How Do Structural Insulated Panels Handle Snow?

These panels are made of an insulating later of polyurethane foam which is sandwiched between two flat layers of strong and sturdy structural board

. This board is sometimes made of sheet metal, but it can also be made of plywood, oriented strand board, or cement.

If you are building a house or another structure in a climate which receives a lot of snow, you might be wondering whether or not structural insulated panels can handle the freezing temperatures and heavy snow loads that chilly northern climates receive. The answer is that SIPs perform very well in snowy climates, and they have excellent capacity for snow load and good insulating properties.

Snow Load

When you hear the term "snow load" used in the context of construction, it refers to the amount of snow which will accumulate on a structure. When several centimetres of snow builds up on the roof of a house, this amount of ice and snow can become very heavy and can place stress on the structure itself. It is important to make sure that the design and the materials of your home will be able to handle the heavy snow load that will be placed on it every winter. Snow load is usually measured in pounds per square foot (PSF).

SIPS are able to bear incredible loads, which is idea for climates which will experience very heavy snow loads, strong winds, and other weather conditions. Structural insulated panels have been used in locations such as Alaska, where the snow load can be very heavy and the winter lasts for several long months. Additional internal dimension framing can also be added to the structural insulated panels to increase their load capacity.

Insulation

Another important thing to consider when building a home in a snowy climate is whether that home will keep you warm when the winter storms begin to roll in. In order to keep you and your family nice and cosy all throughout the winter, you will need a home which is very well insulated.

SIPS provide an impressive amount of thermal insulation, and can keep houses warm even in very cold temperatures. Structural insulated panels have such great insulating properties because they are made with a thick core of polyurethane foam. This material is one of the best insulators on the market, and its thermal conductivity rating has been measured at 0.024 W/m2 which is incredibly low. Extra insulation can also be added to any SIPs panels to keep the house even warmer in the cold climate. Another reason why SIPs houses are so warm is because they are 100% airtight, locking the cold air out and keeping the warm air in.

SIPS will perform well even in very snowy climates, as they are able to handle the weight of a heavy snow load as well as keep the inhabitants of the building warm and cosy inside!

Are you wondering how structural insulated panels will perform under a huge snowfall? Here are the reasons why these materials are suitable for snowy areas.

by: James P Martin

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