Enhancing High Performance Building Assemblies:

The Potential of Wood Fibre Insulation to Optimise

High Performance Construction

Niall Crosson

Building Physics Engineer MEngSc, BTech, MIEI

Ecological Building Systems

Copyright Materials

This presentation is protected by US and International

Copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, display and

use of the presentation without written permission of the

speaker is prohibited.

© Ecological Building Systems Ltd 2013

Canadian Wood Council, Wood WORKS! and the Wood Solutions Fair is a

Registered Provider with The American Institute of Architects Continuing

Education System; the Architectural Institute of British Columbia and the

Engineering Institute of Canada. Credit earned on completion of this program will

be reported on behalf of members of each CES provider for those who complete

a participation form at the registration counter. Certificates of Completion for

non-AIA, AIBC or EIC members are available on request.

This program is registered with the AIA/CES for continuing professional

education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or

construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of

construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing

in any material or product. Questions related to specific materials, methods, and

services will be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.

Program Education Credit Information

Presentation Outline

• Ecological Building Systems Company Background

• History & Development of Wood Fibre Insulation

• Manufacturing Methods for Wood Fibre Insulation

• Building Types and Applications

• Material Properties of Wood Fibre Insulation

• Site Considerations (Fire, Moisture,Handling)

• Installation of Wood Fibre Insulation

• Use in High Performance and Conventional Construction

• Wood Fibre Insulation in Building Refurbishment

• Wood Fibre Insulation: Market Penetration

• Future Developments

• Questions

• Parent company: MacCann and Byrne (Est. 1906). Based in Athboy, Co Meath, Ireland

• Ecological Building Systems established in the year 2000

• Import and distribute high performance diffusion open airtightness systems & a range of ecological insulation & building materials

Company Background

Ireland:

UK:

Company Background

Primary European Woodfibre Board Producers

Woodfibre boards have been used since the early part of the 20th century prior to WW2

GUTEX are Located in Gutenburg, Germany, in the Black Forest

Family owned and operated since 1920

In 1932, began to manufacture wood fibreboards

They now produce 14 different wood fibre insulation products

Today, 130 employees, 4 shift-operation, 7 days a week

History of Woodfibre Board Insulation

Woodfibre Board Insulation Manufacturing

• Wet Production

• Dry Production

Wet produced and dry produced woodfibre insulation

Material contents of Wood Fibre Insulation

Wet Process Manufacturing

Wet Process Manufacturing

Wet Process Manufacturing

Wet Process Manufacturing

Wet Process Manufacturing

Wet Process Manufacturing

Wet Process Manufacturing

Wet Process Manufacturing

Dry Process Manufacturing

Dry Process Manufacturing

Dry Process Manufacturing

Dry Process Manufacturing

Dry Process Manufacturing

Dry Process Manufacturing

Dry Process Manufacturing

Dry Process Manufacturing

Dry Process Advantages

Homogeneous composition (single-ply)

Up to 240 mm thick

Increased tensile strength with relatively low

density

Improved dimensional accuracy

Homogeneous composition (single-

ply)

Up to 240 mm thick

Increased tensile strength with relatively low

density

Improved dimensional

accuracy

Diffusion open: µ = 3 (wet produced boards

µ = 5)

Dry Process Advantages

Homogeneous composition (single-

ply)

Up to 240 mm thick

Requires 40 % less energy

Increased tensile strength with relatively low

density

Improved dimensional

accuracy

Diffusion open: µ = 3

Dry Process Advantages

0%

50%

100%

Wet Process

Thermosafe 100mm

Dry Process

Thermosafe-homogen 100mm

Energy Required by the Different

Manufacturing Processes

Energy consumption

for manufacture per

metric tonne = 100%

Energy

consumption for

manufacture per

metric tonne =

60%

Homogeneous composition (single-

ply)

Up to 240 mm thick

Requires 40 % less energy

Increased tensile strength with relatively low

density

Improved dimensional

accuracy

94 – 96 % wood composition

Diffusion open: µ = 3

Dry Process Advantages

Product Composition

According to

Manufacturing Process

Woodfibre Board Areas of Application

04

Certification and Compliance Control

Quality seals and certificates for environment-friendly and healthy building materials

Scope: Environment – Health – Function (composition and emissions)

Material Properties of Woodfibre Board Insulation

Insulating Properties

Low Thermal Conductivity (from 0.037W/mK to 0.05W/mK) Airtightness Wind Tightness

Heat Protection

Heat Storage Capacity Airtightness Wind Tightness

Soundproofing

Fibrous structure Density Flexibility

Fire Resistance

Structural protection and behaviour when in contact with fire

Sustainability

Components Raw Material

Recyclable

Waste Code Reuse

Healthy Living Climate

Diffusion open Vapour transfer Vapour Storage Capillary Active

Insulation in Winter

Protect against heat and cold

Improve comfort of indoor environment

Save limited and expensive resources

Reduce carbon emissions

Improve building durability

Increase the value of houses

WHY thermal insulation?

