Technical
resources.
Specification sheets, installation guides, and case study documentation for architects, engineers, and builders evaluating Panel Haus systems.
Specification sheets.
Structural, thermal, and acoustic performance data for SIP and CLT panels — formatted for inclusion in architectural and engineering specifications.
SIP Panel Technical Specification
Full structural and thermal performance data for Panel Haus SIP panels. Includes panel dimensions, OSB facing specifications, GPS (Neopor) core grades, RSI values, racking loads, and compressive strength data.
SIP Wall Assembly Details
CAD-ready wall section drawings covering standard SIP-to-SIP connections, SIP-to-timber transitions, corner assemblies, window and door reveals, and roof-to-wall junctions.
CLT Panel Technical Specification
Structural grade, layer configuration, adhesive bonding, dimensional tolerances, and load-span tables for Panel Haus CLT panels. Suitable for structural engineering review and procurement.
CLT Insulation Configuration Guide
Thermal and acoustic performance specifications for CLT panels with integrated rock wool and wood fibre insulation. Includes U-values, fire classifications, vapour permeability data, and best-use guidance.
On-site installation documentation.
Step-by-step installation guides for site supervisors, carpenters, and project managers. Covers the full Panel Haus installation sequence from delivery to lock-up.
SIP Installation Guide — Residential
Complete on-site installation sequence for residential SIP builds. Covers panel delivery and unloading, layout sequencing, panel lifting and placement, spline connections, roof panel installation, and airtightness sealing.
SIP Electrical & Services Guide
Guidance for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical services integration within SIP wall and roof assemblies. Covers pre-cut chase locations, site-cut procedures, penetration sealing, and vapour control at service entries.
CLT Installation Guide — Commercial
Installation methodology for commercial and multi-storey CLT builds. Covers crane lift planning, steel connector installation, floor-by-floor sequencing, temporary works, and tolerancing requirements at slab interface.
Projects in detail.
Documented project case studies with construction timelines, performance outcomes, and builder commentary — for use in feasibility assessments and client presentations.
Adelaide Hills Retreat
SIP residential build in the Adelaide Hills. Documents the construction sequence, thermal envelope performance, and programme outcomes against a conventional framing baseline.
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Lorne Coastal House
Coastal residential build using Panel Haus SIP system. Covers panel delivery logistics, installation sequence, airtightness outcomes, and NCC 2022 energy compliance pathway.
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Narara Family Home
Full SIP construction documentation for the Narara build. Includes programme comparison against conventional framing, labour inputs, and structural envelope completion timeline.
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Elliminyt Hillside Residence
SIP residential build in regional Victoria. Case study covers the delivery and installation sequence, on-site framing labour reduction, and builder commentary on the system transition.
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Kennett River Escapeaway
Coastal SIP build with documentation of panel performance in a high-wind-exposure coastal environment. Covers structural fixing specification and airtightness outcomes.
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Tallarook Country Build
Rural residential SIP build. Documents logistics from European manufacturing to remote site delivery, installation timeline, and whole-of-wall thermal performance.
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Common questions from
builders and architects.
Questions we receive most often from builders, developers, and architects evaluating SIP and CLT systems for the first time.
Panel material costs are typically higher than raw stick framing materials. However, a true cost comparison needs to account for: reduced framing labour (up to 55%), faster programme (reducing finance carry), fewer separate material deliveries, lower waste disposal costs, and the elimination of a separate insulation installation stage. When all system effects are included, SIP construction regularly achieves cost parity with or advantage over conventional framing on a whole-project basis. The SIPA True Cost Bidding Tool, developed with the former Chief Architect of the US Department of Energy, demonstrates this across multiple documented project comparisons.
SIP panels work well with most contemporary residential and light commercial architectural forms. They are produced as flat panels and cut to size using CNC machinery, so any rectilinear geometry — including raking walls, cathedral ceilings, and complex rooflines — can be accommodated. Curved walls are not directly achievable with SIP but can be addressed with hybrid framing at specific locations. Panel Haus's design and engineering team reviews each project prior to specification to confirm buildability and identify any areas requiring supplementary framing.
Electrical chases are pre-cut at the factory according to the electrical drawings provided during the design phase — this is a significant advantage over site routing. Horizontal chases run through the EPS core; vertical chases are typically pre-cut in the OSB facing. Plumbing and mechanical services are generally run internally in service cavities or externally on the warm side of the panel. Panel Haus provides a services guide covering chase locations, penetration sealing requirements, and vapour control at service entries to maintain the airtightness of the building envelope.
SIP panels with OSB facings and EPS cores achieve standard residential fire resistance ratings when clad with appropriate lining materials — typically one or two layers of fire-rated plasterboard on the interior face. The structural OSB facing and EPS core are combustible, so the fire resistance of a SIP wall assembly is primarily provided by the internal and external cladding layers, the same as conventional timber framing. Panel Haus provides fire resistance level (FRL) data and typical cladding specifications for standard residential NCC compliance.
