Fitness: Sheep-wool and Hemp Sustainable Insulation Panels

Abstract

FITNESs, Fibre Tessili Naturali per l’Edilizia Sostenibile (Natural Textile Fibers for Sustainble Building), is a research project concerning an experimental hemp and sheep wool insulation panel. The new panel has two main innovative features: unlike the already existing hemp and wool insulation mats, it is a semi-rigid product and it has a low environmental impact, as shown by the Life Cycle Assessment. FITNESs panels are particularly suitable for eco-building sector, they are 100% natural, recyclable and made with by-products from local production chains (Piemonte Region). The paper presents the results of thermal conductivity, acoustic absorption coefficient and thermal transmittance of an experimental wall measurements, in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of FITNESs panels as an insulation product for buildings.