Acoustic and Thermal Insulating Materials Based On Natural Fibres Used in Floor Construction

Authors: J. Hroudova, J. Zach

Abstract:

The majority of contemporary insulation materials commonly used in the building industry is made from non-renewable raw materials; furthermore, their production often brings high energy costs. A long-term trend as far as sustainable development is concerned has been the reduction of energy and material demands of building material production. One of the solutions is the possibility of using easily renewable natural raw material sources which are considerably more ecological and their production is mostly less energy-consuming compared to the production of normal insulations (mineral wool, polystyrene). The paper describes the results of research focused on the development of thermal and acoustic insulation materials based on natural fibres intended for floor constructions. Given the characteristic open porosity of natural fibre materials, the hygrothermal behaviour of the developed materials was studied. Especially the influence of relative humidity and temperature on thermal insulation properties was observed.

Keywords: Green thermal and acoustic insulating materials, natural fibres, technical hemp, flax, floor construction.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1096817

References:

[1] A. Korjenic, V. Petranek, J. Zach, J. Hroudova, “Development and performance evaluation of natural thermal-insulation materials composed of renewable resources”, Energy and Buildings, vol. 43, issue 9, 2011, pp. 2518-2523.
[2] A. Korjenic , T. Bednar, “Developing a model for fibrous building materials”, Energy and Buildings, vol. 43, issue 11, 2011, pp. 3189- 3199.
[3] C. MacDougall, “Natural Building Materials in Mainstream Construction: Lessons from the U. K”, In Journal of Green Building, vol. 3, Issue: 3, 2008, pp. 3-14.
[4] Climate Action (online). Last revision 10th of September 2012, Online on: .
[5] K. Kabele, “Review of the European Directive 2002/91 / EC on the energy performance of buildings”. In TZB-info (online), Online on: .
[6] S. Stastnik, J. Zach, “Testing of insulation materials”, 1. Issue. Brno University of Technology, Faculty of Civil Engineering, CERM, 2002.
[7] EN 822 Thermal insulating products for building applications - Determination of length and width, 2013, CEN.
[8] EN 823 Thermal insulating products for building applications - Determination of thickness, 2013, CEN.
[9] EN 12085 Thermal insulating products for building applications - Determination of linear dimensions of test specimens, 2013, CEN.
[10] EN 1602 Thermal insulating -- Products for building applications. Determination of the apparent density, 2013, CEN.
[11] EN12667 Thermal performance of building materials and products - Determination of thermal resistance by means of guarded hot plate and heat flow meter methods - Products of high and medium thermal resistance, 2001, CEN.
[12] ISO 8301 Thermal insulation -- Determination of steady-state thermal resistance and related properties -- Heat flow meter apparatus, 2010, CEN.
[13] EN 12086 Thermal insulating products for building applications - Determination of water vapor transmission properties, 2013, CEN.
[14] EN 826:2013 Thermal insulating - Products for building applications - Determination of compression behavior, 2013, CEN.
[15] EN 1607 Thermal insulating products for building applications - Determination of tensile strength perpendicular to faces, 2013, CEN.
[16] ISO 9052-1 Acoustics - Determination of dynamic stiffness - Part 1: Materials used under floating floors in dwellings, 1993, CEN.
[17] J. Vejeliene, A. Gailius, S. Vejelis, et. al. “Evaluation of Structure Influence on Thermal Conductivity of Thermal Insulating Materials from Renewable Resources”, Materials Science-Medziagotyra. In National Conference on Materials Engineering, vol. 17, Issue 2, 2011, pp. 208-212.