Technical Performance Overview of Bio-Based Insulation Materials Compared to Expanded Polystyrene
The energy efficiency of buildings is well documented. However, to improve standards of energy efficiency, the embodied energy of materials included in the envelope is also increasing. Natural fibers like wood and hemp are used to make low environmental impact insulation products. Technical characte...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-04-01
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| Series: | Buildings |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/10/5/81 |
| _version_ | 1797569565043982336 |
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| author | Cassandra Lafond Pierre Blanchet |
| author_facet | Cassandra Lafond Pierre Blanchet |
| author_sort | Cassandra Lafond |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The energy efficiency of buildings is well documented. However, to improve standards of energy efficiency, the embodied energy of materials included in the envelope is also increasing. Natural fibers like wood and hemp are used to make low environmental impact insulation products. Technical characterizations of five bio-based materials are described and compared to a common, traditional, synthetic-based insulation material, i.e., expanded polystyrene. The study tests the thermal conductivity and the vapor transmission performance, as well as the combustibility of the material. Achieving densities below 60 kg/m<sup>3</sup>, wood and hemp batt insulation products show thermal conductivity in the same range as expanded polystyrene (0.036 kW/mK). The vapor permeability depends on the geometry of the internal structure of the material. With long fibers are intertwined with interstices, vapor can diffuse and flow through the natural insulation up to three times more than with cellular synthetic (polymer) -based insulation. Having a short ignition times, natural insulation materials are highly combustible. On the other hand, they release a significantly lower amount of smoke and heat during combustion, making them safer than the expanded polystyrene. The behavior of a bio-based building envelopes needs to be assessed to understand the hygrothermal characteristics of these nontraditional materials which are currently being used in building systems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:13:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-671951b144c2417281731cbec0966676 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:13:10Z |
| publishDate | 2020-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj.art-671951b144c2417281731cbec09666762023-11-19T22:46:48ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092020-04-011058110.3390/buildings10050081Technical Performance Overview of Bio-Based Insulation Materials Compared to Expanded PolystyreneCassandra Lafond0Pierre Blanchet1Department of Wood and Forest Sciences, Laval University, Québec, QC G1V0A6, CanadaDepartment of Wood and Forest Sciences, Laval University, Québec, QC G1V0A6, CanadaThe energy efficiency of buildings is well documented. However, to improve standards of energy efficiency, the embodied energy of materials included in the envelope is also increasing. Natural fibers like wood and hemp are used to make low environmental impact insulation products. Technical characterizations of five bio-based materials are described and compared to a common, traditional, synthetic-based insulation material, i.e., expanded polystyrene. The study tests the thermal conductivity and the vapor transmission performance, as well as the combustibility of the material. Achieving densities below 60 kg/m<sup>3</sup>, wood and hemp batt insulation products show thermal conductivity in the same range as expanded polystyrene (0.036 kW/mK). The vapor permeability depends on the geometry of the internal structure of the material. With long fibers are intertwined with interstices, vapor can diffuse and flow through the natural insulation up to three times more than with cellular synthetic (polymer) -based insulation. Having a short ignition times, natural insulation materials are highly combustible. On the other hand, they release a significantly lower amount of smoke and heat during combustion, making them safer than the expanded polystyrene. The behavior of a bio-based building envelopes needs to be assessed to understand the hygrothermal characteristics of these nontraditional materials which are currently being used in building systems.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/10/5/81bio-basedfire behaviorhempthermal conductivitythermal insulationvapor permeability |
| spellingShingle | Cassandra Lafond Pierre Blanchet Technical Performance Overview of Bio-Based Insulation Materials Compared to Expanded Polystyrene Buildings bio-based fire behavior hemp thermal conductivity thermal insulation vapor permeability |
| title | Technical Performance Overview of Bio-Based Insulation Materials Compared to Expanded Polystyrene |
| title_full | Technical Performance Overview of Bio-Based Insulation Materials Compared to Expanded Polystyrene |
| title_fullStr | Technical Performance Overview of Bio-Based Insulation Materials Compared to Expanded Polystyrene |
| title_full_unstemmed | Technical Performance Overview of Bio-Based Insulation Materials Compared to Expanded Polystyrene |
| title_short | Technical Performance Overview of Bio-Based Insulation Materials Compared to Expanded Polystyrene |
| title_sort | technical performance overview of bio based insulation materials compared to expanded polystyrene |
| topic | bio-based fire behavior hemp thermal conductivity thermal insulation vapor permeability |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/10/5/81 |
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