Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Unique Solar Chimney in new SIP construction house 51Jan 22, 2015 10:47 am HI ED, Looks like your build is coming along well. What a great design. We are using SIPs for our roofing on our build. Still constructing walls at the moment. Never thought to use them as walls as well! Looking forward to keep following your journey! Re: Unique Solar Chimney in new SIP construction house 52Jan 23, 2015 10:41 am Alvia:- You're quite correct in that MgO SIPS require less work to finish compared to OSB SIPS. This makes the MgO SIP construction methodology very affordable and also provides superior insulation & air tightness. My best tip is to RESEARCH:- All SIP systems on the market vary in construction methodology. It's hard to compare apples with apples.....ALSO there is a huge range of MgO boards available, many of quite dubious quality. In fact, CodeMark on MgO sheets doesn't mean a thing.....some of those boards are crap! I've been involved in the industry for over 5 years (R&D). The Superior Wall System has been developed from the mistakes & shortcomings of SIP systems currently on the market...plus we tried a number of innovations on my project. We recently traveled to China and have ordered our own version of MgO (arrives this weekend)...it isn't cheap but the technology outstrips anything on the Australian market. Most noticeable difference is that it's coloured green....glare from the standard white board makes working with it unbearable on hot sunny days!!!! If you're keen to find out more, please PM me. Stewie:- MgO SIP panels are structural in themselves....being up to 3 times stronger than conventional framing.....no framing is required. To explain the SIP concept, here's a cute video by Grand Design's Kevin McCloud https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulaW0rABwrk&app=desktop ktotherose:- Thank you for your comments....I applaud you on taking on the challenge of building to passiv haus standards. This is where SIPS (roof & walls) really shines:- this is due to the ease of achieving a very air tight structure. Increased insulation is also a benefit......I guess you're using double studs????....our 123mm SIP panel achieves R3.4 and cost is comparable to 90mm sticks with R2.4 batts....and that form of construction suffers from thermal bridging & is extremely hard to keep air tight....especially over time. Enjoy the journey! Re: Unique Solar Chimney in new SIP construction house 53Jan 23, 2015 11:31 am ED, the only MgO I have seen have been 75mm panels that were used as cladding over battens onto a timber frame for two different builds. My knowledge of them is pretty limited. SIP's I know even less of. Stewie Re: Unique Solar Chimney in new SIP construction house 54Jan 23, 2015 12:52 pm Thanks stewie: The purpose of this Forum is education and support. Yes MgO is gaining uses in common framed construction. As stated above, much of the MgO currently available is of dubious quality....there's over 2000 factories in China producing the stuff! SIPS technology is new to Australia, but the technology has been around some 80 years. Here's a little bit of history:- "The idea of using stressed-skin panels for construction began in the 1930s with a research program considering methods of conserving U.S. forest resources. As an outcome of this research, in 1937 a stressed-skin house was constructed. There were many converts to the new construction method, including the esteemed architect, Frank Lloyd Wright who used this construction method to develop over 50 of the exceptionally innovative Usonian Houses . The intent of the Usonian Home was to create affordable housing, however it had limited success due to a design flaw – poor insulation. This flaw was rectified by Alden B. Dow (Dow Corning) – an architecture student of Frank Lloyd Wright – and in 1950, Dow unveiled the first structural insulated panel (SIP) and related construction method. The SIP Construction Method gained widespread popularity in the U.S. and its release from patent in the last decade has resulted in a rapid development of foam formulations and manufacturing techniques." The benefits of SIPS will see this technology rapidly gain acceptance.....that's happening in the northern hemisphere. The system is also ideal for factory production of re-worked panels. The future will see more 'flat pack' buildings....offering speedy construction, affordability, & exceptional energy efficient homes for the end user. Re: Unique Solar Chimney in new SIP construction house 56Feb 08, 2015 10:05 am Unfortunately the jury is still out on (misnomer-Delete Structural) Insulation Panels, unless the manufacturers provides Data and substantiated Calculations/Simulation test results for eg strength , fire, durability, impact loading, etc,etc...sorry to say clients, insurance companies,Standard Certifiers,etc will always be sceptical and not accepting without proof. In reference to Solar chimneys (another misnomer) Solar has connotations to heat transfer, when properly designed they also facilitate air Flow (fluid dynamics) LOL,proof open a window on your 8 star rating and watch the calculations go out the door Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Unique Solar Chimney in new SIP construction house 57Feb 09, 2015 4:49 pm CORRECT, as required for ALL Alternative Solutions....appropriate enigneering certificates are provided for the design of SIPS structures. We have no issues with certifiers so I believe your statement is groundless.....and the system is STRUCTURAL......no sticks required! In addition, I had no trouble insuring my house. I think you may have your head buried in the sand in relation to this form of technology that has it's roots of development dating back some 70 years. Decades of the use of STRUCTURAL Insulated Panels & anecdotal evidence of hurricanes (Katrina,Larry,Yasi)/tornadoes/earthquakes (Kobe) demonstartes SIPS as a struturally superior building method compared to conventional sticks. The concept of the Solar Chimney is MY choice and is designed to increase air movement within the building as we desire minimal use of the A/C ....yes your'e correct:- works by heat transfer! It's an experiment but is based on the solar chimney stack effect concept that is used extensivley in high-rise develpments. I don't mind employing innovation & moving away from the 'same old, same old'. In addition, that structure provides shelter to the front door deck, the sunken garden & is meant to make a statment. In relation to SIPS compaines in Perth, I don't know of any that do MgO, but there are several offering OSB version, such as 'SIPS Industries' that have been building SIPS houses in the UK for 20 years. Re: Unique Solar Chimney in new SIP construction house 58Feb 11, 2015 8:56 am I am a Structural Engineer..What are your Australian Standards Referenced? Not everyone can afford to experiment on their design although computer simulations now take the guess work out of natural airflow designs. There's one that Ive coupled a few physical design elements ie extreme environment-> natural ventilation-> outdoor living-> Contaminant air flow (heavy metals sands). Clients and engineers generally require proof in the form of Data/Calculations/Simulations..Artistic sketches dont cut it generally. Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Unique Solar Chimney in new SIP construction house 59Feb 11, 2015 12:40 pm Design has been carried out in accordance with the deemed to comply and performance requirement provisions of the BCA and its referenced SAA Codes: Volume 2 P2.1, P2.2.2. Australia Standards relied upon : AS1720.1-1997; AS1684-2006;AS1170.1-2002; AS1748 & AS4055 Currently in the process of investigating CodeMark. MgO board used has CodeMark Cert. Re: Unique Solar Chimney in new SIP construction house 60Feb 11, 2015 4:24 pm There are no codes for Sips yet in one breath you are saying Its Structural....no sticks (Timber framework) required..and in the other you are citing the timber codes AS1720? If I am mistaken all those AS codes dont reference sips? Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs The price you're seeing for a high-spec 2-storey home in Perth sounds steep, but unfortunately, it's kind of the norm these… 8 7945 I can help you with all that, you can PM me with details if you wish 3 5838 I looked into it a few years ago and my conclusion was to just build a carport that will support panels and get a system installed separately. The company I looked at had… 1 6481 |