TOS ‘Carlisle house’ project utilized SIPs as a flooring structure in a portion of the project. Unfortunately, their website doesn’t show any bit of this, and only its use in the walls/roof. Was I dreaming this? I know they used I-joists in another part of that project, but I could have sworn they SIP as a flooring solution with Tommy Silva saying good things about it (Norm has said good things about the I-joist portion).
Now, when I go looking, I do not see any reference to SIP panels in flooring.
Replies
Nuke,
Not sure about TOH but, I've seen them used in VT.quite a bit. Typically its used when a basement/crawl space is not wanted or practical such as building over ledge.One of the keys is keeping moisture away from the exposed side. I've seen a melamine glued to the exposed side and then joints are caulked/taped. Just as the SIP folks engineer the roof and walls they will do the same with a floor.
Good luck,
Mark
Yes, they used SIP's for the floor. Note, they are also common used for roof panels. And in some parts of the country have large snow loads.
IIRC they had "joist" that went between each panel section and/or some where embedded in the panels.
While the foam and osb panels are strong I thing that there where some was some joist that ran the length to beef them up.
The TOH website lists two possibilities:
I-Joist Floor PanelsManufacturer:Panel Pros867 Route 12West Mooreland Industrial ParkWest Mooreland, NH 03467tel. 603-352-8007Contact: Jim LeRoy
-or-
Structural Insulated PanelsManufacturer:InsulspanPO Box 38Blissfield, MI 49228tel. 517-486-4844fax. 517-486-2056[email protected]http://www.insulspan.comContact: Frank Baker
They used them in the barn to thermally and acoustically separate the garage from the living space.
Pete
I checked the Insulspan web site. They can be used for floors.
http://www.insulspan.com/research%20center/specs/installation_manual/insulspan_inst.pdf
According to the above installation manual:
Insulspan™ structural panels can also be used to create an insulated floor over a crawl space
(Figure 36) or on piers (Figure 37). Check with your manufacturer for the allowable spans of
each thickness panel for your loading needs. Double 2x splines should be inset into the edges of
the deck to support walls above. Any interior bearing wall should be similarly supported.
Pete
Ok, it is good to know I wasn't dreaming (or drunk, or on drugs). My interest stems from a couple of design spaces for that gigantic walk-out basement, which would benefit from both the thermal and acoustical insulating performances.
Of course, in reality this could be good AND bad. How does one run and hide mechanicals? Doh!
Mechanicals are run through chases. It depends on your layout as to where they will be.
Mark