Product category:
Steel and Structural Frames
News Release from: SCI (Steel Construction Institute) | Subject: Recycled paper-based insulating material
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 29 March 2004
Will Every Building Have A Green Lining?
Recycled paper-based insulating material (cellulose) could be the answer to the construction industry's need for high performance, sustainable insulation in the future.
SCI (Steel Construction Institute) has been undertaking a project to investigate existing cellulose products and application technologies in order to ascertain how they could be used in steel building and cladding systems A report is due to be published in a couple of months
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 23 Jun 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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The project was funded by WRAP (Waste Resources Action Programme) and Corus Colors and supported by Excel Fibres.
The drivers for the project include the recent changes in Part E and Part L of the Building Regulations (and the further potential changes to Part L in 2005).
The changes mean that the volume of insulation required in building systems will need to increase substantially from that required prior to 2002.
In line with this demand, the cost of existing insulants has increased considerably and this trend is set to continue.
The potential benefits that cellulose insulation offers are high thermal performance, low manufacturing energy use and high recyclability (up to seven times).
It also comes from a renewable source and has negligible impact on the environment or health when in use or when it is finally disposed of.
Waste paper is readily and cheaply available.
Cellulose fibre, recovered from this source, has a successful track record, as it has been used as an insulant in domestic loft and timber frame construction for about 20 years.
The good news is that the amount used currently in insulation is only about 1% of the newsprint produced and disposed of in the UK, so there is plenty of scope for increased use of this material.
The results of the SCI project indicate that cellulose insulation performs well in fire tests.
Excellent results were achieved in the British Standards test for resistance to fire penetration of roofs, and 30 minutes resistance was achieved in the test for wall panels.
Good results were also achieved under new European testing standards.
Tests also showed that during a winter period of 50 days, even with the lap joint between the external sheets held open, there was less interstitial condensation than has been reported for existing timber frame construction.
The SCI will shortly be holding discussions with manufacturers, contractors and clients to ascertain what steps are required to deliver steel skin systems with cellulose fibre insulation as acceptable product solutions to the market.
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