Wood fiber insulation is a $700 million market in Europe, and now it’s finally entering the US building industry. In this video, we’re going to look at how it’s made, the different types available and it’s pros and cons.
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Chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:26 Wet manufacturing process
1:15 Dry manufacturing process
1:45 LDF, MDF, HDF
2:24 Gutex products
4:10 Advantages
5:40 Water, fire resistance
7:20 Disadvantages
7:59 Conclusion
Wood fiber insulation board is composed of ground up post-industrial waste, recycled wood chips and shavings. A large magnet removes any magnetic impurities before the wood is shredded into small pieces. After that step, the wood fiber can be processed 2 ways, a wet or dry method.
In the wet-process, wood chips are boiled with water and chemicals which break them down into fibers. Sugars which can attract fungus and mold are removed, the slurry is poured on to a sieve and compressed to remove as much water as possible. Steam softens the natural lignin and bonds the fibers together. In the dry process ground up wood fibers are mixed with a synthetic polyurethane glue or resin binder called PMDI (polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate). The mixture is laid on a conveyor belt and compressed to the correct thickness and density and then steam is applied to cure the boards.
Gutex Multitherm is an exterior and interior product that can be used on roofs and walls. Gutex Ultratherm is an exterior product used on roofs. Gutex Thermowall is an exterior and interior product that can be used on roofs, walls and floors. Gutex Thermoflex is a flexible interior product that can be used between rafters and studs. Gutex Thermofiber is a blown-in loosefill product that can be used between rafters and studs.
It’s marketed as a safe, natural, high performing alternative to many synthetic options. Wood is also a renewable resource and natural carbon sink which means that it absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. These products are carbon negative in Europe. Gutex also uses wood chips and shaving from nearby sawmills to reduce transportation energy consumption.
It has a low thermal conductivity which means that it doesn’t allow heat to pass through easily. It also has a high thermal storage capacity, almost ten times that of mineral wool due to its high density. This means that it stores heat during the day and slowly releases it to the interior at night.
They also have good dimensional stability and low thermal drift. Even this flexible insulation bounces right back after being compressed. They barely shed, they’re not messy or itchy and they have no VOCs.
Gutex also has a very good perm rating, around 44perms per inch. It allows water vapor to pass through the boards, preventing condensation in the wall assembly, unlike foam boards. The boards can hold up to 15% of their weight in moisture without losing their insulation capacity, then, when the air is dry, the moisture escapes, reducing the risk of mold formation. If you haven’t watched my video on perm ratings, I’ll link it up here.
They have surprisingly good water repellency because of the paraffin content. Water puddled on the surface and rolled right off. It did not soak through or discolor. Thermoflex insulation absorbed some water but it did not lose its integrity or loft. They have good fire resistance too. While they did blacken, the fire did not spread and it was extinguished immediately. The smell of burning wood brought back memories of the laser cutter in architecture school. These products have good acoustic properties because of their high densities and open porosity.
Now for the disadvantages. It’s more expensive right now. Multitherm 40 costs $1.80 per square foot with an R value of 5.7, compared to Rockwool Comfortboard which is $1.20 per sq ft with an R value of 6. It’s also designed for the metric system, and is incompatible with the 4 foot grid used in the States. However, the tongue and groove joints means that seams don’t have to land on framing members. It’s not widely available so you have to account for significant lead times once you place your order. It’s also sold by the pallet, so you have to buy it in large quantities.
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#woodfiber #insulation #mineralwool #fiberglass #gutex #ecofriendly #green
