ᐅ Hollow clay brick or brick filled with wood fibers

Luckyluuu schrieb:

Our energy consultant says something different than the one we talked to yesterday at the brick manufacturer. According to the brick manufacturer, wood does not absorb moisture!? That was also my concern regarding moisture and potential downward slipping.

Regarding wood fiber insulation, I’m not sure if it is sensitive to moisture. Mineral wool, for example, definitely is.
Another point is drilling and chasing for flush-mounted installations. I would find out if there could be any issues with that.

And otherwise, you should basically consider how you want to build. Monolithic? External thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) / Exterior insulation and finish system (EIFS)? Cavity wall? KfW40 standard can be achieved with all three systems. But personally, I wouldn’t like to mount my outdoor lamp in polystyrene foam (which isn’t attractive in any case) or mineral wool.

WilderSueden schrieb:

I’m not sure whether wood fiber is sensitive to moisture.

Let me put it this way: hydrophobic wood probably wouldn’t be considered "natural" anymore ;-)
You could also fill the bricks with popcorn. Or with metal shavings, for those worried about electromagnetic fields. Or with helium, then the house would be lighter. There used to be more glitter.

---

https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/

11ant schrieb:

Let me put it this way: water-repellent treated wood probably wouldn't be considered "organic" anymore ;-)
You could also fill the bricks with popcorn. Or with metal shavings, for those worried about electromagnetic fields. Or with helium, then the house would be lighter. Back in the day, there was more tinsel.

So does this mean that insulation made from wood fibers is basically not a bad choice??

Forsberg21 schrieb:

Does this now mean that insulation with wood fibers is generally not bad??

It is just as good as hollow bricks, bricks filled with EPS (expanded polystyrene), or bricks filled with mineral wool.

It’s called Silvacor by Unipor and is even available for purchase. Every material has its specific application.

Forsberg21 schrieb:

Does this now mean that insulation with wood fibers is generally not a bad choice??

Exactly. As long as it's not mercury amalgam, bricks can be effectively filled with various materials. There is nothing wrong with wood fibers—in this context, you just shouldn’t romantically assume “bio” simply because it’s wood, or think of hemp as something to smoke your walls with. Filling is generally recommended for porous bricks to avoid creating resonance cavities within the walls. Whether the filling has a mint or blueberry scent is, at best, a philosophical debate on a very fine decimal place. The main point, from the bricklayer’s perspective, remains to avoid expecting red brick masons to work like white brick masons.

---

https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/

We have requested quotes for the shell construction of a single-family house with a basement and two full floors. The builder wants to use the Unipor W07 Silvacor blocks mentioned above (wall thickness 36.5 cm (14.4 inches)). Initially, I was skeptical because I thought mineral insulation within the bricks would be better.

How does it work if these bricks absorb moisture and the wood fibers become damp? Do they permanently lose their insulating properties, or do they dry out over time since the bricks are vapor-permeable?

Is there a risk that the wood fibers might attract pests?

Supposedly, the bricks with wood fiber filling also contribute somewhat to heat protection in summer. However, I am not sure if this is true.

I also have some concerns about fire safety. Is it adequately ensured with this material, or is there reason to worry?