I just got back from looking at a new construction home.The problem i have is that i have never seen this type before. Its called a structural insulatted panel or SIP. The home owner all ready has the walls up and the nsulation in and basically you have to fish the wires. How can the inspector do a rough inspection when the wires are not exposed? You have to cut the plywood away to instail the boxes to. please input any code requirements for this type of home. thanks
SIP homes????
- Thread starter khixxx
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bphgravity
Senior Member
- Location
- Florida
Re: SIP homes????
I have seen several of these homes recently. There is not too much to inspect. The panels come with pre-cored chases from ceiling to floor, so really all you need to do is check to make sure the box is securely mounted and that the proper wiring is pulled. Most of the enterior walls are standard stud type. Its not much different than blowing out a hole in a block wall and fishing the NM down to a box.
I have seen several of these homes recently. There is not too much to inspect. The panels come with pre-cored chases from ceiling to floor, so really all you need to do is check to make sure the box is securely mounted and that the proper wiring is pulled. Most of the enterior walls are standard stud type. Its not much different than blowing out a hole in a block wall and fishing the NM down to a box.
- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
- Occupation
- Service Manager
Re: SIP homes????
I just did one of these. It's little tricky, but not too bad once you get the idea.
Just be ready to let the customer know that not everything is possible, if the panels are already in place.
I just did one of these. It's little tricky, but not too bad once you get the idea.
Just be ready to let the customer know that not everything is possible, if the panels are already in place.
mdshunk
Senior Member
- Location
- Right here.
Re: SIP homes????
I did one of these and didn't make a cent on the job. Seriously ask yourself if you need this work. Luckily, this type of construction isn't very popular in my neck of the woods.
I used metal boxes with ears, adjusted them for the sheetrock thickness, and screwed the ears to the plywood, but there might be another method. That was all I could think of at the time. A Rotozip helps make quicker work of cutting the box openings.
I did one of these and didn't make a cent on the job. Seriously ask yourself if you need this work. Luckily, this type of construction isn't very popular in my neck of the woods.
I used metal boxes with ears, adjusted them for the sheetrock thickness, and screwed the ears to the plywood, but there might be another method. That was all I could think of at the time. A Rotozip helps make quicker work of cutting the box openings.
- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
- Occupation
- Service Manager
Re: SIP homes????
I would recommend these boxes:
I would recommend these boxes:
Re: SIP homes????
This job is tricky, and my first residential project for new construction, I do have another guy that will help out that has residential experience. The company that designs the homes has a website with some info www.panelwrights.com This is going to be a TM job with the home owner fishing the walls and putting string in. I'm located in md. Thanks for the replies, i'm going to contact the AHJ this monday and get his oppion. I just wanted to get some ideas for code regulations for these types of homes.thanks
This job is tricky, and my first residential project for new construction, I do have another guy that will help out that has residential experience. The company that designs the homes has a website with some info www.panelwrights.com This is going to be a TM job with the home owner fishing the walls and putting string in. I'm located in md. Thanks for the replies, i'm going to contact the AHJ this monday and get his oppion. I just wanted to get some ideas for code regulations for these types of homes.thanks
- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
- Occupation
- Service Manager
Re: SIP homes????
When you go to rough it:
</font>
My house was a fiasco, because an unsupervised apprentice was told to run the rotozip for his first time ever. Take your time, make sure everything is level (and properly laid out!) before making your holes.
I wouldn't waste his time. A typical panel has a grid of chases in it--there's no real telling how you are going to pull a circuit until you actually pull the circuit.
When you go to rough it:
</font>
- <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Have any 6' - 10' fish-tape chunks you may have laying around handy. </font>
- <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Also, short paddle bits. I generally rough with 18" auger bits, but if the shoe and top plate aren't drilled, you're going to have some cramped quarters to drill in.</font>
- <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Have a flex-bit handy for those panels too small to have chases, such as under windows, wall ends, etc.</font>
- <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The rotozip is a must.</font>
- <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">A holesaw for fish points, horizontal from switches.</font>
- <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Insulating foam: If you can get the homeowner to insulate your fishing holes, and boxes, great. Otherwise, I would insulate them when everything is pulled and you're installing the boxes.</font>
My house was a fiasco, because an unsupervised apprentice was told to run the rotozip for his first time ever. Take your time, make sure everything is level (and properly laid out!) before making your holes.
wbalsam1
Senior Member
- Location
- Upper Jay, NY
Re: SIP homes????
Hi: bphgravity: Most of the enterior walls are standard stud type. Its not much different than blowing out a hole in a block wall and fishing the NM down to a box. I'm under the impression that nm cable is not permitted within the voids of masonry blocks of exterior walls as per 334.10(A)(1) and (2), since these areas would be considered damp locations.
EDIT: I just realized you meant to spell Interior. Oops! (when I saw the "e" I immediately read "exterior". Sorry.
[ August 22, 2005, 09:27 PM: Message edited by: wbalsam1 ]
Hi: bphgravity: Most of the enterior walls are standard stud type. Its not much different than blowing out a hole in a block wall and fishing the NM down to a box. I'm under the impression that nm cable is not permitted within the voids of masonry blocks of exterior walls as per 334.10(A)(1) and (2), since these areas would be considered damp locations.
EDIT: I just realized you meant to spell Interior. Oops! (when I saw the "e" I immediately read "exterior". Sorry.
[ August 22, 2005, 09:27 PM: Message edited by: wbalsam1 ]
mthead
Senior Member
- Location
- Long Beach,NY
Re: SIP homes????
mthead
Senior Member
- Location
- Long Beach,NY
Re: SIP homes????
Originally posted by georgestolz:
[QB] I would recommend these boxes:
Their outline is square, and their "front-nailing flap" sticks out enough that a whoops with a rotozip will not be the end of the world. They are actually for steel studs, and can be found here.
The nail-on portion of the multigang boxes is easily removed with dykes or a sawzall for a smooth look.
"Remove those flaps or alter those bx's and use them in an unapproved way and you void the listing"--sorry to be a spoil sport,bu...,?
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Occupation
- PE (Retired) - Power Systems
Re: SIP homes????
mthead,
Only the AHJ can decide if a field modification would "void" a listing. Just because a device is "altered" does not mean it has lost it's NRTL listing.
IMO if the walls of the boxes are not compromised, I would not care how they are externally mounted.
mthead,
Only the AHJ can decide if a field modification would "void" a listing. Just because a device is "altered" does not mean it has lost it's NRTL listing.
IMO if the walls of the boxes are not compromised, I would not care how they are externally mounted.
- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
- Occupation
- Service Manager
Re: SIP homes????
Where does it say I need listed boxes?
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