Constructability of an Estidama and Building Codes

Compliant SIP System for Adaptive Public Housing in UAE

Dr. Khaled Galal Ahmed, Associate Professor, UAEU

Introduction

Housing ‘Rigidity’ as a Problem in Public Housing in UAE

Research Objectives and Method

• Bridge the gap between the users’ actual needs and the ‘official’ pre-designed
public housing models to attain a ‘resilient’ design controlled by the residents
themselves.

• ‘Relocatable’ self-build external/internal wall-floor-roof panel system replacing

the currently used ‘rigid’ masonry one.

• Structural Insulated Panel Systems (SIPS) are to be investigated for their

compliance with the UAE locally applied building codes and regulations and,
more importantly, for their applicability as ‘self-build’ ‘relocatable’ construction
systems.
Four main objectives:
a) Comparing the different types of SIPS to define the most Estidama and Abu Dhabi
Building Codes compliant one and the most suitable for self-build relocatability with
as least required machinery as possible.

b) Developing an adaptive BIM modular house model that can be expanded/retracted,

by residents, when needed.

c) Checking energy consumption performance of the adaptive SIPS/Steel Structure

housing model compared to the conventional CMU/RC Structure one.

d) Developing constructability mechanisms (fixation-relocation) of the selected SIPS to

be compatible with the conventional post-and-beam steel structure skeleton system of
the suggested adaptive house model.
Structured Insulated Panel System (SIPs) as a sustainable self-build
construction material
• High-performance composite building panels designed for all
internal and external, wall, floor and roof applications.

• Made by sandwiching a core of rigid foam insulation between

two structural skins.

• Variety of structural skin materials, including oriented strand

board (OSB), treated plywood, fiber-cement board
(cementitious), and metal.

• Core materials are typically expanded polystyrene (EPS),

extruded polystyrene (XPS), or polyurethane (PU).

• Have high thermal performance, lightweight and

environmentally friendly, resistance to damp, low build cost,
massive reduction in build time and wet trades, and their
single skin build enables finishes directly applied to the panel.
Structural Properties:

• Behave similarly to a wide flange steel column, the foam core

acts as the web and the sheathing responds as the flanges.
• Under axial loads, the sheathing responds similarly to a slender
column, and the foam core acts as continuous bracing
preventing the panels from buckling.
• Just as wide flange sections increase in strength with increased
depth, thicker cores result in stronger panels in compression
and bending.
• Ability to resist bi-axial bending and lateral shear allow them to
be used as roofs and floors.
• Large SIPs structures rely on a secondary framing system of
steel or timber to satisfy requirements for unobstructed
spaces.
• Unique screw connections are available to attach SIPs to wood,
light gage steel, and structural steel up to 1/4 inch thick.
Sound Attenuation and insulation:
• SIPs insulate against high frequency noise better than low frequency noise.
• As monolithic wall units with continuous insulation and fewer gaps to seal than stick-built
framing, SIPs are airtight and effective at stopping airborne ambient noise.

Durability
• SIPs proper lamination and smooth surfaces and edges will ensure that the SIPs can
endure long-term use as long as the structural skins are properly protected from
degradation.

Ease of Construction & Lower Cost:

• Contractors can quickly install up to 7.30 m sections of SIP wall panels. The panels of
floor-to-ceiling height can simply be dropped into place for a very fast assembly process.
• Construction costs are comparable to more conventional building methods when savings
associated with labor costs, material waste, and energy efficiency are considered.
a) Applicability of SIPs as a code-compliant relocatable wall-floor-roof
material

Relevant Building Codes Requirements

Topic Code Requirement Source

Thermal Insulation Non-Government Projects ADIBC - Section 2602- Page 487
1- Fenestration U-Factor 2.2
2- Roof U-Facto 0.31
3- Mass Wall U-Facto 0.57
4- Floor U-Facto 0.36

