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Indoor Air Quality
Indoor Air Quality
SIPs - Experience and SIPs Air Quality Problems From: TJ Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) have become a widely used alternative construction material for homes and other buildings. While many types of Composite Panel building systems have been developed, the acronym SIPs now usually refers to panels made from a thick layer of foam (polystyrene or polyurethane) sandwiched between two layers of Oriented Strand Board (OSB), plywood or fiber-cement. As an alternative to the foam core, SIPs are available with a core of agriculture fibers (such as wheat straw) that provides similar thermal and structural performance. The result is an engineered panel that provides structural framing, insulation, and exterior sheathing in a solid, one-piece component…Read more
Entering and exiting the house through doors isn’t always enough air changes. Cooking, aerosol sprays, cleaning agents, paints, and in some cases excess humidity if the house is sealed too tightly can create an undesirable environment. Keeping windows or doors open does not conserve energy. A device known as an air-to-air exchanger is used to recover heating or cooling and improve air quality…. read more Photos courtesy of Airiva & AirExchangersInfo.com For more info on Airiva, click here. And, as for people with experience, watch this short video from Michigan Bureau of Construction Codes. It’s an excellent video! (Brrrrr, it is cold in MI!) Another resource for you is the Builder's Guide to Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs), 330 pages is available at Sips.org. (Hey, you are now a Builder) They also have a help desk and a list of most, if not all, of the SIPs manufacturers in the USA!
"I have heard good and bad about the recently popular Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs). I would like to use them in my new home, but have concerns and would appreciate your insight.
Primarily my two concerns are a limited amount of information on this building type. As their popularity is recent, I'm finding it difficult to evaluate people experience with these panels.
Also I have concerns about the information on indoor air quality given the materials these panels are made of. I don't know if I can trust what I am reading, especially the info from vendors."
Hi TJ,
With the Good, comes the Bad (Bad Air, that is)
With the emphasis on energy conservation and efficiency, new home construction can create a problem of indoor air pollution. Vapor barriers, thermal windows, weather-stripping and caulk have reduced or stopped fresh air from infiltrating and replacing stale air. 
Good luck,
Carl