Access datasheets, technical guides, and full panel specifications for RD SIPS systems. Download detailed assembly instructions, panel layouts, and build-up diagrams to ensure your project meets UK building standards.
RD SIPS structural insulated panel systems deliver outstanding performance in energy efficiency, structural integrity, and speed of construction. All panels are precision engineered for consistent quality, airtightness, and thermal performance.
Our SIP systems are designed to maintain comfortable internal temperatures year-round while reducing heating and cooling costs.
Proper airtightness ensures energy efficiency, improved comfort, and reduced heating demand.
RD SIPS systems are designed with fire safety in mind, including panel materials and recommended internal finishes.
Our SIP panels provide excellent acoustic insulation for homes and commercial spaces.
RD SIPS systems are fully compliant with UK Building Regulations, ensuring safety, structural integrity, and energy efficiency.
Our expert team provides design input, engineering advice, and technical support throughout your project.
We don’t provide installation services directly, but we maintain a list of trusted installers we can recommend. Our garden rooms are designed to be straightforward to construct, and we provide comprehensive guidance to help you through the process.
For standard studios and residential buildings, most people can successfully complete the assembly using our detailed drawings and guidance. More intricate designs may benefit from specialist expertise – we can provide a list of experienced fitters to assist you.
Traditional strip foundations depend on local soil conditions, though they can often be narrower depending on your chosen exterior finish.
For studios, you have several choices: concrete slabs, paving slabs, or helical pile systems (such as Stop Digging) positioned at 1220mm intervals. Each floor connection point requires support, with pads spaced no more than 1220mm apart. For pad foundations, create 450mm square excavations filled with dry lean concrete, ensuring pads at each corner and flanking door openings. Maintain a minimum 50mm gap between ground level and the studio. For houses, panels are installed directly onto slabs, brickwork, or beam-and-block flooring.
Each panel features a 50mm rebate around its entire perimeter.
Panels connect using either timber joists or splines. Splines are suitable only for continuous wall runs without openings. Timber joists are essential at floors, roofs, and corners for structural integrity. Required timber dimensions by panel thickness:
· 97mm Panel – 75mm x 50mm
· 122mm Panel – 100mm x 50mm
· 147mm Panel – 125mm x 50mm
· 172mm Panel – 150mm x 50mm
· 197mm Panel – 175mm x 50mm
· 222mm Panel – 200mm x 50mm
· 247mm Panel – 225mm x 50mm
Splines are appropriate only for uninterrupted wall sections without openings. Timber joists remain necessary for floors, roofs, and corners to ensure structural strength.
Apply expanding foam where timber joists meet the insulation core (working from bottom to top on vertical connections). Apply adhesive where the OSB board contacts the timber joist.
The screws included in our kits are required at primary structural connections – corners and floor-to-wall or wall-to-ceiling junctions. For timber joists and secondary connections, nails are sufficient and are not included in our kits.
Given the panel thickness, a standard handsaw isn’t adequate. You’ll need to cut through the 11mm OSB on one face, then flip and repeat on the opposite face. The foam core must be cut with a hand saw only – motorised tools can produce toxic fumes that are hazardous to inhale (never use heated cutting tools).
Yes, using a router to create the opening, then installing timber reinforcement to provide adequate fixing points for circular windows. Purpose-made circular timber frames for porthole windows are also commercially available.
Generally, holes up to 200mm diameter are acceptable in panels with a minimum 900mm width, provided holes are positioned at least 150mm from panel edges or joints. Always verify with the manufacturer that no load-bearing stud exists at your intended drilling location.
GA drawings verify all dimensions before manufacturing begins. Created using SketchUp, these are essential for developing the detailed production drawings that guide panel fabrication.
The timber header plate inserted into the top 50mm rebate must be both glued and screwed. The roof panel is then positioned on top and secured with screws at 300mm intervals around the complete perimeter, ensuring the interface between header plate and roof panel is also glued. Consult our panel fitting documentation for detailed wall, floor, and roof connection sequences.
Roof windows of any size can be accommodated in SIPs roofs, provided appropriate structural framing surrounds the opening to transfer loads correctly.
We recommend protecting the OSB as quickly as possible with waterproofing on the roof and breathable membrane on external walls. While OSB3 offers short-term water resistance, we advise covering it if prolonged exposure is anticipated.
Yes, staples are the correct fasteners for attaching house wrap.
All pipes and cables must be surface-mounted using battens to create the necessary space.
Recessed spotlights cannot be installed directly into the panels because the excellent thermal performance prevents heat dissipation, causing bulbs to overheat and fail prematurely. If you want recessed lighting, install battens to create an air gap below the ceiling.
Yes, this is feasible
The flue must be double-walled with a 15mm clearance gap around it, filled with fire-resistant caulking material.
Use 25mm x 38mm (nominal) battens at 600mm centres. Battens must be installed at all corners and openings regardless of spacing.
Relocation is possible if the structure is built on a foundation capable of withstanding lifting forces. Building size may be limited by transportation constraints.