SIP's roof in Arizona > GreenBuildingTalk - Green Building Forums on Insulating Concrete Forms (ICF), Structural Insulated Panels (SIP), Radiant Heating, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Solar Power

Forums

Members

You are not authorized to post a reply.

Author

Messages

Bill Schumacher User is Offline

Registered Users

New Member

Posts:1

11/02/2000 1:00 PM
What are viable options for using SIP's in the roof of a single story house in Phoenix AZ. It does not matter to me whether it is a "flat" or 4/12 pitch roof. Do you have to design the house with many posts and beams, or can you use widely spaced trusses? Are either of these methods cost effective? I asked a specific question on 10/12/2000 about using "KC panels", and I received some good comments. Now I am asking this more general question to see if I should even be using SIP's at all. I am currently planning to use OMNI block (insulated CMU) walls and standard wood truss roof.

blazerwolf User is Offline

Registered Users

New Member

Posts:9

11/03/2000 11:29 AM
Dear Bill, With proper design you should not need any trusses posts or beams other than your standard ridge beams. In Arizona you will need to use 8 1/4" minimum sip panels in order to achieve R-30 insulation rating to pass construction codes. As far as cost effectiveness a SIP roof will be very cost effective do to the fact that your heating and cooling equipment will be enclosed in air conditioned space which will allow the equipment to work more effeciently. If you are not useing SIP's for your roof, your missing the boat in my opinion!

Steve Andrews User is Offline

Registered Users

Basic Member

Posts:334

11/04/2000 9:52 AM
A few questions for you about the use of OMNI block walls. I'm not familiar with them. You say they are an insulated CMU system. Originally, you were considering using SIP walls. What made you change your mind? Was there a performance advantage you perceived with the insulated CMU system? Was there a cost-related concern? Are you the builder? An optimized use of SIP roof panels is where a steeper roof pitch encloses additional living space in a loft.

ICF501

Registered Users

Basic Member

Posts:109

11/07/2000 1:44 AM
Of course you should use SIPS in the roof. Being single story the application should be an easy install and in my opinion if you dont use sips in the roof then your ICF or SIP wall is reduced to fast install time, straight walls etc, but you throw energy savings out the window ( Imean the roof). Watch y our mfg. spans and use interior walls to offsets spans. You may have to drop some ceilings to convey HVAC system ducting but you get a charming and spacious vaulted ceiling to boot. In track homes or low end homes vaulted cielings become an extra expens, but in a SIP home it is a given thing of beauty. Sunworks

You are not authorized to post a reply.