Many of us, engaged in construction, faced the problem of choosing insulation for buildings. To date, the market offers many different types of insulation, which differ:
- in quality;
- materials of manufacture (natural or synthetic);
- by cost;
- according to the consumption of insulation material;
- according to the service life of the insulation;
- for thermal insulation properties and many other characteristics.
The most optimal option, which appeared at the beginning of the 20th century on the market of North America and Europe, is cellulose insulation, or ecowool. Consumer reviews about it are of a different nature, they are both positive and negative.
The history of cellulose insulation
The first mass production of recycled cellulose insulation was organized in Germany in 1928. Later, already in the 50s, when the boom in the construction of frame houses in North America and Europe began, the production of ecowool acquired a huge scale. The countries in which cellulose wool as a heater has gained the greatest popularity are Canada,USA, Finland, Germany, Austria, and very widely this material is used, oddly enough, in Japan. Cellulose wool in Russia was called "ecowool".
For comparison: in Finland, with a country population not exceeding 5.5 million people, the production of this insulation is almost 25 thousand tons annually, which is more than 1 million square meters of insulated buildings. The main part of the production of ecowool falls on the share of the private construction sector, which is more than 70%. Often, houses are built from modern building materials that only imitate such natural building materials as glued laminated timber, logs, natural stone, etc. Cellulose wool acts as a heater inside. So, in Finland, the share of private residential premises that are insulated with ecowool is more than 80%. This trend of using this building insulation is explained by the following:
- in a humid climate and negative air temperatures, buildings insulated with environmental insulation last much longer than synthetic ones;
-reducing the cost of repair and maintenance of premises to replace the insulation material;
- such a heater performs the functions of a thermos: it keeps warm in winter, and cool in hot summer, it also protects all buildings from microorganisms and rodents, which are the scourge of building materials.
Given the above facts, the Ministry of the Museum Department of Finland made a decision obliging all museums in the country as the main or additionalcellulose wool is used for insulation, since, having hygroscopicity, it maintains the necessary microclimate for museum exhibits and the most legally protected historical buildings.
And in North America, in particular in the USA, the number of houses insulated with ecowool reached almost 340,000 in 2005 alone.
In Russia, the distribution of cellulose wool began only in the early 90s. Both the total number of enterprises producing ecowool and the number of its consumers is steadily growing exponentially. Because consumers could be convinced of the positive qualities of cellulose and the effect obtained from its use. And the most important thing is the availability and low cost of raw materials for its production.
Structure and composition of ecowool, distinctive features
Ecowool is a heater having a capillary-porous loose structure. It consists of:
- cellulose fiber - 81%;
- flame retardants (for fire protection) – 12%
- non-volatile antiseptic materials (boric acid) – 7%.
Ecowool is produced mainly from recycled cellulose fiber, namely, waste paper.
Ecowool insulation has a gray or light gray tint.
There are other types of heaters that are similar in structure, these are:
- mineral wool;
- bas alt wool;
- glass wool;
- Styrofoam.
All these synthetic insulations containphenolic compounds, which are toxic to humans. When these materials are heated to a temperature of 250 degrees Celsius, the binder completely evaporates from them, which makes further use of the material impossible. Also, a big disadvantage of this type of insulation is that they are made from synthetic materials that do not absorb moisture remaining on the surface of the fibers. Ultimately, this leads to the formation of such problems with heaters as:
- formation of condensation on the surface;
- reproduction on the surface of fungal formations and mold;
- the formation of "cold seams" in the insulation.
Advantages of ecowool as a hygroscopic material
Ecowool, unlike synthetic materials, due to the natural capillaries of cellulose in its structure absorbs moisture by almost 14% and at the same time does not lose its qualities, like other heaters. On the contrary, it retains its qualities in a moist state, like wood, that is, it retains heat and does not freeze. For those who decide to insulate the room with ecowool, there will be no need to use a vapor barrier film, since there is no condensation on the surface.
Insulation materials made of synthetic materials (mineral, bas alt and glass wool) have the following negative properties:
- movement of air and moisture occurs through their fibers;
- moisture is not absorbed by materials, but accumulates in the form of condensate, which harms the surrounding building materials;
- to remove moisture frominsulation, it is necessary to create ways for its removal through the use of membrane vapor-tight films.
It should also be noted that cellulose wadding, when wet, does not change its volume due to the capillary structure of the fibers. That is, in the cold season, when the outside temperature is below zero and the air humidity is constantly increased, the volume of the insulation and, accordingly, the walls will not change.
When humidity changes outside, cellulose wadding compensates for the difference in humidity levels inside due to the hygroscopicity of the fiber structure. This is also important when the outside air temperature increases while the indoor temperature and humidity remain the same. In this way, the room will always be warm in winter and stay cool in the heat of summer, maintaining a favorable climate for materials and, of course, people.
Use of ecowool
Main application of cellulose wadding:
1. As heat insulation material:
- for floors of both lower and upper floors in the construction of private and apartment buildings;
- when used as an insulating plaster;
- for warming light frame structures;
-wall insulation with ecowool (consisting of several layers);
- when carrying out reconstruction work for old buildings;
2. As a soundproofing material:
- as sound-absorbing plaster;
- in the ceilings between floors;
- in wall partitions.
Ecowool is insulated basement, roofing and interfloor floors of residential premises, industrial, commercial, agricultural buildings and structures. Only internal masonry is used as facade insulation.
