Yes.
Thermocore SIPs use the same construction principles found in steel I-beams, making them two to three times stronger than today’s stick built walls. The foam core and the two skins form an I-beam matrix that is extremely strong and lightweight. Unique tongue and groove joints locks the entire house together, making it a structural system rather than separate wall sections.
Thermocore panels have never been connected with off-gassing and have never been labeled a breathing or health hazard. A clinical study done by physicians that appeared in the January 1981 issue of The Journal of The American Medical Association studied this very issue. The study focused on structural insulated panels used in residential construction. The results of this study showed that structural insulated panels used in residential construction “present no bleed-off of products” and further stated that they could find “no knowledge of toxicity to occupants of polyurethane insulated houses.” The facts and the science are very clear here. Thermocore Panels do not present a health risk! Period. If you are hearing or reading differently, you need to consider the source or ask for the science to back up these claims.
Polyiso and polyurethane are two distinctly different chemicals and are classified as such by the Federal Government. Although the two are both used as building insulation, they are as different as Chevrolet and Cadillac. Be sure that the information you are reading applies to Polyurethane and not Polyiso.
Yes. Thermocore SIPs are the first production panels that can be used with standard window jambs, so there’s no need for costly window jamb extensions (as there is with EPS panels).
Thermocore panels do NOT contain any CFCs.
Yes. Our panels can be modified in the field, with most window location and electrical changes taking less than 10 minutes.
Although Thermocore SIPs do not use studs, they’re designed with the same construction principles found in steel I-beams, making them two to three times stronger than today’s stick built walls. The foam core and the two skins form an I-beam matrix that is extremely strong and lightweight. Unique tongue and groove joints lock the entire house together, making it a structural system rather than separate wall sections.
Due to Thermocore’s advance manufacturing process, building with Thermocore SIPs is simpler than traditional stick framing. Your general contractor or framing crew should be able to handle installation of the panels.
The polyurethane foam we use incorporates a fire retardant that gives Thermocore SIPs a Class I fire rating (the highest rating for residential construction). Unlike EPS panels that start to melt at approximately 175 degrees, Thermocore panels maintain their structural integrity up to 750 degrees and will never melt. This higher standard of fire resistance will give you peace of mind and may lower your homeowner’s insurance premiums.
Virtually any house design can be built with Thermocore SIPs. In some cases, though, it may make more sense to use a conventional roof with our wall panels. Our staff will be happy to discuss your design with you and recommend the best method. If you need help designing a home with Thermocore structural insulated panels, see our list of experienced architects and builders.
No. We need the footprint of your home with exterior dimensions, an elevation, the wall heights, the pitch of your roof and details of any dormers you’re planning. With this information, we can provide an accurate quote.
Thermocore panels employ state-of-the-art infrared technology to actually look inside each panel after it is made. Each panel is inspected and stamped for quality assurance. Thermocore refers to this system as the Insulation Verification System or IVS. With other panel systems, subs unfamiliar with panels dig into them to provide everything from window bucks to electrical, leaving you unsure of the final product.
No. First of all, if Thermocore panels represented a health hazard, we would not be allowed to sell them. Secondly, the foam we use in our panels is the same foam used in the cushions of your chairs and the pillows on your bed. Many of the EPS manufacturers have tried to create scare tactics to sell against the Polyurethane manufacturers. Truth be told, they will never show you any documentation to prove what they are saying. As a matter of fact, medical studies have proved the long term safety of polyurethane foam panels. These are medical professionals conducting real studies, not a sales representative spreading rumors. Next time you hear something negative said about Polyurethane foam panels, consider the source and look at the science.
Polyurethane is a material that has been proven safe again and again. A study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Vol. 245, No. 3) reported that polyurethane foam is fully cured before being used in construction, and that fully cured polyurethane panels present no bleed-off of toxic products. The study further stated that there were no reports of toxicity occurring to people in homes insulated with polyurethane. Simply put: you can use our panels with confidence.
Independent tests have confirmed time and time again that Thermocore panel R-values remain constant. In fact, Thermocore sends aged panels out to be tested on an annual basis. All of our panels are tested in accordance with ASTM C518 and are done in a laboratory setting. Our most recent test on a panel in excess of three years old confirmed no loss of R-value. Studies at Oak Ridge National Laboratories on various panels made with polyurethane foam cores confirmed no measurable loss of R-value. Polyurethane foam continues to be the product of choice for refrigerators, freezers, water heaters, coolers and many other common household products. If polyurethane lost most of its R-value why would companies like GE continue to use it?
Polyurethane is so resistant to moisture that it serves as its own vapor barrier, unlike EPS and other materials that require the addition of a separate vapor barrier. In addition, polyurethane foam does not promote the growth of mold. That means you’re assured of a drier, healthier home.