I am on a project in Athens, GA and we will be using structural insulated panels (SIPS). I understand that not as much of an HVAC system is required. Is there anyone available who could complete a
Heat Gain/Loss Calculation and also has anyone had HVAC experience when constructing a building using SIPS?

Joseph P. Robnett
Progressive Building Solutions
706-601-0915
prefer email - [email protected]

Joseph,
We have a Heat Loss calculator on our website. It's free but you'll need to perform the calculations yourself. It doesn't have Heat Gain functionality, but it does do a good job with Heat Loss.

Good Luck!

Joseph;

A good HVAC company should be able to do the calculations for you.

My personal home is 2400 sq. ft. under air with 16ft. vaults in 70% of the house. A general rule of thumb (if it were a wood frame home) would require 5 tons.

My home is steel sips and is using a 2-1/2 ton , 13 seer heat pump, it maintains a 72 deg. temp. in the summer and on hot August afternoons will cycle off. It always maintains the temperature.

The HVAC contractor claimed the calulations actually showed it work with just a 2 ton, but advised the next size airhandler to increase air flow.

If you cannot find a local HVAC contractor savvy enough, you may want to hire an independent.
you could try ....... LINK their rates are posted online

Chris, how do the high vaults in your house effect the cooling load? Given the old principles of southern building, like antebellum homes, one would assume the higher the ceiling the better because heat rises. Or is that "out the window" since you're not using transoms and so forth? Do you have to simply add that volume of air to the calculation of the load that has to be cooled?

Another question which I hope is not too obvious... where do the ducts go in a true vaulted roof made of SIPS?

Jelly;

I am old, but not that old! I wasn't around then.

yes, the cool air sinks, but you still need to move and condition the volume of air

typically, closets, halls, laundry rooms, some baths and maybe a kitchen is dropped by framing down with light gage steel framing. attached to the inside steel skin. Supply vents for vaulted rooms are side wall location.