2024 Newsletters

SIPA Launches the SIP BITS Podcast: Building Influencers Talk SIPs

Oct 3, 2024 - In a world where consumer information is transforming and made to be as convenient to digest as possible, the podcast was born. SIPA has stepped into the pool of audio, and we hope to reach an audience that values short bits on the multitude of benefits to SIP construction Open Newsletter

What is an EPD and an LCA?

Sep 19, 2024 - The Structural Insulated Panel Association recently published an explainer video about Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs). These sustainability tools quantify and summarize the environmental impacts of products, services and systems. EPDs are a defining report summarizing the life-cycle details of a product that enables comparisons between products fulfilling the same function. Open Newsletter

SIP Installation Speeds are Going Viral

Sep 5, 2024 - Marketing the benefits of SIPs can be a challenge. There are ample reasons to adopt SIPs, and all of these reasons are data driven, but the rabbit hole of benefits is vast. Depending on your audience, you might highlight the cost-saving benefits that run parallel to reduced waste and environmental benefits. A different approach might be the design flexibility and structural resilience since SIPs are approved for all climate zones and surpass the latest national building codes. Open Newsletter

HERS Ratings that Will Make You Sing 'SIPs!'

Aug 22, 2024 - Through vigilance and collaboration, SIPA strongly believes the building industry can reach the decarbonization goals set by the current administration. The implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act, offering building credits and adopting environmental planning, has spurred many sectors of the U.S. economy towards those goals. With the use of data collected by the Department of Energy and RESNET, SIPA is able to demonstrate that SIPs provide the most economical sustainability portfolio in the insulation industry when compared with other building methods. Open Newsletter

Fire Testing the SIP Building Envelope

Aug 8, 2024 - SIPs are the surefire way to build safe, energy-efficient homes in areas experiencing wildfires. Open Newsletter

Federal Policy Raises the Bar for Energy-Efficient Housing

Jul 25, 2024 - This past May, the USDA and HUD adopted the 2021 IECC building standards as the new minimum standard for federally backed housing. This policy update includes new construction and federally financed single-family and multi-family homes and it will impact hundreds of thousands of loans in the next two years. Open Newsletter

SIPA's Latest ICC Evaluation Report is All Inclusive

Jul 11, 2024 - Every three years, the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) publishes an update to the building codes many states and cities adopt to increase energy stewardship in new construction. The latest published version is IECC 2021, and it builds on the 2018 and 2015 versions. Although IECC has not been nationally adopted, there are numerous states, cities and local governments that have implemented these codes for new construction in their jurisdictions. With better building codes come greater energy performance, healthier buildings to live in and more sustainable buildings for the planet. Open Newsletter

SIPs are Engineered to Withstand Storm Winds and Debris Impact

Jun 27, 2024 - When a hurricane hits, 120-200 mph winds hurtle objects toward buildings with frightening consequences. That's why building materials are tested for durability and fastener strength, especially in hurricane-prone locations like Southern Florida. With June kicking off the U.S. hurricane season, it's a good reminder that SIPs pass the Hurricane Missile Impact Test, qualifying for all Florida HVHZ areas. This test is a significant demonstration of SIP strength and durability, and it's also a required component to structural wall assemblies in Florida. Open Newsletter

Just Published — A New, Multi-Year Creep Study on SIPs

Jun 13, 2024 - The USDA Forest Service, Forest Product Laboratory (FPL) cooperated with Mississippi State University's (MSU) Department of Sustainable Bioproducts to conduct a multi-year study on the creep of structural insulated panels. A SIPA manufacturing member provided the test specimens, including two SIP depths (6.5-inch SIPs by 10-feet long and 12.25-inch SIPs by 18.5-feet long). The SIPs had EPS foam cores with 7/16-inch-thick OSB facers Open Newsletter

The Easiest Way to Build Green is to Build with SIPs

May 30, 2024 - SIPs offer low-maintenance reliability and significant energy savings throughout the life of the structure. Open Newsletter

