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Building elements

Open panel

An open panel is a prefabricated wall frame that is sheathed on one side only, or not at all, leaving the cavities open for insulation and services on site.

Also known as open panels, open wall panel, open panel system, open frame panel, structural frame panel

An open panel carries the structure (studs, plates, headers and usually the structural sheathing) but leaves the inner face open. Insulation, vapour barrier, services and internal boards are added once the building is erected and closed in.

Open panels are the simplest form of panelized construction and the usual first step for a builder moving into offsite production. They are light, easy to transport and forgiving to design, and they already remove most of the framing work from the site.

Related terms
Closed panelA closed panel is a prefabricated wall or roof element that leaves the factory boarded on both faces, with insulation and often windows, services and cladding fitted. Wall panelA wall panel is a prefabricated section of wall: a timber or steel frame, often already fitted with sheathing, insulation, windows and services. It is built in a factory and assembled on site. Panelized constructionPanelized construction builds a house from flat prefabricated wall, floor and roof panels that are assembled on site. Framing stationA framing station is the machine that assembles studs, plates and noggins into a wall frame and nails them together.
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