Average heat loss in non-refurbished buildings

Walls

35%

Windows

16%

Cellars

7%

Roofs

42%

Comparison of thermal resistance of 100mm thick insulation

0 1 2 3 4 5

Woodfibre

XPS

EPS

Mineral Wool

Standard FG

PUR

R value of 100mm Insulation

€0.00€5.00

€10.00€15.00

€20.00€25.00

PUR

FIBREGLASS

Mineral Wool

EPS

XPS

WOODFIBRE

€ Cost per m2 for 100mm Thickness

20-60% embedded cost

for transport to Ireland

Insulation in Summer

Design principles which assist in protecting against overheating:

Carefully design, position and size windows relative to the sun

Install windows with sunshades

Employ wind-tight and airtight building design and practices

Design and build ventilated constructions

(exterior walls and roofs)

Insulation in Summer

Wood fibre

Insulation

(Thermal

buffer)

Conventi-

onal

insulation

Wood fibre Insulation –

Effective Protection Against the Summer‘s Heat

Insulation in Summer

How can insulation contribute to this?

• Low thermal conductivity (λ in W/mK)

• High Denisty ( m3/Kg)

• High Specific heat capacity (c in J/kgK)

Thermal Conductivity ()

Density () * Specific Heat Capacity(c)

Thermal diffusivity (a) =

The lower the thermal diffusivity the better the summer heat protection and the

thermal insulation in winter.

Woodfibre provides the optimum combination of heat protection in Summer and

thermal insulation in winter.

Insulation in Summer

Insulation in Summer

Time lag and decrement factor with 180-mm Woodfibre insulation (density 110Kg/m3):

Outdoor Air Temperature

Indoor Air Temperature

Time Lag (10 hours)

Time lag = 10 hours

Decrement (1/TAV) = 21 °C divided by 3 °C = 7

Time (24-h clock)

Time (24-h clock)

The same volumetric heat capacity, BUT very different thicknesses

Woodfibre Softboard (110 kg/m3)

10 cm

Glass/ Mineral Wool ( 110 kg/m3)

91 cm

Insulation in Summer

Heat Storage Capacity Test

Demonstrating Heat Storage Capacity of Woodfibre, Mineral wool and Polystyrene

Protection against heat in summer time lag in hours

Blown Woodfibre/

Flexible

Woodfibre Batts

Woodfibre Weather Resistant Board

35 mm 50 mm 80 mm 100 mm

180 mm 9.3 10.3 10.4 11.4 12.6 13.6 14.0 15.0

200 mm 9.9 11.0 11.0 12.1 13.2 14.3 14.6 15.7

220 mm 10.5 11.7 11.6 12.8 13.8 15.0 15.2 16.4

240 mm 11.0 12.4 12.1 13.5 14.4 15.7 15.8 17.1

Bulk density:

Blown Woodfibre = 35 kg/m³

Flexible woodfibre batts = 45 kg/m³

Insulation in Summer

Dealing with Moisture

No condensation

Pleasant indoor environment

Simplified functional diagram

Moisture Diffusion

Irish Weather!

Dealing with Moisture on Site

Dealing with Moisture on Site

• All external boards are fully impregnated

• Hygrophobic qualities

• Boards with T&G profiles enhance water resistance

• Can be left exposed up to 12 weeks!

Dealing with Moisture on Site

Training Essential

Fire Resistance

• Chars rather than melts

• Charring rate can be predicted

• Protects structural elements for longer periods

• High thermal mass inhibits heat penetration

Fire Resistance

Fire Resistance Test

After 10 Minutes

Temperature on reverse of Insulation:

Woodfibre: 151 oF

Stonewool: 502 oF

Fire Resistance on site

Torch on flat roof membrane gone wrong!

