Page 26 - Green Builder Nov-Dec 2021 Issue

at Associated Builders and Contractors in Washington, D.C. He In terms of moisture management, ICP, ICF and factory-built
acknowledges that every project has a start date and an end date. SIP wall panels are nearly completely moisture impermeable.
But these days, it’s harder than ever to stick to those, which often They also have the advantage of being equally impermeable from
means negotiating what the outside-in and the inside-out, giving them multi-climate, all-
“As the United States gets done when. “Maybe season resistance to condensation issues.
you were planning to With ICPs, ICFs, and SIPs, the insulation is already in the wall
recovers from a devastating install a refrigerator one when assembled, so one less trade is required. The required fram-
economic crisis caused by day, but the wood for the ing crew is about the same in terms of number of people, but
floor gets delayed,” he there is less handwork involved, meaning the job goes quicker.
the COVID-19 pandemic, notes in a report at Mar- “What makes ICFs so attractive is that they are cost competi-
ketplace.org. “You can’t tive with wood frame, steel frame and masonry construction,”
there is new demand— install the refrigerator. So, notes Lionel Lemay, executive vice president of structures and

nationally and we do something else— sustainability for the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association.
like the countertops, “A building owner gets a building that is more disaster resilient
internationally—for critical which might be marble if and energy efficient, at or nearly at, the same cost.”
granite’s not available.” BASF Neopor and other graphite-infused foams are already
materials that have not On its website, offi- impacting the ICP, ICF and SIP industry by offering higher true
seen price spikes in years.” cials at modular home R-values in the same thickness of wall assembly. When the cost
contractor Vesta Modular of lumber is high, SIPs can be installed for the same cost as a
TIM HOFFER, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, in Southfield, Michigan stick-framed wall.
UNDERGROUND SERVICES INC. (SOFTDIG) notes that many people Most stick-frame builders fail to calculate more than the cost
may find the situation of the framing and insulation, leaving out the value of time sav-
“disheartening.” But there are alternatives to traditional build- ings and other intangibles. For example, being able to build six
ing. The materials shortage, the company advises, “doesn’t have homes in the time it would otherwise take to build five with the
to be the end of the story.” same size crew and the same group of sub-contractors yields a
substantial economic advantage.
AN ALPHABETICAL ENVELOPE: ICP, ICF, SIP AND VIP Advocates of ICPs, ICFs and SIPs are also keeping their eye
When searching for an alternative building envelope system, on vacuum insulated panels (VIPs), especially for existing home
insulated concrete panels (ICPs), Insulated Concrete Forms applications and when space is tight. VIPs are comprised of rigid
(ICFs), and SIPs have advantages. panels with a microporous core that has been evacuated, encased,

$2,000,000 Predicted
Supporting
factor
$1,800,000 U.S. construction
growth rates:
$1,600,000 Unlike other
segments of the
$1,400,000 industry, residential 1.4% in
construction has more
Output value (real, $ million) $1,000,000 2016. That trend is 2.8% in
2021
than held its own since
$1,200,000
expected to continue
through at least 2025.
SOURCE: GLOBALDATA
$800,000

$600,000 Residential 2022
Institutional
$400,000
Infrastructure/Industrial
$200,000 2.2% thru
Energy
2025
$0 Commercial
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025

24 GREEN BUILDER November/December 2021 www.greenbuildermedia.com