Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) Consulting & Technical Advisory Services

CONSULTING SERVICES & PRICES

Structural Insulated Panel roof installation with workers assembling SIP roof and wall panels on a building

When projects involve Structural Insulated Panels, experienced SIP consulting can make the difference between a system that performs and one that fails inspection, falls behind schedule, or ends up in litigation. Questions around engineering, manufacturing processes, installation planning, code compliance, and long-term system performance can significantly affect project outcomes.

PGS Consulting LLC provides independent consulting focused exclusively on Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs), EPS geofoam, and advanced building systems. We work with manufacturers, builders, architects, developers, homeowners, and legal teams who need clear answers and practical solutions. The firm is led by Joe Pasma, PE, a licensed professional engineer with more than 40 years of direct experience in SIP structural engineering, manufacturing operations, installation oversight, and forensic analysis.

Many clients come to us when a project involves uncertainty. Engineering questions, documentation gaps, manufacturing challenges, or field performance concerns can slow progress and increase risk. Our role is to bring clarity to those situations and help teams move forward with confidence.

This page outlines the consulting services PGS Consulting LLC provides and the typical pricing structure used for most engagements.

Independent SIP consulting from Joe Pasma, PE. Forty years of engineering, manufacturing, and field experience behind every engagement.

SIP & Advanced Building Consulting Services

PGS Consulting LLC provides consulting services that support Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) systems across engineering, manufacturing, installation, and long-term performance. Our work focuses on helping project teams develop clear documentation, reliable systems, and practical solutions that improve outcomes in both production and the field.

Rather than providing templates or partial frameworks, PGS Consulting develops complete, ready-to-use documentation and system guidance that teams can implement immediately. This may include engineering review, manufacturing quality systems, installation guidance, or technical documentation that supports code compliance and consistent performance.

The consulting services outlined below are organized into several categories that reflect the most common areas where manufacturers, builders, architects, and project teams need experienced SIP consulting support.

  • Clear, engineering-informed systems that support compliance, performance, and long-term reliability.

    Typical services include:

    • SIP structural engineering project evaluation

    • Review of load paths and structural design for snow, wind, and seismic forces

    • Interpretation of regional building code requirements

    • Guidance on product evaluation reports and compliance documentation

    • Technical review aligned with building science principles

    • Coordination with licensed PEs, EOR’s

    Learn about our pricing and fees

  • Strong manufacturing systems are the foundation of consistent, compliant production — in SIPs and beyond.

    Typical services include:

    • Plant layout and workflow optimization

    • Equipment selection and fabrication strategy

    • Quality control and QA system development

    • Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), Work Instruction (WI), and Form Report (FR) systems

    • Product evaluation report alignment

    • Troubleshooting production inefficiencies

    • Performance validation and compliance support

    • Production documentation

    Learn about our pricing and fees

  • Clear, field‑ready documentation improves installation quality, reduces callbacks, and supports long‑term performance.

    Typical services include:

    • Builder Best Practice documentation

    • Field‑ready installation guides

    • Publication‑grade PDFs

    • Installation guidance

    • Construction‑phase layout support

    • Field documentation

    • Installation best practice guidance

    • Construction-phase layout assistance

    • Troubleshooting installation challenges

    • Commissioning oversight

    • Blower door testing and air-sealing validation

    • Performance verification prior to finish installation

    Learn about our pricing and fees

  • For manufacturers, associations, and multi‑party groups, PGS provides structured, research‑driven support.

    Typical services include:

    • SIP and geofoam product selection consulting

    • Alignment with insulation and performance goals

    • Constructability evaluation

    • Budget-performance balancing

    • Manufacturer coordination

    • Regulatory and code‑pathway roadmaps

    Learn about our pricing and fees

  • When a system fails — structurally, thermally, or through moisture intrusion — clients need more than a diagnosis. They need a clear, engineering‑informed plan to repair the issue safely, efficiently, and permanently.