Sound Insulation Sound transmission class (STC) of not less 50 and 45 if field tested. ADIBC - Section 719 - Page 170
Water Insulation 1404.2 Water-resistive barrier: A minimum of one layer of No.15 asphalt felt. ADIBC – Chapter 14

Fire resistance Fire resistance rating of not less than 1 hour. ADIBC - Section 709

Building should be class A or B UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice
 Relevant Estidama Regulations

Regulation Description

U-value External Wall: 0.57 W/m2.K

Roof: 0.31 W/m2.K

LBi-9: Indoor Noise Pollution Demonstrate that internal ambient noise levels do not exceed 35 dB(A) Leq (8 hour)
and 45 dB(A) Lmax, fast in bedrooms (night-time, 23:00 – 07:00 hours) and do not
exceed 40 dB(A) Leq in other areas.

SM-R1 Hazardous Materials Elimination Requires an undertaking letter stating that Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs)
and Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) - treated timber shall not be used within the
project.
SM-3: Design for Flexibility and Adaptability To lengthen the useful life of buildings through designs that are easily adaptable for
other program uses, floor-to-floor heights of at least 3.60 m.
Comparing and selecting an appropriate SIP System

• Besides its compliance with relevant sustainability regulations and building

codes requirements, selected SIP system should allow inhabitants to
fix/relocate it either to increase (or even decrease) house spaces easily
and safely with minimal time and effort.

The Core Material:

• Polyurethane (PU) is selected for its best R-value/in @ 75° F of 6.54
compared to 5 for extruded polystyrene (XPS) and only 3.6 for the
expanded polystyrene (EPS type).
• PU has the highest strength and water resistance among the other two
commonly used XPS and EPS types.
• XPS and EPS types are produced with hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) a
brominated fire retardant material classified by the European Union
(REACH program) as persistant, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT), while the
PU is produced with chlorinated phosphate flame retardants which is not
as hazardous as most brominated flame retardants.
• As for compressive strength @ 10% deformation (psi) PU gives the highest
value of 35 compared to only 20 and 10 for XPS and EPS types respectively.
• Common Fire Rating Class is 1 for all the three types.
 Comparing and selecting an appropriate SIP System
The structural skins:
• Oriented Strand Board (OSB): load bearing, availability in large panel size, needs
treatments against mold and termites while Fiber Cement Siding and Magnesium
Board: resistant to mold, termites, and fire but disadvantaged for their weight and
limited panel size.
• Availability in appropriate modular sizes. One SIP type has an ideal overall modular
thickness of 200mm with a width of 1200mm and standard lengths ranges between
2400, 3000, 3500, 4000, 5000 and 6000mm. Limited availability of similar modular
sizes in Cement Fiber Skin type was noticed (the best available cement fiber skin panel
has an overall thickness of 275mm, with width of 1100mm and standard length of
2650mm), which would not easily be configured with the modular structure framing
system of the house.
• The panel weight is about 22 kg/m2 which is much less than its Cement fiber skin
counterpart (40kg per m2).
• As moisture protection is a concern for OSB sheathing but it is evident that when it
comes into contact with water, the structural integrity of the panels can be saved if
the OSB is quickly exposed to allow to dry.
• Although SIP Systems are originally designed and used as a fixed wall-floor-roof
panels, but in this research their suitability of being developed into relocatable
demountable external/internal wall, floor and roof units was considered.
The selected SIP System: OSB Faces and PU Core
Compliance of the OSB-PUR SIP System with Estidama Requirements and Local Building Codes
and Regulations.
Estidama Req. & Building Codes and Regulations OSB-PUR SIP System
Estidama, Thermal Insulation (U-value) requirements: 200 mm//0.15 W/m2.K
 For mass walls: 0.57 W/m2.K.
 For roofs: 0.31 W/m2.K.

