Choosing building materials is essential for strong and long-lasting commercial structures. There are many options in the market, and this can sometimes overwhelm people into picking the wrong one. When you choose the wrong building material, you and your commercial space may encounter serious structural problems in the future.

One of the best ways to ensure your commercial space’s quality is by using Structural Insulated Panels or SIPs. They are energy-efficient and high-performance building envelopes, which means that they last longer than other materials. They are formidable and flexible, allowing people to use them for commercial, residential or even industrial projects. The following is a brief guide to the importance of insulated panels in commercial buildings, and why you should consider them for your next building project.

What Are SIPs?

Insulated panels are high-performance building materials that consist of insulating foam cores sandwiched between structural facings. SIP manufacturers and suppliers like Raycore make sure that they undergo factory-controlled processes to make the product flexible and durable, to be a means for any end you may require.

They’re usually more expensive than traditional building materials, but they’re very energy-efficient, cost-effective and durable. Although you pay more upfront when buying the material, it will still save you money, labor, time and maintenance in the future. It also costs less construction time, job waste and labor savings, which you would typically pay for with other materials, such as wooden frame construction. If you compare both materials’ overall cost, SIPs will turn out to be around the same as wooden frames.

Not only do you save a lot, but you’ll also have a more flexible material to work with. You’ll experience fewer issues during the building process, and you’ll be able to maximize the use and longevity of your panels.

Why Insulated Panels Are Essential For Commercial Spaces

Insulated panels offer a lot of benefits for commercial spaces. They are efficient for the occupiers, engineers, designers, architects, and builders, making them ideal for the commercial build. Here are some of the top reasons why insulated panels are a must for your next commercial space build.

• Excellent Aesthetics

Although builders usually use SIPs as hidden building components, they’re still beneficial to the aesthetic of commercial buildings. They’re extremely flexible materials, which makes them easily-customizable to any designs you may have in mind. This is why designers who aim for great aesthetics love to use SIPs. Whatever you want to fabricate, you can do it with SIPs. They make great bases for the interior palette of a building project.

They can make unique, non-linear designs, as well as straight, clean lines. You’ll also need less time and labor to install them, as insulated panels are usually big and can be installed in huge wall or roof sections.

• Durability and Low Maintenance

You want a design whose value will match the cost of your expenses. With SIPs, you get the most out of your money; they’re very durable, and require little-to-no maintenance. They can withstand severe and harsh weather, including hail, thunderstorms and heavy winds.

Manufacturers typically test SIPs for shear strength, as well as their compression and tensile abilities. Their skins are made from noncombustible steel, making them fire-resistant. Not only is it a durable material, but it also serves as overall fire protection for your building.

• Energy Efficiency

Going green is currently a huge trend within the building industry. With SIPs, you’ll be able to achieve this goal without sacrificing the quality of your materials. SIPs are energy-efficient, and they have excellent thermal insulation capacities compared to the other materials available on the market.

SIPS provides the best thermal envelope for buildings, and create an airtight seal that helps to stabilize the interior environment. This improves the indoor air quality, and prevents any leakage of heated or cooled air to be as energy-efficient as possible. This prevents harmful pollens, molds, lead dust, VOCs and asbestos from entering your building, to maintain the space as a healthy and safe environment. This feature is especially important for establishments such as hospitals and schools.

• Fast Build

SIPs are for those who want to achieve a fast building process without compromising the safety of the project. Unlike other materials that take time to install, insulated panels come in big sizes and can be installed very quickly. Contractors can easily lift them up and connect them to each other, or to whatever they need to be connected to. Some manufacturers offer pre-cut custom SIP pieces, which allow contractors to install them as soon as they arrive. There’s no need to spend time on extra labor, as they’re already made to fit the space they’ll be used for.

Contractors and builders can benefit greatly from using SIPs; the material allows them to complete rush projects for clients safely and with high-quality results. It will work for any size-range and project design because of its flexibility, and doesn’t require much time to build – even for an entire space.

• Multi-Use

The best thing about insulated panels is how much you can make use of them. Rather than buying different kinds of material for the various spaces in your building, you can use an insulated panel for everything. Whether you need simple, quick builds or complex, stylish spaces, you can rely on SIPs. They are suitable for both tight, small spaces and massive, open facilities such as schools and hospitals. It can also cater to architecturally complex designs without risking the overall safety of the structure.

If you want a building material to fit all of your ideas, an insulated panel is your best bet. You can opt for a traditional design, complex interiors, or even have the best of both worlds together in one space.

• Easier Process

Insulated panels can help to ensure that the building process stays on track. From the start, they can help architects to conceptualize and measure the needed materials for the building. It’s easier to create full CAD illustrations if architects use SIPs for their designs. If it’s a remodeling project that uses traditional framing materials, architects and designers can easily swap the material with industrial panels due to its flexibility.

Moreover, the material provides creative freedom for the architects and designers, as they can make space for whatever kind of design they want. They don’t need to restrain themselves with the typical, traditional design styles, and they can venture into more complex and unique areas.

• Space Occupiers Benefit The Most

Those who will benefit the most from insulated panels are the people who will occupy the space later on. Because of the building’s high-quality structure, they’ll feel safer inside the space; they won’t have to worry about heavy weather conditions, fires, the building collapsing or other accidents. They’ll also enjoy a well-insulated space, free from cold and drafts, because the balance in the air and temperature will be well-maintained.

If there’s an urgent need for an office building, shop, financial firm or other commercial establishment, SIPs allow for the completion of the building within a short space of time. Also, its energy-efficiency will prove very useful as time goes by. Occupiers will be able to enjoy modern facilities without worrying about hiking up the energy bills. Why? Because SIPs help to reduce around 50 to 60 percent of the building’s energy costs. That reason alone is an excellent example of why people should consider insulated panels for their next project.

If you run a store, mall or office, you’ll enjoy the reduced energy costs brought about by SIPs. With your savings, you’ll be able to afford necessary equipment for your staff, such as computers; you won’t have to worry about sudden outrageous bills that you just can’t handle. You’ll also be able to accommodate customers into your store or mall without compromising their comfort. With your lights, AC units, music equipment and safety devices – afforded by the costs cut using SIPs, customers are sure to have a good time.

Finally, SIPs are generally quieter than the traditional framing method. If you’re aiming for a soundproof space, insulated panels work great for this purpose. They’re a great choice for high-rise condominium buildings as well as apartments; your renters will surely prefer the security and privacy that they’ll have to say what they wish without being heard through the walls.

Takeaway

Insulated panels have existed for a long time now, and continue to be one of the top building materials for a wide range of designs and projects. If you’re looking for materials for your next commercial building project, consider SIPs or insulated panels; they’ll give you a design that’s not just pleasing to the eyes, but also serving its structural purpose well. It’s sustainable, cost-efficient, durable and easy to work with.

SIPs may have higher upfront costs than many other building materials, but they’re also much cheaper regarding maintenance and energy-efficiency, thereby saving you lots of money in the long run. As time rolls on, advanced methods like SIPs that are strong and energy-efficient will become more and more prevalent. The best inventors throughout history all had ideas that were ahead of their time; when you next need building materials, give SIPs a chance, and they just might amaze you.