Building with Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs): Strength and Energy Efficiency Through Structural

this book provides a thorough and well detailed look at SIP anatomy and construction techniques. information on this construction type is extremely difficult to find from sources other than (possibly biased or glossed-over) information from SIP manufacturers. the content covers so many details of its construction that it could concievably be used as a primer/manual/textbook for contractors or others interested in using this construction type. any information needed to supplement the information found here will most likely be so specific that it will be material related to a particular manufacturer's product or information gleaned directly from materials testing reports. i have looked extensively, and not been able to find, any materials on SIPs that could compare to the value of this source.

Just a quick note on this book. My wife and I are looking to build an energy-efficient home. We are both engineers and very detail-oriented people. As part of our due diligence, we picked up this book after seeing a demonstration house built with SIPS as part of the 2005 Smithsonian Folk Life Festival (this was part of the US Forest Service pavilion - sustainable building approaches area). As noted in an earlier review, this book does have a bit of a promotional feel. However, it could simply be the author's enthusiasm for what appears to be a very good product. The book is also somewhat light in treating potential problems with SIPS. The failures of mutliple SIP roofing systems in Juneau, Alaska should have been addressed. In fairness though, these failures seem to largely be installation problems on the part of a small number of builders unfamiliar with the product. Overall, this book is a very useful and fairly detailed introduction to SIPS building. We would love to see a follow-up title that goes into much more technical detail on designing for SIPs use, as well as further exploration of lessons-learned from using SIPs in various settings and climates.

It would be nice to update the information with 2014 material. I am guessing that many techniques have changed, and perhaps the SIP manufactures can now install a 4" Plumbing roof vent in the walls during the planning stages? The pictures of how they did it in the field back in 2000, it seems very cumbersome.How about it? A revised version of the same book?Thanks it is still useful to get a understanding of how SIPS work.

A LOT OF INFO ON SIPS . Details show you how these go together. Great information!

This is a great book if you are interested in learning more about SIPs

Feels dated, and old information about sips. I found more about sips off of manufacturing websites.

This book is a good primer for anyone who has doesn't know much about SIP's, but I found it quite basic. Also, there are passages in the book that show just how badly it is in need of an update. For instance, in the first chapter, it says something to the effect of "...with energy costs being relatively low, builders have a hard time selling energy efficiency and sacrificing the two story fake stone arch...' If this technology is to get a solid foothold in the building industry, MANY books should be written to provide builders with the resources they need to handle both high-end custom homes and affordable homes as well.In short, if you are just trying to get up to speed on what SIP's are, this is probably worthwhile. Otherwise, spend some time on the phone and visiting with your SIP dealer, talk to contractors who have used them, and look around online. I think you will find more detailed and specific (and UP TO DATE) information.

This book was helpful to me, but I've been familiar with SIPs for years. It was written a few years ago, and could use some updating on the list of manufacturers. It doesn't really address the problems that sometimes occur if ants burrow into the foam (generally through a foam-insulated foundation), and I wish the manufacturers who include boron in their foam to combat this were noted. I also was hoping to read about bowed panels: at least one manufacturer used to make curved panels for a traditional "bow" roof house, but they no longer make them, and no mention is made of this, or if others still manufacture them--or any other unusual shapes.But overall, if you're not already an expert, this will definitely give you lots of information about this fantastic way to build!