The Design-Build Process of a Modular Home Using Structural Insulated Panels

fabricated eight modules constructed from engineered lumber and structural insulated panels (SIPs) from R-Control, which is headquartered in Burnsville, Minn. (R-Control has some very informative Q&As on its Web site here.) Photo courtesy of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy The Use of SIPs Today A modular home constructed with structural insulated panels offers a fast, energy-efficient and healthy approach to building. These homes are manufactured in a factory-controlled environment so they are standardized and reliable. Since SIPs are prefabricated in the factory, there is less job site waste—meaning, less materials need to be sent to the landfill. Factory fabrication is often processed with optimization software and many manufacturers recycle factory scrap to make other foam products. A SIP building envelope provides high levels of insulation and is extremely air-tight, meaning the amount of energy used to heat and cool a home can be cut by up to 50 percent. The energy that powers homes and commercial buildings is responsible for a large portion of greenhouse gasses emitted into the atmosphere. Reducing the amount of energy used in buildings enables architects, builders and homeowners to contribute to a cleaner environment now and for the future. The insulation used in SIPs is a lightweight, rigid foam plastic composed of 98 percent air and requires only a small amount of petroleum to produce. The foam insulation used in panel cores is made using a non-CFC (chlorofluorocarbons) blowing agent that does not threaten the Earth’s ozone layer. Building a SIP Modular Home Many homeowners find the process of shopping for a SIP modular home to be difficult and confusing. It is not like shopping for a new car or stove. There are no consumer magazines offering product comparisons, reviews and recommendations. Because shopping for a SIP modular home can be a difficult and confusing process, it’s important, first and foremost, to find a knowledgeable modular design and build team that will offer the home at a fair price and will provide informational support. Homeowners can also refer to such resources as The Modular Home Book by Andrew Gianino, Ph.D. and the Structural Insulated Panel Association. It’s important to choose a designer, builder and modular manufacturer that understands the requirements of SIP construction.

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