Preflex SIPs are an environmentally conscious choice, requiring fewer natural resources and generating a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to traditional construction methods. Additionally, they dramatically reduce on-site waste, making them a superior, sustainable building solution.
Preflex SIPs maintain their R-value for the life of your home, providing better insulation and a sealed structure for a savings of up to 60% in heating and cooling costs.
Our SIP structures are expertly engineered for resilience, offering enhanced protection against natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and storms, ensuring robust safety and durability.
Our prefabricated panels are manufactured off-site and designed for rapid assembly, achieving are markable 50% faster dry-in time, streamlining the construction process and significantly reducing project timelines.
SIPs construct robust, energy-efficient buildings that elevate property value and resale potential while decreasing operating expenses. Enhanced by federal incentives and superior energy efficiency, these structures significantly boost overall property valuation, making them a lucrative investment.
A Preflex structure is air-tight and insulated, significantly enhancing indoor air quality by reducing dust, pollen, and other airborne contaminants. This method also eliminates cavities where mold and pests could develop, ensuring a cleaner and healthier living environment.
Structural insulated panels (SIPs) are high-performance building panels used in floors, walls, and roofs for residential and light commercial buildings. The panels are made by sandwiching a core of rigid foam plastic insulation between two structural facings, such as oriented strand board (OSB). Other skin materials can be used for specific purposes. SIPs are manufactured under factory controlled conditions and can be custom designed for each project. The result is a building system that is extremely strong, energy-efficient and cost effective. Building with SIPs will save you time, money and labor.
SIP homes go up much faster than traditionally framed buildings. A properly trained SIP installation crew can cut framing time by 55 percent compared to conventional wood framing, according to a third-party study conducted by R.S. Means. Panels are manufactured as big as 8-foot by 24-foot, so entire wall and roof sections can be put up quickly, reducing dry-in time. SIPs are ready to install when they arrive at the jobsite, eliminating the time needed to perform the individual jobsite operations of framing, insulating and sheathing stick framed walls. Electrical chases are typically provided in the core of panels, so there is no need to drill through studs for wiring.
Builders can save money through decreased construction and labor costs. A high-performance building envelope often allows HVAC equipment to be downsized and ductwork to be minimized. Builders can also significantly reduce jobsite waste disposal and temporary heat during construction. Homeowners that incorporate other energy-efficient features into a SIP home can see utility savings of 50 percent or more. In a 2021 example for a typical 2,000 sf home, using SIPs saves over $16,000 in eliminated 2 x 4 raw material costs alone due to the high costs of lumber versus OSB used for SIPs.
SIP construction is recognized by the International Code Council body of building codes, which are used by most jurisdictions in the U.S. SIPs are also approved by the State of Florida for High Velocity Hurricane Zones (HVHZ).
For residential buildings, specific construction practices for SIP wall systems are included in Section R610 of the 2018 International Residential Code. For applications beyond the scope of Section R610, the building inspector will typically require a licensed engineer or architect to approve the building plans prior to construction. An engineer’s approval is always required in high wind areas, high seismic zones and commercial buildings.
R-values for SIPs depend on the thickness of the SIP and the type of core material that is used. See SIPA’s R-value chart for the minimum R-values of commonly available SIPs.
Static R-values, like those included in the chart, rate the effectiveness of insulating material. However, they do not accurately describe how products perform in a real-world setting. When fiberglass or other types of insulation are installed, they are installed around structural members made of wood or metal that have very poor insulating value. Field-installed insulation materials are also prone to installation imperfections.
The Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory has studied and tested the performance of entire wall assemblies in large sections. The resulting whole-wall R-value data reveals that a 4-inch SIP wall rated at R-14 outperforms a 2 × 6 wall with R-19 fiberglass insulation. For more detail, download the free SIP Design Best Practices 1: High-Performance SIP Building Envelope.
Plumbing should not be located in exterior SIP walls because of the possibility of condensation or supply lines freezing in cold climates. During the design phase of the project, all plumbing should be relocated to interior walls.
If plumbing must be located on an exterior wall, it is recommended that a surface chase be installed on the interior of the wall to conceal plumbing. Another option is to construct a small section of the wall using conventional wood framing that can be used to run plumbing. Plumbing penetrations such as drain water vents (DWV) can be placed through SIPs if they are thoroughly sealed to prevent air infiltration.
The construction of a SIP home or commercial building begins with the construction documents. Once the construction documents are in the hands of a SIP manufacturer, dealer/distributor or design professional, they are converted to SIP shop drawings that give the dimensions of each individual panel.
The shop drawings are reviewed by the builder, engineer, the building owner and other involved parties. Once the shop drawings are finalized, the SIPs are fabricated and shipped to the jobsite for installation. For more information, watch the half-hour educational videos on SIP Order Process and SIP Layout Drawings. For a more complete process summary, download the free brochure Designing with SIPs: DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS.
We can transform your current blueprints into a SIP building, as well as provide insights into design considerations that can optimize the advantages of the Preflex framing system. Alternatively, you have the option to select from our portfolio of pre-engineered floor layouts. Additionally, you can engage with our architect partners who possess a deep understanding of the Preflex framing system, ensuring you derive the maximum benefits from it.
Pre-Designed KitsAfter finalizing your architectural design, our BIM modeling software will partition the structure into sections (walls, roofs, and floors) and incorporate any necessary additional structural components based on engineering requirements tailored to your geographical location's load design criteria. Following the design review and approval of strength, durability, and stability, our licensed Structural Professional Engineer (PE) partner will stamp the drawings (example) and generate a calculation packet for support (example). You can then forward the engineered drawings and calculations to the Engineer of Record (EOR) on the project, who will consolidate them into a single packet along with the rest of the engineering ready for city submittal. If needed, our Engineering partners can also provide Engineer of Record services to design the foundation and the entire structure.
Using the generated BIM model, we will create SIP Master Panel Fabrication drawings, organizing all SIP sections on an 8' x 24' Master panel (example). These drawings will be sent to the manufacturing floor for precision fabrication with our proprietary laser equipment. Following this, our BIM software, in collaboration with our drafting team, will generate individual SIP fabrication drawings (example), determining recess requirements on each side and incorporating any necessary lumber or block splines. The fabricated SIPs undergo inspection and approval by our quality control team, adhering to our rigorous ICC certified and audited Quality Control Program where every SIP gets test fitted prior to shipping.
Panels destined for California undergo a CA FBH inspection for structural components and are provided with an approved Insignia stamp.
Once you secure a building permit and commence your ground and foundation work, we can initiate the fabrication of your package. Coordination for shipping will align with the readiness of this construction phase. We advise having your sill and bottom plates already installed before the package arrives, facilitating the prompt commencement of wall erection upon delivery (learn more). It's highly recommended to have a trained installer on-site. We can provide references to a Certified Builder in your area, or if none are available, we can dispatch a hands-on Preflex installation assistant to supervise any local crew during the installation. Additionally, we offer builder training sessions every quarter (learn more).
Preflex has the most complete package in the SIP industry: From RTA packages,Pre-Designed units, to supplying all the materials you need for building your building envelope, and a 21 year Limited Warranty.
Building with SIPs is better than any traditional building methods. And Preflex works hand-in-hand with you and your team to establish a trusted relationship, ensuring quality and project success.