SIPs Ensure Resilience through High Performance

May 16, 2024 - SIPs offer a multifaceted approach to resilience, embodying durability and efficiency to ensure occupant safety and comfort, even in adverse conditions. Their robust construction and superior thermal performance make them ideal for withstanding extreme weather events and power outages. By effectively insulating and sealing buildings, SIPs not only minimize energy loss but also regulate internal temperatures, providing a stable and secure environment for inhabitants. Open Newsletter

The Breadth of Building Safety Month Where SIPs are Center Stage

May 2, 2024 - Throughout the month of May, SIPA will participate in the 44th annual Building Safety Month, a worldwide campaign presented by the International Code Council, its members and partners to promote building safety. This year's campaign, "Mission Possible," encourages people to get involved and makes the connection between building codes and our personal safety, as well as the important work done by building safety professionals. Open Newsletter

A Sustainable Solution for a Greener Future

Apr 18, 2024 - Embodied carbon signifies the carbon dioxide (CO?) emissions intricately entwined within building materials and construction processes. From project initiation to completion, each phase of a building's lifecycle adds to its embodied carbon footprint. Open Newsletter

SIPs are Saving Builders, Investors and Homeowners Thousands!

Apr 4, 2024 - Make sure to read and bookmark SIPA's blog, "Energy Efficiency Made Easy: Understanding New Tax Credits and Benefits of SIPs," about how SIP builders can take advantage of new and extended tax incentives included in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). SIPs can help qualify projects for credits and rebates for new and existing commercial and residential buildings, including multifamily, public and nonprofit buildings, through sections 45L, 25C and 179D of the IRA. Open Newsletter

Unlocking Affordability with SIPs — Part 3 of 3

Mar 21, 2024 - To overcome the challenges of introducing SIPs to builders and architects, the Structural Insulated Panel Association (SIPA) developed a bidding tool aimed at effectively conveying the value of SIPs' advanced enclosure technology. Open Newsletter

We Brought SIPs to Today's Builders at the IBS 2024

Mar 7, 2024 - Last week, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) hosted its annual International Builders Show (IBS) in Las Vegas, Nevada. This year's event welcomed the highest number of attendees since 2008. With over 76,000 building professionals in attendance from 100 countries, it was an ideal time for designers, architects, merchants and suppliers to learn and teach their trade. SIP representation was spread across both the central and south halls at booths for Extreme Panel Technologies, Insulspan, Premier SIPS and ThermaFoam. Open Newsletter

Three SIP Homes Receive 2024 Green Home of the Year Awards!

Feb 22, 2024 - Green Builder Media (GBM) is North America's leading green building and sustainable living media company. Through GBM's magazine, website, home demonstrations and data mediums, they have provided actionable information about sustainable living and building to the building professionals and its consumers. Open Newsletter

SIPA's 2024 Building Excellence Awards Winners & Affordability with SIPs: Part 2 of 3

Feb 8, 2024 - SIPA announced the winners of the 22nd Annual Building Excellence Awards at its annual members' meeting on January 30, 2024. One of the most prominent offsite construction award programs, the Building Excellence Awards showcases projects that best demonstrate the design flexibility, long-lasting energy performance and resiliency of structural insulated panels (SIPs). Open Newsletter

The 2023 Building Systems Council Jerry Rouleau Awards recognized two outstanding SIP constructions.

Jan 25, 2024 - The International Builders' Show is around the corner and NAHB will be recognizing the Jerry Rouleau Awards for Excellence in Home Design in the Building Systems Councils' Learning Lounge. There were two award-winning SIP projects in 2023. Details on each project are available by clicking on the images or visit SIPA in the Learning Lounge at IBS 2024. Open Newsletter

SIPs Are Bringing the Building Revolution á la Podcast!

Jan 11, 2024 - Step into the world of sustainable construction with Building Better: The SIPs Revolution podcast dedicated to demystifying Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) construction. Each episode dives into the essentials of SIPs, welcoming a diverse array of industry professionals and experts to share their insights. Open Newsletter

20 issues.