Structural Insulated Panels – a sustainable and energy efficient building material?

— 10 Mar 2025

In light of the current ‘climate crisis’, we are continuously looking into ways to improve on more traditional construction techniques and be more responsible for the environment. One way of achieving this is using more sustainable materials where conditions permit: less concrete equals less carbon! 

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS) could be one answer to both low carbon and energy efficient building.

So what are SIPs? SIPs are composite panels made up of a rigid insulating core, usually expanded polystyrene or polyurethane foam, sandwiched between two structural facings – usually oriented strand board (OSB), all held together with high-strength adhesive. The resulting panel is very strong and durable, and the factory manufacturing process allows for precision, consistency in quality, and flexibility in design. The result is a highly effective building material, which is energy efficient and cost effective.

SIPs have many advantages over other more traditional construction methods, some of the most important are:

• Off-site manufacturing allows for preciseness of build
• Minimal waste, and any offcuts can be reused
• Can be craned in so ideal for difficult to access or remote sites
• Flexibility of design with fewer internal fixings and no roof trusses required, creating opportunities to maximise on space
• Fewer cold bridges and complicated edges which can make a building more expensive to build and run
• The ability to maximise airtightness and insulation to achieve Passivhaus standards, or significant improvements on building regulations u-value requirements.
• Savings in construction time and the associated cost savings
• Robust and can withstand extremes in weather
• Materials such as brick, glass, wood and steel can be incorporated into designs, to create a more traditional aesthetic if desired

The government are actively supporting the development of offsite manufacturing technologies for the building sector, through investment strategies and development programmes. The aim is to enable faster more efficient building with lower lifetime carbon emissions through the offsite manufacturing of building components and other processes.

SIPs are one such tool for low energy building. Early versions of SIPs have been used in construction since the 1930s, but it is in recent years with the increased urgency for more sustainable / low energy construction that the use of SIPs has really taken off. There are now many companies in the Southwest and across the UK specialising in SIPs, including

Kingspan Timber Solutions

SIP Build UK

Devon based Wedgewood SIPs who specialise in handmade local English oak frames in combination with SIPs. Wedgewood hosted a number of our architects for a continuing professional development (CPD) session in their Devon workshop to see how handmade timber frames could be incorporated with high performing low energy SIPs.

Ecologic Sustainable SIP Structures who also recently also provided a CPD session for our team on the benefits of using SIPs in new build projects.

SIPs will not be appropriate for all building projects, but there are many instances where they will be a suitable option and we are able to furnish clients with the information they need to make an informed decision on what is right for them and their project.

For more information on new build properties, house extensions and SIPs do get in touch to speak to a member of the team.