Hi there! Not sure where to ask the question, but i wonder what are the choices in terms of insulation? I talked to somebody yesterday would said that natural insulant are much better to avoid over-heating in the summer (but still good in the winter), I wondered if that’s what we are going for?
We don’t know yet. The architects will ask prices for different types of insulation during the call for tender, and then it will be up to us to make the choice considering the quality, sustainability and price.
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the way I understood it (and i have the impression i misunderstood) from this presentation, p2, is that - if the natural insulation- is +/- plus 10,000 euro we will switch to natural insulation, but we need to wait for the call for tenders to know the price-surplus.
Correct, or what does it mean on p3 the +10.000?
@Sarah : what now is foreseen in the estimation by the architects is a mineral insultation (lain de roche/laine de verre).
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It is listed in that document as a decision to be taken. This means we will wait for the results of the call for tender, and then put all the mini choices like this together and make a collective decision.
@reef-coordination @reef-buildfin
I’ve prepared a proposal to add extra budget to foresee a bio based insulation material instead of a mineral insulation material.
One thing to be confirmed by francois is the extra cost.
Can anybody review?
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I did. I left a change to the text of the proposal in yellow, suggesting to consent only to the budget increase. The reasoning is that I am feeling a bit reluctant to consent to so much detail at this stage. I would prefer to first hear from the architects, which I imagine we can do at the call for tender stage.
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I don’t get what it is exactly you want to leave open.
This proposal is about consenting to a budget. The rest is a justification of this budget (which i guess you refer to as 'so much detail) and why we would want to spend this extra budget, so I think I agree, but I don’t fully understand…
It’s the text in yellow, just to make clear that this is not a decision yet about which type of insulation we are choosing.
Also, just for the sake of completeness: the question about insulation was already asked to the architects on 22/04. This is the interest of taking notes during the meetings, and keeping them all in one document.
i made an update of the proposal, changing it to an extra 25% (instead of 1/3)
Hi @els , thanks for this!
Not sure if that’s still relevant or not, but I just made a comment about flammability…
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For those interested. Here is the answer/info of l’IBGE on the question ‘what are the advantages/disadvantage of a bio based insulation material vs mineral insulation material’. (the mail can be found in the IBGE folder in the proton mailbox)
General rule of thumb if you want to go for a sustainable insulation material for thermal insulation:
- avoid composed materials (they cannot be taken apart into net fractions at the end of their life cycle)
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avoid materials and products who can lead to health risks
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favor insulation materials containing raw materials that have been recycled
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verify the composition of materials, the origin of raw materials and the compliance with applied norms (eco labels,…)
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chose materials in function of the capacity to recycle them. Get info on the waste and recycle market to get to know which materials can be recycled
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avoid the use of glue when putting the insulation in place, favor mechanical fixations.
The main advantage of the mineral insulation materials (in this case rock wool and glass wool)
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weak resistance to water vapour diffusion
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excellent resistance to moulds
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fire reaction Euroclasse A1 (not necessary for our project )
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possibility to recycle, but a branch that is little developed at this moment
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rot proof (only for rock wool)
The main disadvantages of a mineral insulation material
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raw material that is non renewable
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quite important energetic consumption for the production
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weak contribution to the summer comfort (thermal inertia). This means that this product doesn’t help a lot against the summer heat
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release of breathable fibers during the construction phase (health risk during the construction)
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the presence of a film/layer that covers the insulation , which has a negative impact on the eco-balance as well as the potential to recycle
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energy recovery: incineration and the absence of a recycling industry
Main advantage for the bio based insulation materials (here specifically for wood wool and grass fiber)
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raw material is renewable. On top of that it is a byproduct of the wood industry (valuation of waste)
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local industry (in Belgium): possibility to limit the transport distances (for grass fiber)
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wood is a source of carbon: during their life type trees stock CO²
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for grass fibre: raw material is renewable: its growth cycle is short (annual). It’s culture doesn’t use any herbicides or any other chemical inputs and only needs a weak intake of water.
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wood wool having a certificate (FSC or PEFC) which guarantees a sustainable exploitation of forest resources
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weak resistance to water vapour diffusion
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high density: high contribution to summer comfort
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good stability over time
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compostabel at the end of the life cycl , on the condition that the binding agents are of vegetable source
The main disadvantage of bio based insulation materials
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important amount of grey energy necessary (for wood wool)
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bad resistance to extended humidity
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reaction to fire: Euroclasse E
Comparison
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The bio based insulation materials are produced from raw materials that are renewable, which is not the case for mineral insulation materials
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The bio based insulation materials emit less CO2 in general than mineral insulation materials. On top of that the first capture CO2 during their growth which can partially compensate for the CO2 emission linked to their production and transport
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The bio based insulation materials are often easier to recycle or biodegradable. At the end of the life, they cause less problems on the level of waste management than mineral insulation materials which are much harder to recycle and can produce toxic waste.
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The bio based insulation materials are less harmfull in general for the interior air quality. They contain no or little volatile organic compounds.
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They have often a better capacity to regulate humidity, thanks to their hygroscopic nature, which means they can absorb and release humidity without losing their capacity to insulate. This contributes to a better thermal comfort and limits the risks of condensation and mold (This is not the case for mineral insulation materials)
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In general, bio based insulation materials are also good accoustic insulation materials, often better than of mineral insulation materials. They absorb better the sounds which improves the accoustic comfort of buildings.
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Certain bio based insulation materials (like wood wool) have a better thermal inertia, which makes it possible to better regulate inside temperatures by stocking energy and releasing it slowly. The majority of these insulation materials have a far better capacity of ‘déphasage’ than mineral insulation materials. This ‘déphasage’ allows slowing down the arrival of heat in the building during heat waves and allows keeping the freshness in the middle of summer.
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If the bio based insulation materials are well placed and protected against excessive humidity, they are sustainable and resistant againt natural dégradation. Their structure can stay stable during long periods.
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As bio based insulation materials come from renewable ressources, their use doesn’t contribute to the exhaustion of natural resources, unlike mineral insulation materials.
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In general bio based insulation materials consume less grey energy than mineral insulation materials because of the high energy needed for the fusion of sand or rock.
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