top of page

Cellulose Based Insulation Materials

06/2019

Cellulose as a sustainable material ...

Cellulose is an organic compound that forms the cell wall of plant cells (Chemical Formula C6H10O5). An important advantage of cellulose is that it is the most abundant organic polymer in the world. (one)

Cellulose is widely used in paper production. Since the years before Christ, cellulose-containing paper can be produced from the pulp formed by collecting, firing and crushing plant fibers. ( Watch "How Is Natural Paper Produced ? ")

Cellulose, which is used as paper, gains a new life when brought together, it turns into a strong and durable natural material that provides plant fiber, cellulose-based sound and heat insulation. And this insulation material offers not only a sustainable option for homes and buildings (mainly recommended for insulation of wooden frame building elements (6)), but also offers other important advantages. (2,3)

Recycled material

Every day, tons of paper is used for the production of thousands of newspapers and magazines on our planet. And after a short time it is collected or disposed of in the unwanted part of our house, office, for never being read again. However, paper and cardboard materials that have ceased to be used in this way can otherwise be recycled as cellulose-based insulation material.

Cellulose-based insulation material consists of up to 85% recycled material and requires less energy to manufacture than other types of insulation. For example, cellulose-based material becomes an advantageous and environmentally friendly choice, thanks to the abundance of waste materials that can be procured from nearby regions such as papers, newspapers, magazines, low-energy production, and the abundance of cheap raw materials without long-distance transportation costs. (2nd)

Flame resistance

Cellulose is given resistance to flammability (with fire retardant boron components) before it is used as insulation. Cellulose-based insulation material has a Class 1 fire rating as it is very effective in preventing the spread of flames. Accelerated aging tests show that cellulose-based insulation will not lose its fire resistance feature for years. (2) (Click to see how cellulose based insulation material performs against fire compared to other insulation materials)

Dense material, heat and sound insulation

Cellulose has a high density, which means it minimizes airflow to provide effective insulation. As a result, buildings will need less natural gas and / or electricity for heating in winter and cooling in summer. Its thermal conductivity value is λ = 0.037 W / mK . (The closer this value is to zero, the less thermal conductivity means) (5) At the same time, cellulose insulation can be recommended even only for sound insulation. According to the tests, cellulose-based insulation has the ability to absorb 80% or more of the noise coming from outside, depending on the type of material and the design of the wall, floor or ceiling to which it is applied. Click to watch the sound insulation test between cellulose and fiberglass materials. (7)

Health

Cellulose material, as mentioned above, is obtained from the cell wall of trees and plants from 85% natural material. However, cellulose-based insulation material is chemically mixed with non-toxic borate compounds (20% by weight) to resist fire, insects and mildew. For this reason, it may bring some concerns in terms of health. (10)

In this sense, as mentioned in the explanations of the experts, borate (even without insulation) is actually a material that is widely used in our daily life. For example, laundry detergents that we consume as a way to clean your clothes contain borate. (9) If we do not take the laundry detergent in our mouth and smell it for a long time, the harm is almost negligible. Again, small doses of borate are not toxic or toxic to humans. However, the issue that should not be forgotten in this regard is that if you intend to use this type of insulation in your home, borate-containing

It can be potentially dangerous if the insulation gets into the indoor air and circulates in your home as dust. For this reason, it must be checked that there are no leaks in the ducts of your ventilation system passing through this insulation material. (10)

Another feature of cellulose material is that it is hygroscopic (can hold excessive moisture in the air). For this reason, cellulose-based insulation material stands out as the only insulation material that can manage the humidity in the air among similar products used for the same purpose. Thus, this material can also play an active role in maintaining the indoor air humidity balance. (11) However, direct contact with water should be avoided. Therefore, it would be appropriate to turn the insulated area completely closed after the application. (8)

As a result...

By consuming less electricity and less petroleum-derived resources in your home, you not only save money, but also help reduce the amount of gas and carbon emissions that can damage the earth's ozone layer. In other words, you can contribute to the healthier and more sustainable our home, our world we all share.

resources
Selüloz esaslı yalıtım malzemesi

  1. Wikipedia, Cellulose https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulose

  2. Greenfiber, What makes cellulose a sustainable option? https://www.greenfiber.com/blog/2017/what-makes-cellulose-a-sustainable-option

  3. Izoguard, Cellulose Insulation http://www.izoguard.com.tr/seluloz-yalitim

  4. Viking House, Cellulose Insulation http://www.viking-house.ie/cellulose-insulation.html

  5. CelluBOR - Heat-Sound-Fire Insulation, What is CelluBOR? https://www.cellubor.com.tr/cellubor-nedir

  6. Warmcell, FAQ's http://www.warmcel.co.uk/faqs/

  7. Cellulose Insulation Manufacturers Association, Cellulose Insulation Provides Sound Control https://www.cellulose.org/Cellulose-Insulation-2nd.php?pagename=Sound_Control_Insulation&dirname=HomeOwners

  8. BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY, Cellulose Insulation - A Smart Choice https://bct.eco.umass.edu/publications/articles/cellulose-insulation-a-smart-choice/

  9. Borax, Boron in Cleaners and Detergents, https://www.borax.com/applications/cleaners-detergents

  10. NV Roofing, Is Cellulose Attic Insulation & Wall Insulation Containing Borate Safe? http://www.nvroofs.com/ask-a-contractor/is-cellulose-attic-insulation-wall-insulation-containing-borate-safe/

  11. Cellulose Insulation Manufacturers Association, Air / Vapor Barriers with Cellulose Insulation https://www.cellulose.org/Cellulose-Insulation-2nd.php?pagename=AirVaporBarriers&dirname=HomeOwners

bottom of page