Acoustic Insulation

Wood Fibre Acoustic Insulation

• High density

• Fibrous characteristics

• Tongued and Grooved joints further reduce sound

transmission (more airtight)

• Effective airborne & impact sound resistance

Acoustic solutions for Roofs, Walls and Floors

Sustainability

Innovative and environmentally friendly manufacturing process

Less additives

Biologically harmless (natureplus©-approved)

Integrated quality and Environmental management system

Raw material from sustainably managed forests

Environmental Product Declaration (EPD’s) documents available from some

manufacturers

Environmental Sustainability

Comparative_Study_of_Building_Materials,_Minka_McInerney 2011

Environmental Sustainability

Application on certified Passivhaus constructions in Ireland and the UK

Conventional Domestic Projects.

Domestic Buildings, Ireland

Woodfibre on walls and roofs

Non Domestic Projects

• Buildings virtually all timber

• CLT Structure

• 100mm woodfibre on walls

• 142mm woodfibre on roofs

Flimwell Studios, UK

Woodland Trust Headquarters, Grantham

•282mm woodfibre on external walls

•180mm woodfibre on roof

•RIBA Award 2011

•BREEAM Excellent

Non Domestic Projects

Refurbishment projects

• Protected Structure, Heritage

Building

• Hygrothermal modelling to

assist confirm compatibility

• 80mm Woodfibre on inside of

solid masonry walls

Warrenmount Convent, Dublin, Ireland

Refurbishment projects

• Mass concrete walls 200mm thick

• Built in 1930’s & featured modern architect of the time

• 140mm Woodfibre applied directly to the outside of solid walls

Indian Ambassador's Residence, Dublin, Ireland

Refurbishment projects

Sample Roof Assembly

Pitched Roof Insulation

From the inside:

• Internal Drywall boards

• 25mm Service batten

• Sealed Vapour Control Layer (e.g. pro clima INTELLO PLUS)

• 220mm Flexible woodfibre insulation between rafters

• 60mm Wood Fibre Softboard external insulation

R value: ~ 36

Best Exterior Building Product 2013

Sample Wall Assembly

From inside:

• Internal Drywall

• 60mm insulated service zone

• Pre-lined internal racking board

• 225mm Flexible woodfibre Insulation

• 80mm Wood Fibre Insulation

• 50mm Vented Cavity

• Timber Cladding

U Value < 0.15 W/m2K

Wood Fibre Insulation Growth

Total Woodfibre Insulation Sales Since 2012

Woodfibre Insulation Growth: Reasons

• Increasing legislative requirements for high thermal performance (EPBD)

• Environmental rating of building materials (BREEAM, LEED, DNGB,

LBC)

• Development of Woodfibre technology and solutions

• Reduced costs as market volume & competition increases

• Raw material sourced from renewable resource with low embodied

energy

• A closed loop life cycle. Cradle to cradle (Product easily recyclable &

reused)

• Increased awareness regarding technical advantages

The Future: The Development of Woodfibre Insulation

Factory Applied Wood Fibre Insulation

Pre-assembled window reveal

boards

The Future: The Development of Woodfibre Insulation

Injected wood fibre insulation.

The Future: Educating Tomorrows Designers

Colleges, Universities & Technical Academies Training Tomorrow’s Architects & Trades People

Further Information:

• www.greenspec.co.uk

• www.aecb.net

• www.igbc.ie

• www.passivhaustrust.co.uk

• www.phai.ie

• http://www.natureplus.org/en/natureplus/

• http://www.sentinel-haus.eu/en/

• www.asbp.org.uk

• http://www.holzfaser.org/

Summary

• Whether in hot and cold continental European regions or in

extreme damp/humid Ireland, woodfibre is tried, tested and

works!

• Even after additional importation costs woodfibre use is

growing in Ireland & the UK, in both domestic and non

domestic buildings, new builds and refurbishment projects.

• Canada has the raw material, the tradition in timber

construction & the expertise. Why not make it here?

This concludes the:

• American Institute of Architects

•Architectural Institute of British Columbia

• Engineering Institute of Canada

Continuing Education Systems Program

Enhancing High Performance Building Assemblies:

The Potential of Wood Fibre Insulation to Optimise High

Performance Construction

Ecological Building Systems Ltd. www.ecologicalbuildingsystems.com,

00353 469432104; niallcrosson@ecologicalbuildingsystems.com

Twitter: @ecologicalbuild

Questions/ Comments?