Q. I’ve not heard of natural fibre insulations before, are they new?
A. Natural fibres have been used for insulation for many decades, with several European countries leading the way thanks to policies that encourage their use. There is great potential for wider uptake here in the UK.
Q. Are natural fibre insulations more expensive than man-made options?
A. Some natural fibre insulations may have a higher upfront cost, but they offer many technical and environmental benefits such as operational energy savings, making positive contributions to the health of the building and its occupants, and having lower whole life carbon than alternatives. All of these deliver long-term value.
Q. Won’t natural fibres burn?
A. It’s easy to think that, because natural fibres are made from materials such as wood, they will burn quickly. This isn’t the case. Most natural fibre insulations smoulder in a very slow and predictable way ensuring a robust fire solution. The fibres in natural fibre insulation are generally treated with mineral fire retardants to enhance their natural charring properties and improve fire performance.
Q. Do I need to understand terms like ‘diffusion resistance’, ‘hygroscopic’, and ‘capillary action’ to grasp moisture movement in buildings?
A. These terms all relate to how materials handle moisture, but for most purposes, it’s enough to understand vapour openness and moisture buffering.
- Diffusion resistance: how easily water vapour moves through a material.
- Hygroscopic: a material that absorbs and releases moisture from the air.
- Capillary action: how tiny pores move liquid water through a material.
Natural fibre insulations are vapour open and buffer moisture well, helping manage everyday humidity safely.
MORE FAQS COMING SOON!
Find out more about natural fibre insulation at asbp.org.uk/group/natural-fibre-insulation.