Introduction
Structural insulated panels (SIPs) are engineered, load-carrying, timber-based panel products that can be used in walls and roofs of residential and light commercial buildings. These lightweight panels combine the structural and thermal envelope of the building; they are manufactured off site in a factory and shipped to the construction site (
Figure 1), offering advantages to the build programme. This panelised form of construction allows SIPs to be assembled to form highly airtight, energy-efficient building envelopes.