    Forensic repair analysis is where engineering, building science, installation knowledge, and field experience converge. This is not litigation support (that lives in the Expert Witness section). This is technical problem‑solving for clients who need answers and a path forward, not a courtroom strategy.

    Typical services include:

    • Root cause analysis

    • Field investigation and documentation

    • Structural and building‑science evaluation

    • Moisture and air‑sealing diagnostics

    • Assessment of installation deviations

    • Evaluation of manufacturing or material defects

    • Determination of failure pathways

    • Repair strategy development

    • Remediation design and sequencing

    • Coordination with engineers, contractors, and insurers

    Learn about our Forensic Services Pricing

  • Clear, unbiased, technically grounded analysis for legal teams, insurers, and dispute resolution professionals.

    Typical services include:

    • Structural failure investigation

    • Code compliance analysis

    • Manufacturing defect review

    • Installation performance evaluation

    • Technical report preparation

    • Expert witness testimony for litigation and arbitration

    Learn more about our Expert Witness Services & Pricing

Consulting Pricing & Engagement Structure

‍ ‍Forensic Repair & Remediation Planning Pricing | Expert Witness Services Fee Structure

Phase-Based Pricing

Every project is different, but most engagements follow a predictable structure. These ranges reflect the value, risk reduction, and complete systems delivered at each phase.

Phase 1 SIP Engineering & Compliance Systems
Typical Range
$5,000 – $45,000
This phase delivers the first major reduction in uncertainty. You receive clarity, direction, and a compliant engineering pathway -- the foundation every SIP project needs before moving forward.
Phase 1B SIP Manufacturing & QC Systems
Typical Range
$7,500 – $65,000
One of the highest-value phases. You receive complete, ready-to-deploy QC and manufacturing systems that strengthen compliance and consistency for years -- not templates, but fully deployable documentation built for your operation.
Phase 2 SIP Documentation & Field Systems
Typical Range
$7,500 – $40,000
Publication-grade, field-ready documentation that reduces installation errors, callbacks, and disputes. Clear systems in the field protect your project and your reputation.
Phase 3 SIP Advisory Support Optional
Typical Range
$3,000 – $7,500 / mo
Continuity, refinement, and ongoing technical guidance. Clients are paying for access to our judgment, not hours. This phase keeps experienced SIP engineering perspective available as your project evolves.
Phase 4 SIP Field Deployment Optional
Typical Range
$5,000 – $12,500 / mo
Ensures systems perform as intended in the field. We provide installation guidance, verification workflows, and on-site support so the work done in earlier phases translates to real outcomes on the ground.
Every engagement starts with a conversation. Project scope, timeline, and complexity all affect final pricing. Contact Joe directly to discuss your project -- most clients have a clear sense of their needs within one call.

Forensic Repair & Remediation Planning Pricing

Forensic repair analysis follows the same phase-based structure but uses a slightly different pricing model because the work is highly technical, investigative, and documentation-heavy. Root cause analysis, repair strategy, and remediation design require a depth of engineering judgment that flat-rate work cannot accommodate.

Phase 1 Forensic Engineering & Root Cause Analysis
Typical Range
$3,000 – $22,000
Field investigation, structural and building-science evaluation, moisture and air-sealing diagnostics, and determination of failure pathways. You receive a clear, documented picture of what failed and why -- before any remediation work begins.
Phase 2 Repair Strategy & Remediation Design
Typical Range
$4,000 – $30,000
Engineering-informed repair strategy, remediation sequencing, and coordination with contractors, engineers, and insurers. You receive a practical, implementable plan -- not a diagnosis that leaves your team guessing about next steps.
Phase 3 Field Verification & Implementation Support Optional
Typical Range
$3,000 – $7,500 / mo
Ongoing technical support as repair work proceeds. Ensures the remediation strategy is being executed correctly in the field -- and flags issues before they become additional failures.
Phase 4 On-Site Investigation or Oversight Optional
Typical Range
$3,000 – $12,500 / mo
Direct on-site presence for complex investigations, multi-day oversight, or situations where remote review is insufficient. Travel expenses are billed separately at cost.
Forensic work is not litigation support. This is technical problem-solving for clients who need answers and a path forward. If your situation involves active legal proceedings, see the Expert Witness Services section below.

