Good question! During processing the digestible element of the raw grass is removed from the fibres (the ligno-cellulosic component); rodents are unable to digest the cellulose, so they no longer have any interest in consuming the product and it is therefore no more attractive compared to conventional insulation. Other natural fibre insulations have a similar feature. In addition, compared to lower density fibre insulation, the much higher density and shape of the Gramitherm batts makes it difficult for rodents to burrow and nest. In saying all that, unfortunately, there is no such thing as 100% rodent-proof insulation be it mineral wool, glass wool or otherwise. Regardless of the type of insulation material, ingress by mice and other rodents must be prevented by use of appropriate measures in accordance with the national standards in the building’s location. Prevention is better than cure :)
Found in the specs technical data: *The digestible liquid components of the raw grass have been removed from the fibres (the ligno-cellulosic component); rodents are unable to digest the cellulose, so they no longer have any interest in consuming the product. In addition, the density and shape of the panels makes it difficult for rodents to nest. Regardless of the type of insulation material, ingress by mice and other rodents must be prevented by use of appropriate measures in accordance with the national standards in the building’s location. *According to EN ISO 13501-1 :2018, Gramitherm® meets Euroclass E criteria for fire resistance. This means that in the event of a fire, the fire will not spread to other parts of a building through the insulation. The fumes released are non toxic, which allows fire fighters to intervene effectively in the case of fire.
We have built straw bale houses of course for centuries due to the same reasons, insulation, fire retardance and costs. The crux is really the costs because it is really upcycling waste product so margins should be kept really low :)
I just checked the data sheet, and probably as you expected, it is rated EURO Class E (Combustible materials: highly contribution to a fire: Will resist only a small flame attack in the beginning of the fire).
The Euro classification is honestly kind of silly, I have seen people take a map torch to Steico's wood fiber insulation which is treated with ammonium salts and it literally just auto-extinguishes as soon as you take the torch off of it.
@@Secretgeek2012 I was going to disagree with you, but this weekend I was insulating my loft and covering over electrical cables that were in the way, and I really really would not want anything combustible there!
Hi. Similar to other natural fibre insulations Gramitherm has a Class E fire rating (EN 13501-1) and is completely safe to use. The product complies with all relevant standards and has a full European Technical Approval. During manufacture a salt based fire protection additive is included within the insulation to ensure compliance with regulations. In the event of a fire, a carbonisation layer quickly forms on the surface of the Gramitherm mat. This carbonisation or charring acts as a sacrificial layer, restraining the propagation of fire and prevents the fast burning through the Gramitherm. Many conventional insulating materials are prone to melting and offer very limited fire protection. You can see a demonstration of this process here (apologies its in French but the burn video is pretty self explanatory): th-cam.com/video/ixWabu3yB6s/w-d-xo.html As an organic based material, Gramitherm does not emit toxic gases in the event of fire, unlike many petro-chemical based insulating materials. This is an important consideration for the fire services too. Many Class E fire rated natural fibre insulation materials such as woodfibre have been independently verified for a fire resistance of up to 90 minutes.
I don't know Gramitherm but I know that Steico's wood fiber insulation is treated with Ammonium salts, which makes it extremely resistant to fire and insects. Steico's wood fiber insulation is also far cheaper than any other insulation on the market. If Gramitherm is equivalent then it seems like a no brainer product to consider instead of eg. Rockwool which is far more expensive, or foam which is a huge fire risk.
Hi. Similar to other natural fibre insulations Gramitherm has a Class E fire rating (EN 13501-1) and is completely safe to use. The product complies with all relevant standards and has a full European Technical Approval. During manufacture a salt based fire protection additive is included within the insulation to ensure compliance with regulations. In the event of a fire, a carbonisation layer quickly forms on the surface of the Gramitherm mat. This carbonisation or charring acts as a sacrificial layer, restraining the propagation of fire and prevents the fast burning through the Gramitherm. Many conventional insulating materials are prone to melting and offer very limited fire protection. You can see a demonstration of this process here (apologies its in French but the burn video is pretty self explanatory): th-cam.com/video/ixWabu3yB6s/w-d-xo.html As an organic based material, Gramitherm does not emit toxic gases in the event of fire, unlike many petro-chemical based insulating materials. This is an important consideration for the fire services too. Many Class E fire rated natural fibre insulation materials such as woodfibre have been independently verified for a fire resistance of up to 90 minutes. Costs for the material are transparently shown on our website here: www.ecologicalbuildingsystems.com/product/gramitherm-sustainable-grass-insulation In terms of its resistance to insects/rodents, as mentioned earlier, during processing the digestible element of the raw grass is removed from the fibres (the ligno-cellulosic component); rodents/insects are unable to digest the cellulose, so they no longer have any interest in consuming the product and it is therefore no more attractive compared to conventional insulation. Other natural fibre insulations have a similar feature. In addition, compared to lower density fibre insulation, the much higher density and shape of the Gramitherm batts makes it difficult for rodents to burrow and nest. In saying all that, unfortunately, there is no such thing as 100% rodent-proof insulation be it mineral wool, glass wool or otherwise. Regardless of the type of insulation material, ingress by mice and other rodents must be prevented by use of appropriate measures in accordance with the national standards in the building’s location. Prevention is better than cure :) Gramitherm has also been tested for mould resistance as part of its approval for European Technical Approval and achieved excellent results :)
Love this. I dont see any mention of rodent control - arent mice going to love this too?
I had the same thought. Any response, EBS?
