lieschen835 Aug 2015 15:56Besides EPS, stone wool or mineral wool is currently one of the most popular insulation materials. EPS mainly scores points due to its low cost and home advantage (it has been used for what feels like ages).
However, stone wool has significantly better prospects when it comes to ecological factors.
Out of curiosity, I looked into alternatives and, in addition to hemp and vacuum panels, I came across sheep wool and seaweed.
Has anyone here had any experience with these? The articles online are rather general.
I did find a supplier for seaweed insulation online and watched some videos, but I still find independent reviews much more interesting.
However, stone wool has significantly better prospects when it comes to ecological factors.
Out of curiosity, I looked into alternatives and, in addition to hemp and vacuum panels, I came across sheep wool and seaweed.
Has anyone here had any experience with these? The articles online are rather general.
I did find a supplier for seaweed insulation online and watched some videos, but I still find independent reviews much more interesting.
No personal experience, but we consulted with an architect specialized in ecological construction.
She recommended cellulose blown-in insulation or perlite loose fill. For slab insulation, crushed glass.
At the time, we had read that hemp and wool are susceptible to pests and therefore sometimes need treatment.
Vacuum insulated panels are disproportionately expensive 😉
She recommended cellulose blown-in insulation or perlite loose fill. For slab insulation, crushed glass.
At the time, we had read that hemp and wool are susceptible to pests and therefore sometimes need treatment.
Vacuum insulated panels are disproportionately expensive 😉
lieschen835 Aug 2015 16:54Thanks for your reply @BeHaElJa 🙂
I had also read about pests in wool, especially in sheep's wool. Yes, the prices of vacuum panels are really high considering that you cannot cut them to size yourself. I only mentioned them because I had never heard of them before. Cork is said to be quite popular nowadays, but if I'm not mistaken, it is flammable.
I had also read about pests in wool, especially in sheep's wool. Yes, the prices of vacuum panels are really high considering that you cannot cut them to size yourself. I only mentioned them because I had never heard of them before. Cork is said to be quite popular nowadays, but if I'm not mistaken, it is flammable.
J
jupartner8 Aug 2015 23:04Hi both,
I’m adding some more information here:
Conventional insulation materials have better thermal conductivity ratings (WLG 022 to 035) — such as EPS (expanded polystyrene), mineral wool (stone wool and glass wool), PUR (polyurethane), and phenolic foam. They can sometimes be installed thinner while providing the same insulation performance in winter. Note: WLG 035 and 032 only offer a real advantage at thicknesses of 20cm (8 inches) or more; below that, the difference is at most about 1cm (0.4 inches). Natural insulation materials like hemp, sheep wool, wood fiber, and seagrass range from WLG 040 to 050. Due to their higher density, they provide a noticeable benefit for summer heat protection starting at 10cm (4 inches) thickness. Glass wool and stone wool perform worst in this regard. The recycled cellulose insulation (WLG 040) is one of the best for summer heat protection and is also very affordable (if installation costs are accounted for), because it goes in very quickly. All these materials are approved and well-tested.
Although it might seem logical that natural materials attract more pests, I can’t confirm that from experience. When we remove glass wool insulation from roofs, we regularly find nests and all kinds of things inside. Styrofoam is also great for nest building, as I’ve noticed several times. You should protect any insulation material from pests using perforated metal sheets and other external finishes depending on the application.
Price-wise, natural insulation sometimes costs significantly more than artificial types, partly because they are produced in much smaller quantities.
Fire safety has been tested and is approved for all materials; glass and stone wool are the only ones that are completely non-combustible.
So, I hope this gives you some useful input for your decisions.
Best regards,
Susanne Junghans
I’m adding some more information here:
Conventional insulation materials have better thermal conductivity ratings (WLG 022 to 035) — such as EPS (expanded polystyrene), mineral wool (stone wool and glass wool), PUR (polyurethane), and phenolic foam. They can sometimes be installed thinner while providing the same insulation performance in winter. Note: WLG 035 and 032 only offer a real advantage at thicknesses of 20cm (8 inches) or more; below that, the difference is at most about 1cm (0.4 inches). Natural insulation materials like hemp, sheep wool, wood fiber, and seagrass range from WLG 040 to 050. Due to their higher density, they provide a noticeable benefit for summer heat protection starting at 10cm (4 inches) thickness. Glass wool and stone wool perform worst in this regard. The recycled cellulose insulation (WLG 040) is one of the best for summer heat protection and is also very affordable (if installation costs are accounted for), because it goes in very quickly. All these materials are approved and well-tested.
Although it might seem logical that natural materials attract more pests, I can’t confirm that from experience. When we remove glass wool insulation from roofs, we regularly find nests and all kinds of things inside. Styrofoam is also great for nest building, as I’ve noticed several times. You should protect any insulation material from pests using perforated metal sheets and other external finishes depending on the application.
Price-wise, natural insulation sometimes costs significantly more than artificial types, partly because they are produced in much smaller quantities.
Fire safety has been tested and is approved for all materials; glass and stone wool are the only ones that are completely non-combustible.
So, I hope this gives you some useful input for your decisions.
Best regards,
Susanne Junghans
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