, blower-door air leakage results, 3rd party green certifications (like LEED, E-STAR, Passive, etc.) and by energy intensity and use/ft2 data. Open Newsletter

SIP DESIGN-BP 2: HVAC Systems with SIPs — FREE Download

May 6, 2021 - SIP DESIGN-BP 2: HVAC Systems with SIPs is for design professionals by the manufacturer members of the Structural Insulated Panel Association (SIPA). It dives deeper and provides more background into the summarized topic of HVAC systems presented in the Designing with SIPs: DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS overview. The concepts highlight important considerations during the design phase of a Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) structure. Open Newsletter

SIP Design Best Practice 3: SIP Structural Capabilities

Apr 22, 2021 - This 14-page document is the third in a series of 10 "deep dive" companion publications to the Designing with SIPs: DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS brochure authored by SIPA together with the SIP industry's technical experts. Open Newsletter

Our Energy Building Codes Need YOU!

Apr 8, 2021 - This is a call from the International Code Council (ICC) for two new committees of 30 members each charged with creating the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) for residential and commercial buildings. This new process replaces the traditional voting by government, city and county officials. Open Newsletter

Winners Have Been Announced: SIPA Building Excellence Awards

Mar 25, 2021 - The two top overall winners are: SIP Farm Kitchen Kansas City MO (Boys Grow Farm Kitchen), located in Kansas City, Missouri, entered in the Agricultural category was awarded both the category high-performance winner and the overall competition (non-residential) grand prize winner; Open Newsletter

SIP Design Best Practice 3: SIP Structural Capabilities

Mar 11, 2021 - This 14-page document is the third in a series of 10 "deep dive" companion publications to the Designing with SIPs: DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS brochure authored by SIPA together with the SIP industry's technical experts. Open Newsletter

Traditional Style with Exceptional Building Science — Legacy House

Feb 25, 2021 - George Yeager and Sharon Riskedahl, owners of the Legacy House in Lewis Center, Ohio, wanted to create a structure that would be practical in an environment where reductions in energy consumption and fossil fuel-based carbon emissions are of very great importance. Dan Troth, SIPA member and owner of GreenTech Construction in Delaware, Ohio, delivered a striking product. Open Newsletter

Sneak Peek: Look Book #1 — Homes Under 3,000 Square Feet

Feb 11, 2021 - SIPA has received a record number of entries in this year's Building Excellence Awards competition. Over 65 projects will be reviewed by this year's judges: Aaron C. Smith, CEO at EEBA; Chrissi Antonopoulos, Senior Analyst at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; and Ron Jones, President, Green Builder Media. Open Newsletter

SIP Design Best Practices 1: High-Performance SIP Building Envelope

Jan 28, 2021 - This 24-page document is the first in a series of 10 "deep dive" companion publications to the Designing with SIPs: DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS brochure authored by SIPA together with the SIP industry's technical experts. This highly illustrated document focuses on aiding and educating builders and designers that are new to the SIP world. These Best Practices guides will cover, in depth, the key points from each of the ten design considerations summarized in the overview brochure released last year. Open Newsletter

Common Objections for SIP Designs, Video 10 of the BEST Program Remastered and Provides CE Credit

Jan 14, 2021 - The Builder Education with SIP Training (BEST) program is the on-ramp to a three step process in achieving "Builder in Training" status for SIPA members (new students will enjoy $50 off the first year's SIPA membership fee). Open Newsletter

25 issues.