29/12/2025
❗ Before you choose SIP panels – take a moment
A low price is tempting. Always.
But in construction, cheap solutions often turn out to be the most expensive ones in the long run.
If you’re considering SIP panels, it’s worth knowing what you’re actually buying – and how traditional EPS-based SIP panels differ from a truly structural solution like H-Block.
🔍 What should you check before making a decision?
🟡 OSB board thickness
Many low-cost SIP panels use OSB boards with a thickness of 10–12 mm.
In H-Block panels, 15 mm OSB is standard, providing significantly higher stiffness and structural performance.
🟡 OSB quality and origin
Cheap SIP panels often use unmarked OSB of unknown origin and moisture resistance.
H-Block uses certified OSB3 boards (e.g. Egger), suitable for high-humidity conditions.
🟡 Insulation core
🔸 EPS-based SIP panels:
– density should be at least 25–30 kg/m³,
– lower density usually means recycled material and poor bonding quality.
🔸 H-Block panels:
– homogeneous PUR foam with a density of 40–42 kg/m³,
– no waste, no voids, consistent thermal and mechanical properties.
🟡Gluing vs monolithic structure
Traditional SIP panels rely on adhesive bonding between OSB and EPS.
The quality depends on:
– adhesive type,
– application method,
– uniform pressure during pressing.
Any imperfection may lead to delamination or moisture condensation.
👉 In H-Block panels, there is no gluing process.
OSB boards form a closed mould into which PUR foam is injected and pressed under ≥30 tons of pressure, creating a monolithic structural element with no air gaps.
🟡 Structural capacity and wood consumption
EPS-based SIP panels are mainly non-structural, which means:
– a large amount of additional timber is required,
– studs and connectors reduce the effective insulation.
H-Block panels:
– include a structural core,
– connections form load-bearing columns without extra timber,
– wood is limited to base plates, top plates and openings.
🟡 Waste and prefabrication accuracy
EPS SIP panels are usually produced in fixed modules (e.g. 1.25 m wide),
→ cutting on site = waste and extra cost.
H-Block panels:
– are manufactured to exact project dimensions,
– fully prefabricated and waste-free.
🟡 Warranty
Many SIP panel manufacturers offer only 1 year of warranty,
which is difficult to justify given the expected lifespan of a building.
👉 The H-Block system comes with a delamination warranty of up to 20 years.
🟡 Thermal performance – what really matters long-term
🔸 Typical EPS SIP panel (20 cm):
U ≈ 0.19 W/m²K
λ (EPS) ≈ 0.040 W/(m·K)
🔸 H-Block panel (20 cm):
U ≈ 0.10 W/m²K
λ (PUR foam) ≈ 0.023 W/(m·K)
➡️ Same thickness. Almost twice the thermal performance.
🧠 The takeaway
Not every “SIP panel” is the same.
And the differences you don’t see at first glance determine:
🔸structural durability,
🔸long-term energy costs,
🔸timber consumption,
🔸overall building safety.
📌 Technology is not just the price per square meter.
It’s how that square meter will perform for the next 30–50 years.