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Types of ecological insulations
Nine hundred percent of the insulators used in construction are made of mineral wool, glass wool or alveolar plastic (polystyrene, polyurethane) and their thermal or acoustic performances are high. However, the interest in ecological insulators is increasing in some countries, these being made up of natural, recyclable or biodegradable materials. The article below proposes a short review of the last ones with details of their origin, composition and their qualities.
A mention is required from the beginning of this material. We provide this information for those who want to document about the materials considered as ecological, as an alternative to the majority preferences. But the modern materials are very appropriate in a number of cases and their current efficiency is incontrovertible. Do not forget that the hydro, thermal and sound insulation systems which are used today, regardless of the materials they are made of, are in place precisely because they benefit from a number of qualities, being the result of technological advances and thorough research.
The insulation field is vast, the characteristics and the installation of the insulating materials vary greatly depending on the type of house or building in which they are used, the geographical area where it is located, the area in which it is used, etc.
The products and techniques have improved continuously over time, with the constructive goal being the efficiency and energy saving of each building. If there is a debate about the quality of a product or material, the reasons may also be related to the purpose they are used for, the installation system, the climate area in which they are applied, the regulations in force, and accepted, so when you choose a system or another, ask for details based on these factors and opt for professional fitters.
Increasing the energy prices and the depletion of the oil reserves make the thermo-insulation absolutely necessary today, either in new buildings, or rehabilitation of old ones. The other considerations are the resistance to time, the noxiousness, sustainable development, price and quality, and the balance between all is a choice that depends on each individual beneficiary.
Insulators based on sheep wool
The pure virgin wool should be washed and treated against the moths before being pulled in rolls which are used in the thermal insulation. The sheep wool has the capacity to absorb up to 25% moisture (33% from other sources) of its weight and to return it without losing its properties.
Offering a constant thermal efficiency and maintaining its dry surface, the wool still has the advantage of the fiber elasticity (which can fill any space) and that it is also a good soundproofing insulator. As organic properties, the wool connects a surprisingly large amount of various emissions in the atmosphere (formaldehyde, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, etc.) and turns them into harmless compounds.
The protection against fire, insects and fungi can be ensured tothe thermal insulating materials made of wool by further treatments, which must also be made with natural compounds to preserve the ecological qualities. Placing the wool bands is done by manually cutting rolls and clamping them with clips, but for narrow spaces, such as cracks, door and windows holes, the wool scrolls can be used.
Insulators based on hemp or flax
The hemp defibrillation gives rise to a material called “boon” that is used in the thermal insulation of the roofs, floors or walls. One of its advantages is the mechanical resistance to breaking (from hemp has been made ropes since the earliest times thanks to this property). The clean and almost dust-free process, the fact that it does not cause skin irritation and the good insulation values make this product a construction material which does not affect the health of those who assemble it.
Ecologically speaking, it is a perfectly recyclable, non-flammable and non-rotting product. In addition, the hemp is indigestible to the rodents. Due to the fact that hemp fibers do not contain albumin, there is no need to treat it against the moths and bugs. It is in the form of mattresses and rollers cut on sizes, so the pieces must be chosen on the required sizes to fit perfectly with the specific application. For this purpose, the limit gauge distance between beams or rafters is measured, with an extra addition of approximately 2-3 cm.
Insulators based on wood fibers
The wood fibers resulting from the remaining residues of the cuttings are humidified, then pressed and dried to obtain soft or hard fiber boards. The binder used is the lignite, and no flame retardants, fungicides or pesticides are used in manufacturing, and the fact that it does not contain noxious substances for the environment and confers it ecological properties. The wood fibers are very good thermal and acoustic insulators, and the semi-rigid panels obtained from them have a grooved structure that allows them to be used for the insulation between the rafters, the interior or exterior insulation of the walls.
Some wood fiber panels can be placed between or on the rafters in the roof insulation, and they can be fitted with a rigid screen, also made of wood fibers and impregnated with bitumen (which contributes to the thermo-acoustic insulation). Other areas of use of wood fibers are, depending on the product: as plasterboard, as rain resistant roof boarding, for exterior plating or in interior compartments in dry construction systems. The material breathes naturally and it is recyclable.
Insulators based on cork
The cork is a tree with renewable bark, this bark can be sampled once every eight or ten years and is the raw material for the “cork” we know. However, it should be taken into consideration that there are several categories of insulating products that can be obtained on the basis of the cork tree waste: there is a black cork (expanded cork waste), congested cork rollers, crowded cork boards and the cork rollers. Other construction products can also be obtained from this raw material, which is also extremely used in decorations, floor coverings, etc. It is a good thermal and sound insulator, sold in the form of panels and granules.
There are special products for the sound insulation (especially for impact sound protection) and thermal insulation of the flooring. The cork is not attacked by rodents or termites. The ease of the material (due to its cellular structure), resistance to compression, deformation and non-flammable character are constructive qualities which are added to the ecological ones (antistatic, recyclable, stable to chemical agents material).
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