Structural insulated panel (sip) for a modular building

Abstract

A structural insulated panel, SIP, ( 101 ) for a building ( 100 ) in which the SIP is attachable to another such SIP ( 101 ) to provide a structure of the building ( 100 ). The SIP ( 101 ) comprises a frame ( 200 ), a first board ( 208 ) attached to a first face of the frame ( 200 ), a second board ( 209 ) attached to a second face of the frame ( 200 ) and an insulating layer ( 401 ) bounded by the frame ( 200 ) and the first ( 208 ) and second boards ( 209 ). The frame ( 200 ) is fibre-reinforced plastic, FRP. The frame ( 200 ) has a joining surface that faces away from the centroid of the SIP ( 101 ) so as to be mateable with a joining surface of a frame of another such SIP ( 101 ).

1 . A structural insulated panel, SIP, for a building, the SIP being attachable to another such SIP to provide a structure of the building, the SIP comprising:
 a frame;   a first board attached to a first face of the frame;   a second board attached to a second face of the frame; and   an insulating layer bounded by the frame and the first and second boards,   wherein the frame is fibre-reinforced plastic, FRP.   
     
     
         2 . The SIP according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame has a joining surface that faces away from the centroid of the SIP so as to be mateable with a joining surface of a frame of another such SIP. 
     
     
         3 . The SIP according to  claim 2 , wherein the joining surface extends around the entire perimeter of the SIP. 
     
     
         4 . The SIP according to  claim 2 , wherein the frame comprises:
 at least two edge members located at periphery of the SIP, at least one of the at least two edge members providing at least a part of the joining surface; and   at least one brace member extending from one of the at least two edge members to another one of the at least two edge members to provide support to those edge members.   
     
     
         5 . The SIP of  claim 4 , wherein the at least part of the joining surface provided by the at least one edge member is flat, and preferably wherein the at least part of the joining surface provided by the at least one edge member is either perpendicular or parallel to the first and/or second face of the frame. 
     
     
         6 . The SIP according to  claim 5 , the at least two edge members comprise:
 a base member;   a first side member;   a second side member; and   a top member.   
     
     
         7 . The SIP according to  claim 6 , wherein the brace member is parallel to the first side member and to the second side member optionally wherein the brace member is oblique to the first side member or the second side member. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The SIP according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame further comprises at least one bar member. 
     
     
         10 . The SIP according to  claim 9 , wherein the bar member is parallel to the base member and to the top member optionally wherein the first board is attached to the first face of the bar member and the second board is attached to the second face of the bar member. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The SIP according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least two edge members and/or the at least one brace member and/or the at least one bar member have a square or rectangular cross section optionally wherein the at least two edge members and/or the at least one brace member and/or the at least one bar member are hollow, and have a depth between 75 mm to 300 mm and a width between 25 mm to 200 mm. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The SIP according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least two edge members and/or the at least one brace member and/or the at least one bar member are joined to one another using adhesive. 
     
     
         15 . The SIP according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame is pultruded FRP. 
     
     
         16 . The SIP according to  claim 1 , wherein the first board and the second board do not extend the full height of the frame optionally wherein the SIP further comprises a flooring truss attached to the first face of the frame in the area not covered by the first board. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The SIP according to  claim 1 , wherein the first board and the second board each comprise a magnesium oxide board optionally wherein the first board and the second board are each between 3 mm to 25 mm thick, optionally wherein the first board and the second board each coupled to the frame using adhesive. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The SIP according to  claim 1 , wherein the insulating layer comprises a non-combustible mineral wool, preferably wherein the insulating layer is between 50 mm to 250 mm thick. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The SIP according to  claim 1 , wherein the panel further comprises a fire resistant layer, the fire resistant layer is sandwiched between the frame and the first board optionally wherein the fire resistant layer comprises an intumescent material such as soft char or hard char. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The SIP according to  claim 1 , wherein the panel further comprises an outer covering, the outer covering is applied to the second board optionally wherein the outer covering comprises a water resistant material, such as a silicone render. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The SIP according to  claim 1 , wherein the panel further comprises an inner covering, the inner covering is applied to the first board optionally wherein the inner covering comprises a fire resistant material, such as soft char or hard char. 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . An SIP assembly, comprising the SIP according to  claim 1  joined to another such SIP. 
     
     
         30 . The SIP assembly according to  claim 29 , wherein the SIPs are joined to one another at the joining surfaces using adhesive optionally wherein the adhesive comprises a two-part methacrylate adhesive. 
     
     
         31 . (canceled)