Expert Witness Services

Clear, unbiased, technically grounded analysis for legal teams, insurers, and dispute resolution professionals.

PGS Consulting LLC provides independent expert witness services for legal teams, insurers, and dispute resolution professionals involved in construction and building system disputes.

Joe Pasma, PE brings more than 40 years of experience across structural engineering, manufacturing systems, installation oversight, and forensic investigation. This cross-disciplinary background allows him to evaluate technical issues from the perspectives of engineering design, manufacturing processes, and field construction.

The goal of expert witness work is straightforward: To help courts, arbitrators, and legal teams understand what happened, why it happened, and what the technical evidence shows.

PGS Consulting LLC provides independent expert witness services for legal teams, insurers, and dispute resolution professionals involved in construction and building system disputes.

Areas of Expertise

Expert witness services may involve technical analysis across several areas, including:

Structural Engineering and Code Compliance

  • Structural failure analysis

  • Load path evaluation for snow, wind, and seismic conditions

  • Code interpretation and compliance review

  • Engineering design evaluation

Manufacturing Systems and Quality Control

  • Production defects and material inconsistencies

  • Quality control system failures

  • Manufacturing workflow and documentation review

  • Product evaluation report alignment

Installation and Field Performance

  • Installation errors and constructability issues

  • Moisture, air sealing, and thermal performance concerns

  • Layout and assembly deviations

  • Commissioning and verification failures

Forensic Engineering and Failure Investigation

  • Root cause analysis

  • Multi-factor failure scenarios

  • Documentation review and reconstruction

  • Field investigation and evidence evaluation

SIP System Expertise

  • Structural Insulated Panel engineering and design

  • SIP manufacturing and production processes

  • SIP installation practices and performance failures

  • SIP code compliance and evaluation reports

Fee Structure for Expert Witness Services

Expert witness work is fundamentally different from project-based consulting. It requires rapid response, deep analysis, and availability for legal timelines. The fee structure below reflects that reality.

Hourly Rates
Typical Range
$300 – $650 / hr
Rate depends on case complexity, urgency, scope of analysis, and required testimony. Specialized forensic engineering work may exceed this range.
Rate determined at engagement start based on case specifics.
Retainer
Typical Range
$2,000 – $5,000+
Most cases require an upfront retainer before work begins. The retainer covers initial case review, consultations, and early analysis. Final amount depends on expected hours, timeline, and depth of review.
Report Preparation
Typical Range
$1,500 – $5,000
Detailed engineering or forensic reports are priced based on complexity. Reports are complete, technically defensible documents prepared to withstand scrutiny in legal and arbitration proceedings.
Court Appearances & Testimony
Typical Range
$500 – $1,000 / day
Courtroom testimony is billed per day and includes additional preparation time. Travel is billed separately. Deposition and arbitration appearances follow the same structure.
Travel Expenses
Travel is billed at cost for airfare and lodging. All other travel expenses follow the fixed rates below.
Mileage
$0.70 / mile
Within 650 miles
Airfare & Lodging
Charged at cost
No markup
Per Diem
$75 / day
Meals and incidentals
Daily Travel Fee
$500 / day
Applies to travel days, on-site days, and unavoidable layover days
Expert witness engagements start with a case review call. Retainer and hourly rates are confirmed in writing before any work begins. Contact Joe directly to discuss your case and timeline.

Joe Pasma, PE, brings more than 40 years of experience spanning SIP structural engineering, manufacturing systems, installation oversight, and forensic engineering. His cross-disciplinary background allows him to connect engineering intent, manufacturing realities, and field execution — providing practical, technically sound guidance at every stage of a project.

Reducing risk. Improving performance. Delivering clarity.


Let’s Work Together

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