Abu Dhabi Building Codes, sound insulation requirements: Separating walls: 50 STC
 For mass walls: 50 STC. Internal walls: 40 STC

Abu Dhabi Building Codes, fire resistance requirements: External walls: 60 minutes (from inside)
 For mass walls: 60 minutes. Separating walls/60 minutes (from either side)

Abu Dhabi Building Codes, water proofing requirements: Completely watertight and weather resistant
 For mass walls, a minimum of one layer of No.15 Asphalt Felt.

Abu Dhabi Building Codes, impact & loads resistance requirements: Pass
 Uniform load 1.9 KPa for Roof Panels.

Design for flexibility & adaptability for the SIP panels: Width 1200 (mm), Lengths 2400, 3000, 3500, 4000, 5000, 6000 (mm)
Floor -to-floor heights of at least 3.6 m.

Weight of SIP panels per square meter. For 200 mm: 21.99 kg/m2

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other Health hazards prevention No known toxic health hazards
requirements.
b) Developing A BIM Modularly-Coordinated Resilient House Model

Adjusting modularity of the

5 bedroom ‘complete’ house
to conform with the
dimensions of the selected
SIP System: a) GF Plan, b)1st
F Plan.
The ‘fixed’ Steel skeleton structural system composed of 20x20 cm tubular section columns and beams.
Study of the SIPs as modular movable Roof, Floor and Wall panels supported within the
Steel Framing of 20x20cm tubular sections: a) GF, b) 1st F.
From ‘Core’ to ‘Complete’:
Examples for the house’s adaptability scenarios

The Core House – Men’s Majlis (Saloon) + Dining + 1 Bedroom in GF and a roof garden.
Expansion Scenario 1– Similar to the core with added ladies’ Majlis and enlarging Men’s Majlis.
Expansion Scenario 2 - Similar to Scenario 1 with two more bedrooms added to the 1st Floor.
Completed House – Similar to expansion Scenario 2 with two more bedrooms added to the 1st Floor. Total
number of bedrooms is 5 with allocated toilet and dressing in each room.
c) Energy performance for the selected SIPs Vs. CMU for the completed house

Calculated Results Calculated Results

Peak Cooling Total Load (W) 5,394 Peak Cooling Total Load (W) 8,768
Peak Cooling Month and Hour August 8:00 AM Peak Cooling Month and Hour August 5:00 PM
Peak Cooling Sensible Load (W) 5,300 Peak Cooling Sensible Load (W) 8,751
Peak Cooling Latent Load (W) 94 Peak Cooling Latent Load (W) 17
Maximum Cooling Capacity (W) 5,394 Maximum Cooling Capacity (W) 9,397
Peak Cooling Airflow (L/s) 296.3 Peak Cooling Airflow (L/s) 529.0
Peak Heating Load (W) 33 Peak Heating Load (W) 2,087
Peak Heating Airflow (L/s) 2.1 Peak Heating Airflow (L/s) 133.8
Checksums Checksums
Cooling Load Density (W/m²) 10.11 Cooling Load Density (W/m²) 16.66
Cooling Flow Density (L/(s·m²)) 0.56 Cooling Flow Density (L/(s·m²)) 1.01
Cooling Flow / Load (L/(s·kW)) 54.92 Cooling Flow / Load (L/(s·kW)) 60.34
Cooling Area / Load (m²/kW) 98.92 Cooling Area / Load (m²/kW) 60.02
Heating Load Density (W/m²) 0.06 Heating Load Density (W/m²) 3.97
Heating Flow Density (L/(s·m²)) 0.00 Heating Flow Density (L/(s·m²)) 0.25

SIPs house energy simulation CMU house energy simulation

 d) Developing a self-build fixation and relocatability
construction mechanism for the SIPs
• First, upper and lower tracks of galvanized
LGS channels are to be used for fixing the
20cm thick x120cm width OSB-PUR SIPs.
• On the ground floor, the non-movable
SIPs (the core case) are to be supported
over LGS channels fixed over the lightly
reinforced slab-on-grade.
• For the relocatable SIPs, the LGS channels
can be fixed directly over the finishing
material, ceramic tiles for exampe.
• In the first floor, SIPs are used as structure
flooring panels supported over the
tubular steel structure framing and
finished with ceramic tiles that exactly
have the same modular size.
• The LGS channels for SIP walls will be
fixed directly with screws to the skin and
PUR core of SIPs flooring panels.
• For relocating the SIPs, the LGS channels
can be easily removed.

