Sheepwool Insulation - What's That All About Then?

Author: Pamela Bonsall

Author: Pamela Bonsall

With the furious drive towards ecologically sound and environmentally sustainable building products, a huge variety of eco alternatives have appeared on the market in recent years. We all know that necessity is the mother of invention but frequently, after a brief flirtation with the next new thing I give you polyester socks as shining example - we come to the realisation that Mother Nature really does know best. For thousands of years sheep have been able to adapt to the harshest of environments since their wool naturally protects them through hot, cold, damp and dry seasons. In this time man has taken advantage of wool as a material for that very reason. Because of their crimped nature, when wool fibres are packed together they form millions of tiny air pockets which trap air. This in turn serves to keep warmth in during winter and out in the summer. Wool's unique advantage is its breathability. That is its ability to absorb and release moisture from the surrounding air without compromising its thermal efficiency. When wool fibres absorb moisture they generate tiny amounts of heat. This warmth acts to prevent condensation in construction cavities by maintaining the temperature above the dew-point in damp conditions. This property creates a natural buffering effect, stabilising heat changes that occur with relative humidity. In practical terms this actually reduces the need to keep adjusting heating or cooling levels - wool insulation will naturally keep a building cooler during the day and warmer during the night. So, it keeps us warm and cool but does sheepwool insulation have any other benefits? Well, because of its construction insulation made from wool will retain its thickness and wont slump inside the cavity, one of the main contributors to improving insulation efficiency. Also, since wool contains moisture, it is fire resistant and will actually extinguish itself when the source of flame is removed. It is also a very effective airborne and structureborne acoustic insulation, significantly reducing noises that can be heard throughout a building. So what about sustainability of sheepwool insulation? As it is made from a naturally produced fibre, Sheep Wool Insulation requires less than 15% of the energy required to produce than glass fibre insulation. It can absorb and break-down indoor air pollutants, such as formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide. Wool is a sustainable and renewable resource that has zero ozone depletion potential and, at the end of its useful life, can be remanufactured or biodegraded. Sheep wool insulation is safe and easy to handle and no protective clothing or special breathing apparatus is required to install it. Material Advantages Wool is natural, renewable and sustainable Sheep Wool Insulation is perfectly safe to touch and requires no specialised safety clothing or equipment, making it easy to install It causes no irritation to the eyes, skin or lungs and wool fibres present no hazard to your health Wool fibres are breathable, meaning they can absorb and release moisture without reducing thermal performance unlike fibre glass based products Wool does not support combustion and will extinguish itself in the event of fire Sheep Wool Insulation does not settle due to the high elasticity of the wool fibres ensuring no loss of performance over time Saving Energy Wool is designed by nature to save energy Sheep Wool Insulation also requires only a fraction of the energy to produce compared to that of man-made counterparts This means that Sheep Wool Insulation will pay back its energy costs more than 5 times sooner (only 15 kW of energy are used to produce 1 m) Performance Benefits Wool has a higher fire resistance than cellulose and cellular plastic insulation It does not burn, but instead singes away from fire and extinguishes itself (Wool has a very high inflammation point of 560C due to its high Nitrogen content of ~16%) Wool is self extinguishing because of its high Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI=25.2), which means to completely burn wool an oxygen content of 25.2% is necessary whereas air only has 21% Wool fibres are hygroscopic by nature, meaning the can absorb up to 35% of their own weight from the surrounding atmosphere depending on the humidity, helping to preserve the surrounding timbers. While absorbing this moisture, wool releases energy in the form of heat, thus raising the temperature of its surrounding areas. Naturally releasing this moisture in the warmer seasons, wool creates a cooling effect on the same surroundings. Sheep Wool Insulation rolls are produced to standard width requirements saving time when fitting Multiple layered wool fibres effectively reduce airborne sound transfer To read more about why wool is the best choice for homeowners, builders and professionals please follow the links.About the Author:

Pamela Bonsall is Co-Director of Blue Evolution Limited, manufacturers and suppliers of a range of hardwood flooring, wood accessories and ecological building products. Blue Evolution is the official UK Distributor for Sheepwool Insulation Limited who are based in Ireland.

http://www.blue-evolution.com/consumables/index.php

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