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This study evaluates the potential of UK-grown hardwood and softwood fibres for thermal insulation to support locally sourced, low-carbon construction materials. A Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) framework, incorporating availability, fibre length, fibre content, and dry wood density, identified birch, poplar, sycamore, ash, and alder as top hardwood candidates. Due to reduced ash availability caused by ash dieback disease, beech was substituted. Fibre characterisation revealed that poplar had the longest fibres among hardwoods, while sycamore ranked high for availability and fibre content on the MCDM but exhibited the shortest fibres. Sycamore’s shorter fibres and alder’s limited availability suggested a blended approach could optimise insulation properties. Beech fibres demonstrated favourable length but higher bulk density, warranting future comparisons of insulation products made from beech versus poplar fibres to assess the impact of bulk density on thermal performance. Among softwoods, Sitka spruce was identified as a strong alternative to larch, based on availability and fibre properties.

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Wood Fibre Insulation: Unlocking Local Resources with a Multi-criteria Decision Model for UK-Grown Species

  • 会议论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年

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  • Paola Seminara,
  • Julio Bros-Williamson,
  • Andrew Livingstone,
  • Robert Hairstans

摘要

This study evaluates the potential of UK-grown hardwood and softwood fibres for thermal insulation to support locally sourced, low-carbon construction materials. A Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) framework, incorporating availability, fibre length, fibre content, and dry wood density, identified birch, poplar, sycamore, ash, and alder as top hardwood candidates. Due to reduced ash availability caused by ash dieback disease, beech was substituted. Fibre characterisation revealed that poplar had the longest fibres among hardwoods, while sycamore ranked high for availability and fibre content on the MCDM but exhibited the shortest fibres. Sycamore’s shorter fibres and alder’s limited availability suggested a blended approach could optimise insulation properties. Beech fibres demonstrated favourable length but higher bulk density, warranting future comparisons of insulation products made from beech versus poplar fibres to assess the impact of bulk density on thermal performance. Among softwoods, Sitka spruce was identified as a strong alternative to larch, based on availability and fibre properties.