SIP panels can be used in bushfire-prone areas, with BAL compliance achieved through the external cladding system rather than the panel itself — the same approach used with conventional framing. For BAL-12.5 through BAL-40, standard non-combustible external cladding systems (fibre cement, compressed sheeting, brick veneer) are used over the SIP panel. BAL-FZ typically requires additional design consideration. Panel Haus works with your building surveyor and bushfire consultant to confirm the appropriate cladding specification for the BAL rating applicable to your site.
Manufacturing and delivery lead times depend on project size and current manufacturing schedules, but as a general guide: design and engineering sign-off takes 3–6 weeks, panel manufacturing takes 4–8 weeks, and sea freight from Europe to Australia takes approximately 6–10 weeks. Total lead time from design finalisation to panels on site is typically 14–20 weeks. Panel Haus coordinates the full logistics chain and advises on programme sequencing to ensure site preparation and foundations align with panel delivery. Early engagement in the design process significantly reduces programme risk.
CLT material costs are broadly comparable with steel and concrete on a structural frame basis. The overall project cost advantage comes from faster installation (1,394+ m² per day), reduced crane time, lighter foundations due to CLT's lower structural dead load (approximately one-sixth the weight of equivalent concrete), and the elimination of a separate ceiling and wall finishing stage where exposed CLT is specified. Documented project comparisons have found CLT to be 15–22% more economical than steel and concrete equivalents on a whole-project basis when these system effects are included.
The 2021 International Building Code permits CLT structures up to 18 storeys under Types IV-A, IV-B, and IV-C. The NCC is progressively aligning with international mass timber provisions, and Australia's state and territory building regulators are increasingly approving CLT buildings above the traditional Type A construction height limits through performance solutions. Panel Haus works with structural engineers and building surveyors experienced in mass timber to navigate the current regulatory pathway for your specific project. For projects above 8 storeys, a performance solution is currently the most reliable approval pathway in most Australian jurisdictions.
CLT panels are manufactured at controlled moisture content (typically 12% ± 2%) and wrapped for transport. On site, panels should be protected from prolonged direct rain exposure — surface wetting is tolerable, but sustained saturation should be avoided before the building is enclosed. A weather protection plan is included in the Panel Haus installation guide for each project. CLT's dimensional stability means that incidental moisture exposure during the typical installation window (days, not weeks) does not affect structural performance. For exposed CLT interiors, surface treatment is recommended before the building is enclosed.
Panel Haus CLT panels are sourced from European manufacturers holding FSC or PEFC chain-of-custody certification, confirming sustainably managed forest supply. Structural panels are manufactured to EN 16351 (the European CLT product standard) and carry CE marking. Specific technical approvals, EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations), and third-party structural test reports are available on request for engineering review and LEED/Green Star documentation purposes.
The short answer: SIP for 1–3 storey residential and light commercial projects where maximum thermal performance and build speed are the primary drivers. CLT for 4+ storey projects, long-span commercial or institutional buildings, or any project where exposed timber aesthetics, embodied carbon performance, or acoustic mass are decision criteria. Many projects benefit from a hybrid approach — CLT primary structure with SIP infill wall and roof panels. Panel Haus will assess your brief and recommend the optimal system or combination at no obligation.
As early as possible — ideally during schematic or design development. Early engagement allows the structural layout to be optimised for the panel system, eliminates unnecessary rework at documentation stage, and ensures the manufacturing and delivery lead time is properly integrated into the project programme. Panel Haus can provide feasibility input and indicative pricing from concept design. Engaging at documentation stage is possible but may require minor design adjustments to achieve the full programme and cost advantages of the system.
Panel Haus provides technical documentation to support engineering sign-off, including structural performance data, connection details, and manufacturer certifications. A locally registered structural engineer is required to review and certify the structural design for each project for council and building surveyor submissions — Panel Haus works alongside your structural engineer to provide the manufacturer data and connection specifications they need to complete that sign-off efficiently. We have established relationships with structural engineers experienced in both SIP and CLT across Australian states.
SIP installation is well within the capability of experienced residential carpentry crews. The learning curve is largely procedural — understanding the connection sequence, spline installation, and airtightness sealing requirements — rather than requiring new trade skills. Panel Haus provides installation guides, pre-delivery briefings, and on-call technical support during the first installation. CLT commercial installations typically require a crane operator and a small team of 6 experienced fixers — the crane capacity and rigging requirements are specified in the project installation guide. Panel Haus can assist in identifying experienced installation contractors in your region.
Can't find what
you're looking for?
Speak with the Panel Haus technical team directly. We can provide project-specific documentation, answer specification questions, and connect you with the right engineering support.