Structural Insulated Panels in NZ Weather Conditions

SIPs Superior Performance Against New Zealand Weather Conditions

Building a home to withstand New Zealand weather conditions can be a challenge, but structural insulated panels (SIPs) are an ideal material for roof, wall and floor insulation.

Structural Insulated Panels are a building material that is growing rapidly in popularity for New Zealand new-build homes. This is a testament to their high energy efficiency and structural strength.

new zealand weather sips

Reduced Energy Costs and Improved Comfort

SIPs are constructed using a layer of rigid foam insulation that is laminated between two sheets of oriented strand board (OSB). When selecting insulation for your home, the R-value rating is the key factor that should be evaluated. The R-value measures a material’s ability to resist heat flow. SIPs have exceptionally high R-values, especially compared with standard building materials, making them a great option for reducing energy costs and improving comfort in homes and buildings.

Despite having high performance in thermal resistance, R-values do not tell the whole story, as they provide little insight into how SIPs perform in the home. Water vapour in the air inside a home is created by the activities of living in a house such as cooking, washing, and breathing. “Vapour Permeability” is an important real-world factor to consider when selecting materials for building a home. SIPs are excellent at providing a very high level of air tightness while maintaining the ability to “breath” water vapour out of the building.

The term vapour permeability (sometimes called “breathability”) refers to a material’s ability to let water vapour pass through it. SIPs have good vapour permeability properties, unlike cool store panels and traditional timber framed walls, they will not trap water vapour in the structure which can cause mould, mildew, and rot.

When SIPs are used in conjunction with a highly breathable building membrane, and a Heat Recovery Ventilation System a warmer, drier, healthier, and more comfortable living environment is created. A building process designed and built with these principles in mind will create a healthy living environment.

Built for New Zealand Weather Conditions

wanaka weather house

New Zealand is known to have harsh weather conditions such as high winds, heavy rains, cold weather and earthquakes, making it essential to have strong and durable building materials. SIPs make an ideal choice as they can provide necessary protection against the wind, cold and earthquakes whilst also improving energy efficiency.

Not only do SIPs offer superior energy efficiency and structural strength, but they are also a cost-effective option for building. This is due to SIPs’ ability to be able to prefabricate off-site, reducing construction time and labour costs.

As one of the most viable options for building materials to withstand New Zealand’s sometimes harsh conditions, SIPs provide high R-value, permeability, cost-effectiveness, and easy installation.

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