Wrapping a Timber Frame with Structural Insulated Panels

Join SIPschool November 3-4, 2011 as we take on the challenge of combining timber framing’s old world craftsmanship with building science and detailing as it relates to super energy-efficient construction.  “Wrapping a Timber Frame with Structural Insulated Panels” is  a two-day workshop being offered as a pre-conference event for the Timber Frames Guild 2011 Eastern Conference.  This event will take place at SIPschool’s home base in Shenandoah Junction, WV (approximately 33 miles from the Leesburg Conference site).

This training is more than just a SIP seminar.  Director Al Cobb embraces the philosophy that structures are a system and understanding that system is central to durability, efficiency, and comfort.   Set against the backdrop of a mid-1800’s bank barn, this training will begin with classroom lecture in the covered and heated SIPschool shop.  Hands-on training will involve fabrication and installation of SIPs on  mock ups to illustrate proper techniques utilized in a SIP/Timber Frame structure.  This SIPschool training is being sponsored by ACME Panel in Radford, Virginia.  ACME will reimburse the tuition for this training to anyone who purchases ACME Panels within the year.  This session is open to TFG members and the general public.  Register Now

Retrofit Panels Wrap Existing Housing Stock in Affordable Efficiency

In case you haven’t heard, the USA is arguably the only country on the planet without a housing shortage.  The Building America Teams with DOE support and funding have been focused not on building better new homes, but on technologies that help make the existing housing inventory more energy efficient.

A Nailbase Panel is the SIP industry’s answer to deep energy retrofits.  By removing one skin from the structural insulated panel you create an insulated panel.  This nailbase panel is much closer to a commodity building component than a traditional SIP, as design, engineering, and code issues are a fraction of its fully clad big brother.

The nailbase approach allows a remodeler to attack the structure from the outside.  The nailbase panel has been successfully used in both wall and roof applications.  When old siding and roofing is removed, the nailbase panel can be easily attached (with SIP screws, no less) to the exposed framing.  This approach leaves existing insulation intact and the foam of the nailbase becomes an added layer of thermal efficiency.  The installation of nailbase employs many techniques used with SIPs as it relates to sealing the envelope for maximum air tightness.

The exterior application also avoids dealing with any existing mechanicals and wiring.  Equally important, the interior finish remains basically untouched as the makeover is largely an exterior operation.  With a big exception – your window package.  When the added thickness of nailbase is applied to a structure’s exterior, it almost always forces a do-over with the windows.  This is not necessarily a bad idea for a deep energy retrofit.  A new window and door package will compliment a new and improved exterior shell.

Keep in mind that nailbase panels and a new window package don’t complete your deep energy retrofit.  A complete review of the mechanicals and appliances is essential.  Your new  skin can change the airtightness of your structure to the point where certain combustible appliances could become dangerous.  All deep energy retrofits should be accompanied by an analysis of the entire house and all systems by a trained individual.  This same individual should also stick around to perform the blower door test at the end of your retrofit to ensure that the new shell is properly air sealed.

SIPschool is hosting a FREE 2.5 hour seminar

Nailbase Panels in a Deep Energy Retrofit

This 2.5 hour course includes:

• Tour of manufacturing facility and review of processes involved in foam manufacturing.
• Observation of laminating process in production of nailbase panels.

Following tour, SIPschool’s Al Cobb will review the various applications of nailbase on existing buildings.  This portion of the class will include:

• Choosing the right thickness and core material
• Modification and attachment of panels to wall and roof assemblies
• Special concerns of windows and doors
• Satisfactory indoor air quality
• Safety concerns with combustion appliances

Online registration is required

Class will begin at 1:00pm Monday October 31, 2011

SIPA’s First Certified Builder is a SIPschool Graduate

The following post comes from SIPA’s website:

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania-based Bridlewood Builders is the first member of the Structural Insulated Panel Association (SIPA) to receive the SIPA Certified Builder designation. All SIPA Certified Builders have received training on structural insulated panel (SIP) installation and displayed a proven track record of constructing energy-efficient SIP homes. SIPA launched the Certified Builder Program in the summer of 2011 to help homeowners and general contractors identify trained and reputable SIP installers. SIPA Certified Builders can be located through the SIPA membership directory.

Husband and wife management team Terry and Robin Loughran of Bridlewood Builders adopted SIPs as part of their homebuilding business nearly 15 years ago. They have since attended the SIPschool’s SIPs 301 Certified Installer Workshop and now construct SIP homes in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, and the Washington DC area. “We are always looking for the best technology that allows us to build higher quality homes for our customers,” said Terry Loughran. “We haven’t found any building materials or techniques out there that are more efficient than SIPs, so using SIPs makes it easy to build really energy-efficient homes.”

Bridlewood Builders received the 2010 Pyramid Award from Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Harrisburg for the Best Green Custom Home of the Year. The 2,400 sq. award-winning home in Carlisle, Pennsylvania uses a complete SIP building envelope to reach energy savings of 70 percent over a home built to today’s building code. With reducing the home’s environmental footprint in mind from the beginning, the Loughrans utilized a passive solar design strategy with carefully calculated window sizing and overhang placement. When mechanical heating or cooling is required, the home relies on a geothermal heating and cooling system, an energy recovery ventilator, and an efficient wood-burning masonry heater. A grid-tied photovoltaic array can provide much of the home’s electricity or sell power back to the utility company.

Bridlewood Builders received a second Pyramid Award for Best Custom Home of the Year in the $500,000 – $1 million price range for another SIP home. “We’re thrilled about becoming SIPA Certified Builders,” said Robin Loughran. “We’ve worked very hard to specialize in SIPs and educate both our customers and the general public on the value of building with SIPs.” More information on how to become a SIPA Certified Builder can be found on the Certified Builder page. You can also search for SIPA Certified Builders using the SIPA membership directory.