Comparison of ecowool properties with other types of insulation
If we compare ecowool with other heaters, we get the following ratio.
A layer of ecowool 15 cm corresponds to:
- a layer of 50 cm of wood timber;
- 46 cm foam concrete layer;
- 18 cm layer of mineral wool;
- a layer of expanded clay 90 cm and 146 cm - brickwork.
Technical parameters of such cellulose insulation as ecowool, material characteristics:
- density – 40-75 kg/m3;
- thermal conductivity – 0.036 to 0.042 W/mK
- air tightness - degree D2 (low);
- ignition - degree G2 (moderately flammable);
- Vapor resistance - 0.3mg/(M x H x Pa);
- sorption humidification - 16% for a period of 3 days;
- medium (acid-base balance) - pH=8, 3
Installation of cellulose wool
Installation is carried out in one of two ways:
- manual;
- automatic (using a blowing machine: drymethod or wet glue).
Hand laid method
This is the most common way of laying ecowool, when it is not possible to use special blowing machines for applying insulation. With this method, the cotton wool is first loosened with a hand tool, as it is pressed when packed into bags. The loosened cotton wool is laid around the entire perimeter of the surface to be insulated, or ecowool insulation is simply poured into these cavities. Reviews and comments of the masters say that for the manual installation method, an important condition is compliance with the rules for laying wool to obtain the desired insulation result. So, according to the advice of experts, the rate of laying ecowool for walls is about 70 kg per 1 m3. If ecowool is used for floors, the consumption will be 2 times less, that is, 35 kg per m3.
Automatic styling method
1. Dry mounting method. The most optimal and fastest way to apply ecowool to the surface, however, this method requires knowledge of the laying methodology from the specialists involved in its installation. To start the dry application, it is necessary to cover the inner surfaces of the frame with kraft paper or construction paper, thus obtaining a closed volume of space for filling. Cardboard or paper is attached with a stapler or construction adhesive tape, since under air pressure the paper surface can be blown out by air pressure or squeezed out by the volume of insulation.
2. Wet adhesive method of application. With this method of ecowoola solution is created using a water-adhesive (PVA-dispersion) special solution. With the help of the installation, ecowool is blown into the previously created space. Then the excess layer is cut off and dried with heat guns. The advantage of this method is that it is visual, that is, areas of filling the frame are visible.
There are also additional requirements for applying cotton this way:
- ecowool spraying in the room should take place at a temperature not lower than +5 degrees Celsius;
- complete drying should take place in the period from 2 to 5 days, while the temperature regime should not change;
- ventilation must be installed for wet vapors from insulation layers.
Additional benefits of using ecowool, reviews consumers
Ecowool is the most cost-effective option for room insulation. Since ecowool (the cost of which is much lower than other heaters) has antiseptics in its composition, this provides a longer service life, protection against damage by fungal formations and mold, and also repels rodents. Ecowool has good adhesion:
- to the tree;
- to concrete;
- to the brick;
- to glass and metal.
At the same time, it has a passive chemical environment. That is, when interacting with metals, concrete or wood, it will not cause corrosion, rust or decay. Ecowool also has fire resistance characteristics, while not emittingelevated temperatures of toxic substances dangerous to human life and he alth.
Ecowool - disadvantages
Consumer reviews are sometimes negative, primarily due to the following points:
- The process of laying the insulation is quite dusty, and for its implementation it is necessary to protect the face and respiratory tract.
- This type of insulation has great flowability, especially this negative characteristic is manifested when laying on vertical surfaces of walls and attics.
- Ecowool has a rather low density in comparison with other heaters, such as expanded clay, polystyrene, etc. Therefore, it will be unsuitable for warming "floating" floors. Also, due to its low density, it cannot be used to insulate floors subject to external pressure.
- Insulation of complex structural surfaces with it is not possible without the use of special equipment.
- It is not possible to use ecowool as a surface for plastering walls.
- It has a high excessive hygroscopicity, that is, ecowool cannot be used as a heater in places where the surface is in contact with the external environment (for insulation of external facades, in places where the surface is in direct contact with the ground). Although such a disadvantage can be easily eliminated by using waterproofing materials for installing cotton wool.
- Also, such thermal insulation has low air permeability, which is sometimes unacceptable for someerected structures - in cases where additional ventilation is required, for example for ceilings.
If we discuss the issue of what ecowool has disadvantages, reviews about the disadvantages of this material are still much less common than positive ones. The following advantages are emphasized:
- prompt installation of insulation when using inflatable installations;
- environmentally friendly material that does not emit formaldehyde fumes;
- does not rot, mold and fungal formations, which ensures a long service life of the ecowool material (manufacturers guarantee the service life of the insulation up to 65 years, which is long enough for buildings);
- is an excellent soundproofing material, especially for slabs and sandwich walls;
- high resistance of the material to convective processes, when warm air inside the insulation is replaced by cold air.
Conclusion
Given the characteristics and properties that ecowool has, the feedback from consumers who have used it, we can conclude that this material is rated positively in most cases. At the same time, the main factor for which ecowool is preferred, all of these, is its low cost. Most importantly, it justifies its name of ecowool - ecological wool, a material that does not really contain any phenolic compounds, unlike other types of construction wool: bas alt, mineral and glass wool.
