Interlocking Building Blocks With Open Stud Bays for Airtight Walls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Contemporary residential and light commercial building envelopes face challenges in achieving air-tightness and insulation efficiency due to structural compromises from electrical, plumbing, and mechanical installations, and DIY builders lack the skills and tools to construct effective building envelopes.
Innovation Solution
A system of interlocking, structural building blocks with inner and outer sections that provide continuous insulation and open stud bays for service installations, allowing easy assembly and customization without cutting or boring into the wall members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If stick-built framing is used to provide design flexibility and ease of modification, then adaptability is improved, but air-tightness and insulation continuity deteriorate due to gaps and compromises from service installations
Solution Approach 1:
The building envelope is divided into modular panels that are pre-assembled with insulation and sheathing integrated. Each panel is a self-contained unit that maintains air-tightness and insulation continuity, eliminating the gaps and compromises that occur with traditional stick-built framing where services are installed after the fact.
Solution Approach 2:
The panels are pre-fabricated with all necessary components (insulation, sheathing, framing) assembled before delivery to the construction site. This preliminary assembly ensures proper installation quality and maintains continuous air and insulation barriers, avoiding the need for field modifications that compromise performance.
2Loss of energy
If SIP panels are used to provide continuous insulation and air barrier, then energy efficiency is improved, but adaptability for service installations deteriorates due to difficulty in routing utilities
Solution Approach 1:
The panel system is segmented to include integrated service chases or channels within the panel structure itself, allowing utilities to be routed through dedicated pathways without compromising the continuous insulation and air barrier. This maintains energy efficiency while providing adaptability for service installations.
Solution Approach 2:
Service chases or channels act as intermediaries that allow utilities to pass through the insulated envelope without breaking the thermal or air barrier. These dedicated pathways maintain the continuous insulation while accommodating the need for service routing.
3Manufacturing precision
If custom-fabricated SIP units are used to achieve proper design fit, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates due to specialized fabrication requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The panel system uses standardized, universal components and connection details that can be applied across different building configurations. This allows panels to be manufactured using consistent processes while still achieving proper design fit through modular assembly and field adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for parameter changes in panel dimensions and configurations while maintaining the same fundamental manufacturing process. Panels can be produced in various sizes and shapes using standardized fabrication techniques, balancing manufacturing precision with ease of manufacture.
4Ease of operation
If holes are drilled through SIP panels to route electrical and plumbing services, then service installation is enabled, but air-tightness and insulation continuity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Service chases or channels serve as intermediaries that provide dedicated pathways for utilities to pass through the panel assembly. These pre-formed channels maintain the continuous insulation and air barrier while accommodating service routing, eliminating the need to drill holes that would compromise the envelope integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
Service pathways are incorporated into the panel design during manufacturing, allowing services to be installed through pre-prepared openings or channels. This preliminary provision of service routes enables easy installation while maintaining air-tightness and insulation continuity, avoiding the need for field drilling that would compromise the envelope.
Data Source
AI summary
Interlocking building blocks that, when connected together in a plurality of blocks, create a structural building envelope consisting of a continuously-insulated exterior-facing section and an interior-facing section consisting of open stud bays. The system of building blocks combines aspects of both stick-built and SIP-panel framing systems to provide simplified assembly and improved thermal performance while mitigating common issues with both systems regarding compromised structural and insulative integrity encountered in the build process.