New
hotel is the UK’s first four-storey SIPs building
Hemsec
Sips provide winning new technology in the trend towards ‘Modern
Methods of Construction’
A new hotel being constructed for the Days Inn
hotel chain at Nuneaton in Warwickshire is the UK’s first
building where Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) technology has
been used up to four storeys.
The modular panels - supplied by Hemsec Sips,
one of Europe’s most experienced SIPs manufacturer –
are seen by developers Tawny Wood Investments as part of a growing
trend towards ‘Modern Methods of Construction’ (MMC).
Following on the heels of the government-commissioned
Egan Report, ‘Rethinking Construction’ - which advocated
an across-the-board reappraisal of the UK construction industry
- MMC in general, and off-site manufactured SIPs in particular,
are regarded as the way forward.
Hemsec Sips panels use the latest technological
advances to enable builders to erect high quality buildings in
a relatively short time and at a much lower cost than by traditional
means of construction.
Certainly, this has been the experience of Mead
Manor who are the main contractors on the Nuneaton project. The
company is scheduled to complete what would normally be a 40-week
build in less than half that time!
Similarly favourable comments have been
aired by Tawny Wood who were attracted by the average cost of
£40,000 per room using SIPs technology compared to £70,000
using traditional building methods.
Hemsec Sips panels are made from timber OSB 3
facings with a core insulating material of fire-retardant polyurethane
foam. Their toughness, safety and insulation levels have been
fully demonstrated in extensive tests by UKAS – results
which have been substantiated empirically by the growing number
of building projects where Hemsec Sips panels are used.
The potential of this technology has already been
earmarked by Hemsec Sips for projects in the healthcare, education
and hospitality sectors. This is in addition to social and private
housing – and the rapidly growing self-build market.
Hemsec Sips Managing Director, Richard Daley,
points to the need for new thinking in a construction sector where
there are severe skills shortages and where a reappraisal of off-site
manufacture is long overdue:
“Pre-manufactured SIPs can be used for wall,
roof or floor panels as part of a timber-based construction where
no steelwork is required,” Richard explained.
“Structural testing for the hotel project
showed that it could withstand up to 48 tonnes of stress which
is unheard of with traditional materials. And in another test
carried out by Dow Chemicals, the U-value for insulation was an
impressive 0.22 which is well in excess of the Buildings Regulations’
standard.
“All these factors – and more –
indicate that SIPs time has come,” Richard continued. “With
its structural strength, energy-efficiency, high-speed construction
and capability to create quality buildings, the term ‘Modern
Methods of Construction’ will soon become the ‘Accepted’
method of construction!”
More details about Hemsec Sips panels can be found
on line at www.hemsecsips.com
Ends.
Dec 2005
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