SIPschool’s next SIPs 301 Certified Installer class is scheduled for October 24-27, 2011 in Shenandoah Junction, WV.

New Addition to SIPschool’s SIPs Basics™ Online Classes

The long awaited SIPschool SIPs Basics Session Three: Installation Basics is now available online.  Director Al Cobb uses this hour-long session to walk the uninitiated though the basics of installing your structural insulated panels.  Course includes:

• Installation tools common to the SIP industry
• Specifications and use of equipment for lifting SIPs
• Overall management of a SIP job site
• Various fasteners and their use when installing panels
• Setting the first panel and staying plumb, level and square
• Description of various sealing products
• When, where and how to seal, seal, seal for great energy performance
• SIP Tape: Why its important and when and where to use it
• Tricks to assembling and rigging panels for safe and efficient installation
• Step by step explanation of setting roof panels
• Learning through the mistakes of others
• and much more

This is just a first taste of what you need to know when tackling a SIP installation project.  For hands-on training, check out our onsite classes here at SIPschool.

 

West Virginia’s Most Energy Efficient Structure?

Sharing this with all of you close enough to Wild and Wonderful West Virginia to be able to make the Craftworks Cool Spring Studio Open House in the Eastern Panhandle on September 17.  Al Cobb will be on hand to discuss the energy saving strategies employed in this 2040 sq ft community studio, including the use of SIPs, ERV and ECOP.  The studio will also receive recognition for its Energy Star 5 Star Plus rating.

What’s a Blower Door Test?

Recently our sister company has been working on a project we’ve dubbed “The Most Energy Efficient Structure in West Virginia”.  Built with SIPs, of course, this 2000 sq. ft. community craft studio also features energy saving devices such as an ERV, mini split HVAC, and destratification fan system.

To support our claim, we’ve used the blower door test to confirm correct envelope construction and detailing.  A blower door test is mandatory when attempting to show compliance with an air-tightness metric like Passive House Certification (0.6 ach@50) or the recently launched SIPA Builder Certification Program (2.0 ach@50).

This test is commonplace  for those seeking higher performance in their buildings, but I feel it should be standard practice for all new construction. I know a tight envelope isn’t as sexy as a lot of the green add-ons consumers can buy today, but if you start with an energy-efficient structure you won’t spend as much on eco-bling.

In this SIPschool video, we’ve attempted to give a brief demonstration on what happens during the blower door test.  Our initial test came back at 1.7 ach@50, and after a lot of foam, tape and mastic, we’re pleased to report that Randy’s follow-up test came back at 0.54 ach@50 -  we’re betting that proves CraftWorks is the most energy efficient structure in West Virgina (insert WV joke here).

SIPs 301 Certified Installer Course Satisfies SIPA BEST Program Training Requirements

Here’s SIPA’s June 24, 2011 Press Release on the new BEST Program.  It outlines three different paths to becoming a SIPA BEST Builder, and SIPschool’s SIPs 301 Installation for SIP Professionals Certified Installer Class is one of them.

SIPA is excited to announce the launch of the SIPA Certified Builder Program.  For homeowners and general contractors, working with a SIPA Certified Builder means that they are working with a licensed contractor who has received training and demonstrated competency in the field of SIP installation.

For builders, the SIPA Certified Builder Program presents an opportunity to market your company as a trained and qualified installer of structural insulated panels.  Certified Builders can use the SIPA Certified Builder logo in their marketing materials and indicate their designation on their membership profile on the SIPA website.  SIPA will also undertake an initiative to communicate the advantages of working with SIPA Certified Builders to consumers and the design community.

There are three different ways to become a SIPA Certified Builder:

Option A – Builders that are new to SIPs

• Complete the online Builder Education with SIPs Training (BEST) program at Green Builder College and pass the tests provided at the end of each lesson.
• Attend a regional SIPA BEST hands-on training class with OSHA forklift certification.  Regional classes will be scheduled in the near future.
• Submit a blower door test result from a RESNET certified energy rater from a recently completed project with a result not to exceed 2.0 ACH50.
• Complete the SIPA Certified Builder Checklist on the blower door tested project.

Builders will be considered a “builder in training” until the blower door test and Certified Builder Checklist are submitted.  Upon completion of Option A, the builder will receive the following year’s SIPA builder membership at no charge.

Option B – Existing SIPA members and experienced SIP builders

• Submit an application with past builder experience.
• Pass BEST curriculum tests with a score of 80 percent or better (registering for course not required).
• Submit a blower door test result from a RESNET certified energy rater from a recently completed project with a result not to exceed 2.0 ACH50.
• Complete the SIPA Certified Builder Checklist on the blower door tested project.

Option C – Certified Installer (SIPs 301) graduate

• Submit documentation of successful completion of the SIPschool SIPs 301 course.
• Submit a blower door test result from a RESNET certified energy rater from a recently completed project with a result not to exceed 2.0 ACH50.
• Complete the SIPA Certified Builder Checklist on the blower door tested project.

Upon completion of Option C, the builder will receive the following year’s SIPA builder membership at no charge.
To become a recognized Certified Builder, all applicants will need to provide one of these completed options to the SIPA Education Committee.

To remain a Certified Builder, members will need to provide blower door test results every two years to the SIPA Education Committee and complete the SIPA Certified Builder Checklist on the blower door tested project.

More information on the SIPA Certified Builder Program will be available on the SIPA website (www.sips.org) in the following weeks.