subject: Safety Tips For Working With Structural Insulated Panels [print this page] Structural Insulated Panels are a type of pre-fabricated building material which can be used to build homes, schools, temporary facilities, and a wide range of other structures. This type of material is relatively new, and has a different construction method than traditional building practices, contractors must undergo specialized training in order to use SIPs in their buildings. It is important to know all of the appropriate safety information before proceeding to construct with SIPs so that all contractors avoid the risk of injury.
If you are hiring contractors to build your house out of structural insulated panels, make sure that they are well trained and specialized in the field of SIPs construction. Do not try to build the structural insulated panels yourself if you are inexperienced in this area. A solid construction plan should be devised and all of the subcontractors involved in the project should understand it completely.
Safety Equipment
All contractors working on a building site should use the proper safety equipment to protect themselves. Hard hats should be worn at all times, to protect the head from items falling from a height or flying projectiles. Steel toe boots are also warn to protect the feet from being crushed by falling building materials. Appropriate gloves should be worn to protect the hands, and in some situations eye goggles and face masks might be required.
Chemicals and Gases
With many other building materials, protective gas masks are often required due to toxic chemicals being leached from the material. However, structural insulated panels are considered completely harmless and there is very little to worry about when using them. A very small amount of 245fs gas will outgas from the insulation foam over time, but it is thought to be so insignificant as to not cause any concern.
There is also no formaldehyde in the insulating foam, and only a small amount of formaldehyde resin in the Oriented Strand Board which is used on the outside to sandwich the insulating foam together. However, the amount is so small that it is not enough to warrant any official warnings for formaldehyde on the product.
The only time when you should be careful about the gasses given off by SIPs is when they are burnt. The exact chemicals present in the smoke from the SIPs depend on the fire conditions and the amount of oxygen available, but gases given off by any burning SIPs are dangerous.
Water Damage
If it happens to rain while the shell of the house is being erected, there is a danger that the exposure to water will cause the edges of the structural insulated panels to swell. If this happens, the swollen edges can be sanded down with a belt or a disk sander to prevent them from causing problems with future construction. Fortunately, SIPs buildings are usually extremely quick to construct and can be sealed in less than a week which leaves little time for long term exposure to the elements.
If you are working with SIPs, make sure that you do so safely and carefully. Happy building!
Here are some important safety tips to keep in mind when you are working with structural insulated panels.