• A space is to be left inside the upper LGS

track for raising and tilting the panel to
be positioned correctly in its upper track
space.

• Then it can be easily pushed to be

vertically aligned with the lower track
and be subsequently released to rest
over a rough wood piece measuring put
inside the LGS lower track.

• Afterwards, panels can be screwed with

the upper and lower tracks from both
sides.
• Roof and floor panels can be fixed
with the structure system using steel
angles that allow them to be replaced
if not needed.
• For dismantling the SIPs when not
needed in their existing locations, the
process can be merely reserved.
• This mechanism will allow residents to
change, expand/contract the
habitable spaces of their houses safely
according to their own desired space
dimensions.
• External tubular columns and beams
can be finished with 1cm thick cement
board around them and then painted
with the desired color.
• External and internal wall partitioning
panels can be finished by thin silicon
coat mortar 1cm thick plus paint.
Joint design

• Joints between the floor panels are to be treated similar to that of the
wall partitions.

• Properly sealed SIPs will provide for the air, vapor, and thermal barriers.

• Expanded foam, sealing tape, sealing mastic, and nails are also used for
SIP connections.

• The block spline connection results in a continuous foam core across

the panels, eliminating air infiltration at the joints.

• Water resistance barriers (WRB) should be provided for the exterior

wall and roof. This WRB should be vapor permeable and must make all
joints water and airtight.
Plumbing-Electrical and Mechanical works:
• The vertical stacks and water feeding tubes will go
vertically through the floor SIPs and will travel
horizontally, with appropriate slope, within the false
ceiling’s plenum space to eventually be connected to
the man drainage or water feeding stacks and tubes
collected.

• Electrical chases 1-inch to 1-1/2 inches in diameter

can be incorporated into the SIPs during the
manufacturing stage.

• Properly designed HVAC systems are required to

address the air tightness and energy efficiency
inherent with SIP designed buildings.
Window/door installation
• Is similar to that of wood frame
construction.
• Openings around windows and
doors, and other chases should be
properly sealed and/or flashed to
prevent moisture infiltration.
• Provide appropriate flashing systems
at all exterior building envelope
openings and penetrations.
Conclusions
• Innovative construction system that aims at developing more adaptive public housing in
Abu Dhabi and other UAE cities is desperately needed.
• The proposed SIP system can satisfy the genuine residents’ needs for on-going
expansions and adaptations in their houses and, thus, realizing more sustainable and
resilient public housing.
• Through this mechanism, the house development is a process rather than a product. This
process reflects continuous changes and incremental additions (or subtractions, if
needed, to reclaim open space rather than a closed one).
• In this process, local/federal authorities providing housing units will be only required to
develop the steel structural skeleton and the core house SIPs while residents will be
responsible for expanding their core houses, as and when needed.
• Residents can buy SIPs, channels and joint splines from the local authority to expand
their houses and when they retract them, they simply sell back the dismantled SIPs,
channels and joint splines to the local authority.
• Local authority should provide technical training for self-build processes to the residents
and, if required, can provide some technical help in fixation and relocation of the panels.
Conclusions
• Real life validation of the proposed SIP System and its recommended construction
mechanisms regarding the constructability, efficiency and usability considerations
including: environmental limitations of this type of construction in UAE climate
with its high diurnal ranges, energy consumption, cost, time of construction,
availability of materials in the local market, ease of construction and quality.

• Testing constructability through building a 1:1 physical mock up model for a

portion of the house to demonstrate and test the mechanism of installation and
demountation of the external/internal walls, roof and floor panels.
Thank You! 