Yahoo! is not affiliated with the authors of this page or responsible for its content.
BASF Study Shows Building with SIPs Reduces Framing Construction Labor
BASF Study Shows Building with SIPs Reduces Framing Construction Labor
by 55 Percent
A new BASF study conducted by the RS Means unit of Reed Construction Data shows that
residential builders can reduce their framing labor needs by as much as 55 percent by using
structural insulated panels (SIPs) instead of conventional "stick-building" methods.
Florham Park, NJ (
PRWeb
) April 24, 2008 -- A new BASF study conducted by the RS Means unit of Reed
Construction Data shows that residential builders can reduce their framing labor needs by as much as 55 percent
by using structural insulated panels (SIPs) instead of conventional "stick-building" methods.

The study was conducted on a two-story, three bedroom, Cape style home in Tilton, New Hampshire. Engineers
from RS Means observed the construction of the home and compared the workers' productivity with a benchmark
home built using 2x6 construction and fiberglass batt insulation. The SIP installation crew spent 130 fewer hours
framing the exterior walls and roof of the home by eliminating many time-consuming steps from the construction
process.

Used for walls, roofs, floors, and foundations, a structural insulated panel sandwiches a rigid foam insulating core
between two structural skins usually made of wood. The seamless, closed-cell rigid foam core reduces air leakage
and thermal bridging through the panels by providing a continuous span of insulation. In a large, single
component, SIPs perform structural, insulating, and air sealing functions, and install quickly saving builders time
and money.

The Tilton home used energy-efficient SIPs for all exterior walls, the roof, and two window dormers. Complex
and hard to insulate dormers are easily pre-assembled using SIPs and hoisted into place with a crane. Installation
of the SIPs dormers was found to be 25 percent faster than the benchmark home.

By using precut channels, or "chases" in the foam core of the panels, electricians were able to wire the Tilton
home with 11 percent fewer hours than its 2x6-framed counterpart, according to the study.

Building with SIPs also reduces waste since they arrive at the jobsite prefabricated and require less measuring,
cutting and framing. The study noted a 93 percent material utilization rate that sharply reduces the cost of jobsite
debris disposal.

SIPs create a well-insulated and airtight building envelope, and SIP-built homes repeatedly demonstrate annual
energy savings of 50-60 percent when combined with other energy saving techniques. For example, SIP test
homes monitored by the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) show heating and
cooling costs as low as 32 cents per day. Airtight construction also provides better indoor air quality for
occupants.

Due to the airtight qualities of SIP construction, the EPA waived its blower door test requirements for any SIP
homes qualifying for the Energy Star program, thereby reducing the cost of an Energy Star home inspection.
Coupled with federal and state tax incentives available for energy-efficient home construction, SIPs offer builders
PRWeb eBooks - Another
online visibility tool from PRWeb another money saving option.

"It is impossible to ignore the cost effectiveness of structural insulated panels in light of the Time and Motion
study," said Bill Wachtler, SIPA executive director. "The time, material and labor savings during construction
and long term energy savings during operation are outstanding benefits available to anyone building with SIPs."

BASF, who commissioned the study, supplies polyurethane and expandable polystyrene insulation,
formaldehyde-free binders for oriented strand board skins and low-VOC adhesives and sealants and adhesives
used in the manufacture of SIPs.

"By demonstrating the time and labor savings possible using SIPs, we hope to encourage the construction of
more durable, energy-efficient housing," said Jack Armstrong, leader BASF Construction Initiative. "We believe
that this type of building will create less of an impact on the environment during its construction and operation."

For more information about structural insulated panels, downloadthe BASFbrochure titled, Everything You Need
To Know About SIPS located at
http://www.highperformancecommunity.com/files/pdf/SIPs_Brochure.pdf
.

To find contractors in your area, please visit
www.sipa.org
.

Please visit
www.highperformancecommunity.com
and
www.betterhomebetterplanet.com
to learn more about
how BASF contributes to more sustainable construction.

BASF - The Chemical Company. We don't make a lot of the products you buy. We make a lot of the products
you buy better.®

BASF Corporation, headquartered in New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen,
Germany. BASF employs more than 15,500 in North America and had sales of approximately $14.3 billion in
2006. For more information about BASF's North American operations, or to sign up to receive news releases by
e-mail, visit
www.basf.com/usa
.

BASF is the world's leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals,
plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. As a reliable
partner to virtually all industries, BASF's high-value products and intelligent system solutions help its customers
to be more successful. BASF develops new technologies and uses them to meet the challenges of the future and
open up additional market opportunities. It combines economic success with environmental protection and social
responsibility, thus contributing to a better future. BASF has over 95,000 employees and posted sales of 52.6
billion (approximately $66.1 billion) in 2006. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at
www.basf.com
.

For more information, contact:
Mary MacLeod
Maverick Marketing
Tel: (207) 929-4568
Page 2/4
If you have any questions regarding information in these press releases please contact the company listed in the press release. Our complete disclaimer
appears
here
. - PRWeb eBooks - Another
online visibility tool from PRWeb E-mail: mary @ mavmarket.com

Bill Pagano
BASF Corporation
Tel: (973) 245-6071
E-mail: william.pagano @ basf.com

###
Page 3/4
If you have any questions regarding information in these press releases please contact the company listed in the press release. Our complete disclaimer
appears
here
. - PRWeb eBooks - Another
online visibility tool from PRWeb Contact Information
MARY MACLEOD
BASF

http://www.highperformancecommunity.com
(207) 929-4568

William Pagano
BASF

http://www.highperformancecommunity.com
(973) 245-6071

Online Web 2.0 Version
You can read the online version of this press release
here
.
PRWebPodcast Available

Listen to Podcast MP3

Listen to Podcast iTunes

Listen to Podcast OGG

Page 4/4
If you have any questions regarding information in these press releases please contact the company listed in the press release. Our complete disclaimer
appears
here
. - PRWeb eBooks - Another
online visibility tool from PRWeb