Sep 5 2013
ACH Foam Technologies' R-Control SIPs (structural insulated panels) were specified for a flagship fire station in Manhattan, Kansas. According to Mike Gibson of Murray & Sons Construction, unless you know that SIPs were used to build the fire station, you would have no idea by looking at the finished design that it was constructed with pre-fabricated panels.
R-Control SIPs were used both for the walls and roof of Manhattan Fire Stations 3 and 5, saving taxpayer dollars and building pride in community commitment to sustainability.
Gibson also thinks that taxpayers will appreciate the SIPs construction. "You have an entire bank of taxpayers who are saving money over the next 50-year life cycle of this fire station because of the superior energy efficiency of the structural insulated panels," Gibson adds. "Often SIPs are reserved for residential construction. In this case, people were thinking outside the box. Bringing structural insulated panels into the public sphere should make a whole lot of taxpayers happy."
According to architect Tracy Anderson, the city wanted its firehouse to represent the city's commitment to sustainable building. "We knew that SIPs would allow us to create the tightest building envelope possible," said Anderson. "Also, the alternative nature of structural insulated panels was compatible with the geothermal heating and cooling system that was being installed.
"Moreover, the SIPS opened up the possibility that we could save time on construction. We saved a lot of work on the roof. Because structural insulated panels can span a larger distance, we were able to skip the trusses that would have been necessary in a stick-framed building and use beams that were spaced much wider apart."
Mike Gibson says that the energy efficiency of a SIPs building spills over to the contractor: "We all know that over the life span of a SIPs building, the owner reaps substantial energy savings. What we did not expect was a residual benefit. During the final stages of construction, when the temporary heating and cooling is on our dime, we save money because the envelope is so snug."
ACH Foam Technologies is a leader in EPS manufacturing, providing products for construction, geotechnical, packaging, and industrial applications. ACH recycles 100% of its post-industrial EPS and is actively involved in recycling post-consumer EPS as well. For more information see http://www.achfoam.com or phone 800.525.8697.
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