http://www.yourhome.gov.au/materials/construction-systems
Look for "Structural insulated panels" within. A good site overall.
IAEA
Structural Insulated Panels
(343 posts) (108 voices)-
IAEA
Memberhttp://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/building-with-structural-insulated-panels-or-sips/
You could possibly try to find something sim. from Australia.
IAEA
Posted Tuesday 14 Feb 2017 @ 3:04:52 am from IP # -
IAEA
Memberhttp://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/nine-storey-melbourne-apartment-goes-up-in-just-fi
SIPS are fine, but it has to be done right.
IAEA
Posted Tuesday 14 Feb 2017 @ 3:28:33 am from IP # -
gazmo88
Member1. What SIP panels did you use?
Magroc from SA
2. Did you have issues finding builders? Or can you recommend builders?
Nope cos we did it ourselves, got some labourers and worked it out amongst us. The Magroc manual is available online and is pretty useful.
3. Are there any 'lessons learnt' in terms of using these through the build?
Yes lots
4. Some of the other posts have concerned me about the panels absorbing moisture etc... are there any post build issues?
Seems all MgO will absorb water (and dry out afterwards). We were advised to "splash dilute PVA" on the panels once erected to cut down on permeability. MgO requires some sort of coating. The council graciously decided that we should clad ours in weatherboard (to blend in apparently) which we put on ourselves for about the same as professionally applied acrylic render would have cost us. None of our immediate neighbours are clad in weatherboard.
5. Because the house is in a conservation area, I am restricted on how high I can lift the ridge. We are excavating down a bit but I still have head height issues. I hear (some?) SIP panels can be installed as load bearing floors. Has anyone done this - my aim is to try and minimise the ceiling/floor structure between the two floors to get some more head height on the lower floor.
Magroc do a floor system and other suppliers we looked at do as well. We did not use their flooring system because we wanted thermal mass in our floors as we have a passive solar design. I believe their flooring system uses Hy-joists or LVLs in the panels like their roof joists which I think means a minimum floor thickness of 265mm, but check their online details. Magroc roofing is definitely min 265mm, but some suppliers such as superior panels in Qld do corro-EPS-corro panels with potentially very long single spans. I helped a builder mate do a roof using these and it was pretty easy. Of course you then need to do something with the interior core surface.Most panels (regardless of supplier are HEAVY) Magroc panels are around 80 kilos. Thats just what 2 12mm MgO skins weigh. Personally I would not want to try thinner MgO but thats not to say it won't work. Various timber faced panels won't be much lighter. These are big heavy things to install so investing some time in technique is a very good plan. My wife and I can do it ourselves now we have learned how.
All MgO is not created equal it seems.
Where are you going to store all these panels ? Work it out now. They take up a lot of space.
Transport is a big cost factor, as are cranes. We needed a 55tonne crane to reach our site from the street, and did not have enough space to store all of them at one time. Once stored you have to move them. If you need a crane then speak to Baz at All Over Rigging. He is the little engine who could - time and time again.
How are you going to get floor panels up to floor level ? (we bought a Genie Lift SLC18 do do our roof panels) this requires a lot of planning and cunning thinking.
How are you going to cut 165mm thick panels ?
Logistics logistics logistics
And as IAEA points out the devil is in the detail .Not impossibly difficult to work out, but you need to think it all through - check the magroc manual and try to imagine doing it.
I doubt that a full set of cut panels could be assembled without modification so you are probably best to resign yourself to cutting panels .... until concreters or steel fixers or whoever can work to mm tolerences.
Try and use a SIP friendly engineer. We used a local bunch who had not used SIPs before and had to work it all out from scratch.
Hope this helps a little
And since when was Naremburn a conservation area ? No offence.
Cheers
Posted Wednesday 15 Feb 2017 @ 6:08:51 am from IP # -
Clueless
MemberHi thanks a lot for this response. We have no construction experience whatsoever though it looks like a half decent builder may be able to learn the ropes. The logistics may prove difficult though and you've given me plenty to think about.
To answer your question about how long (this area in) Naremburn has been a conservation area - 1983!
"The Naremburn Heritage Conservation Area lies on land previously belonging to Thomas Broughton. Broughton’s Estate was developed after his death in 1901...
The suburb boomed until the 1930’s from which point a decline set in. By the 1950’s the entire Heritage Conservation Area and land south of Chandos Street was zoned light industrial for redevelopment in the County of Cumberland Planning Scheme, reflecting low community esteem for the area. Redevelopment did not occur and the subsequent 30 years saw a complete turnaround in the status and public perception of the area with the National Trust of Australia (NSW) recognising the importance of the area by classifying it as an Urban Conservation Area in 1983. " (https://eplanning.willoughby.nsw.gov.au/pages/plan/book.aspx?exhibit=wdcp_2016&hid=1180)
Posted Wednesday 15 Feb 2017 @ 6:26:21 am from IP # -
gazmo88
MemberInteresting,
as kids in the late 50s early 60s we used to explore the many stormwater tunnels under Naremburn. They are extensive and some are quite large. No doubt they are well sealed off these days.
The first structure we built was "the studio" which is to become my workshop. approx 8 x 5. A mate of mine who is a builder with an engineering degree (handy combo) helped us out. If you get further down this track I could have a word and see if he is interested.
The real problem with being an ATA member and wanting to build something is that there are so many really interesting ways to build something, most of which have admirable characteristics.
If you are not too far down the track yet you might talk to Dick Clarke from Envirotecture over in Ingleside. He was extremely helpful, and is all over loads of interesting technologies and knows just how to make interesting trade offs. Some of the best money we spent.
If you want to see whats involved in building a SIP house then PM me, we are only up on the Northern Beaches
Cheers
Posted Thursday 16 Feb 2017 @ 3:41:07 am from IP # -
Clueless
MemberHi. I think you'll find Naremburn very different now
i have absolutely no idea what stormwater tunnels you are talking about but I'll have to investigate this. The suburb has changed a lot even in the last five years due to it's proximity to the city and St Leonards train station. I'm beginning to think SIPs may not be the solution for us. We have a very tight budget and wont be able to throw money to resolve the logistical issues you highlighted. Being new at this too I'm not sure I can take the risk as the market/capability seems quite immature still in Sydney.
Thanks for sharing your experience though - i hadn't even considered the logistical side of using SIPs
Posted Monday 20 Feb 2017 @ 12:43:21 am from IP # -
Clueless
MemberHi. I think you'll find Naremburn very different now
i have absolutely no idea what stormwater tunnels you are talking about but I'll have to investigate this. The suburb has changed a lot even in the last five years due to it's proximity to the city and St Leonards train station. I'm beginning to think SIPs may not be the solution for us. We have a very tight budget and wont be able to throw money to resolve the logistical issues you highlighted. Being new at this too I'm not sure I can take the risk as the market/capability seems quite immature still in Sydney.
Thanks for sharing your experience though - i hadn't even considered the logistical side of using SIPs
Posted Monday 20 Feb 2017 @ 12:43:22 am from IP #