Never mind the mice, I’m getting the munchies myself! 😂
Good question! During processing the digestible element of the raw grass is removed from the fibres (the ligno-cellulosic component); rodents are unable to digest the cellulose, so they no longer have any interest in consuming the product and it is therefore no more attractive compared to conventional insulation. Other natural fibre insulations have a similar feature.
In addition, compared to lower density fibre insulation, the much higher density and shape of the Gramitherm batts makes it difficult for rodents to burrow and nest.
In saying all that, unfortunately, there is no such thing as 100% rodent-proof insulation be it mineral wool, glass wool or otherwise. Regardless of the type of insulation material, ingress by mice and other rodents must be prevented by use of appropriate measures in accordance with the national standards in the building’s location. Prevention is better than cure :)
Found in the specs technical data:
*The digestible liquid components of the raw grass have been removed from the
fibres (the ligno-cellulosic component); rodents are unable to digest the cellulose,
so they no longer have any interest in consuming the product.
In addition, the density and shape of the panels makes it difficult for rodents to
nest.
Regardless of the type of insulation material, ingress by mice and other rodents
must be prevented by use of appropriate measures in accordance with the
national standards in the building’s location.
*According to EN ISO 13501-1 :2018, Gramitherm® meets Euroclass E criteria for
fire resistance.
This means that in the event of a fire, the fire will not spread to other parts of a
building through the insulation.
The fumes released are non toxic, which allows fire fighters to intervene
effectively in the case of fire.
We have built straw bale houses of course for centuries due to the same reasons, insulation, fire retardance and costs. The crux is really the costs because it is really upcycling waste product so margins should be kept really low :)
Like hemp but hemp is 5x the price of other insulation for the same thermal level
What about fire resistance ?
I just checked the data sheet, and probably as you expected, it is rated EURO Class E (Combustible materials: highly contribution to a fire:
Will resist only a small flame attack in the beginning of the fire).
@@jamesdcuk😬 Think I'll pass. Not suitable for my use case i.e. unwillingness to die in a blazing inferno.
The Euro classification is honestly kind of silly, I have seen people take a map torch to Steico's wood fiber insulation which is treated with ammonium salts and it literally just auto-extinguishes as soon as you take the torch off of it.
@@Secretgeek2012 I was going to disagree with you, but this weekend I was insulating my loft and covering over electrical cables that were in the way, and I really really would not want anything combustible there!
Hi. Similar to other natural fibre insulations Gramitherm has a Class E fire rating (EN 13501-1) and is completely safe to use. The product complies with all relevant standards and has a full European Technical Approval.
During manufacture a salt based fire protection additive is included within the insulation to ensure compliance with regulations. In the event of a fire, a carbonisation layer quickly forms on the surface of the Gramitherm mat. This carbonisation or charring acts as a sacrificial layer, restraining the propagation of fire and prevents the fast burning through the Gramitherm. Many conventional insulating materials are prone to melting and offer very limited fire protection. You can see a demonstration of this process here (apologies its in French but the burn video is pretty self explanatory): th-cam.com/video/ixWabu3yB6s/w-d-xo.html
As an organic based material, Gramitherm does not emit toxic gases in the event of fire, unlike many petro-chemical based insulating materials. This is an important consideration for the fire services too.
Many Class E fire rated natural fibre insulation materials such as woodfibre have been independently verified for a fire resistance of up to 90 minutes.
i HATE fiberglass insulation. Hope this product can replace... jute is a fiberous plant ... makes very good cloth.
Fire resistance? Cost? Insects? Ridiculous.
I don't know Gramitherm but I know that Steico's wood fiber insulation is treated with Ammonium salts, which makes it extremely resistant to fire and insects. Steico's wood fiber insulation is also far cheaper than any other insulation on the market. If Gramitherm is equivalent then it seems like a no brainer product to consider instead of eg. Rockwool which is far more expensive, or foam which is a huge fire risk.
Hi. Similar to other natural fibre insulations Gramitherm has a Class E fire rating (EN 13501-1) and is completely safe to use. The product complies with all relevant standards and has a full European Technical Approval.
During manufacture a salt based fire protection additive is included within the insulation to ensure compliance with regulations. In the event of a fire, a carbonisation layer quickly forms on the surface of the Gramitherm mat. This carbonisation or charring acts as a sacrificial layer, restraining the propagation of fire and prevents the fast burning through the Gramitherm. Many conventional insulating materials are prone to melting and offer very limited fire protection. You can see a demonstration of this process here (apologies its in French but the burn video is pretty self explanatory): th-cam.com/video/ixWabu3yB6s/w-d-xo.html
As an organic based material, Gramitherm does not emit toxic gases in the event of fire, unlike many petro-chemical based insulating materials. This is an important consideration for the fire services too.
Many Class E fire rated natural fibre insulation materials such as woodfibre have been independently verified for a fire resistance of up to 90 minutes.
Costs for the material are transparently shown on our website here: www.ecologicalbuildingsystems.com/product/gramitherm-sustainable-grass-insulation
In terms of its resistance to insects/rodents, as mentioned earlier, during processing the digestible element of the raw grass is removed from the fibres (the ligno-cellulosic component); rodents/insects are unable to digest the cellulose, so they no longer have any interest in consuming the product and it is therefore no more attractive compared to conventional insulation. Other natural fibre insulations have a similar feature.
In addition, compared to lower density fibre insulation, the much higher density and shape of the Gramitherm batts makes it difficult for rodents to burrow and nest.
In saying all that, unfortunately, there is no such thing as 100% rodent-proof insulation be it mineral wool, glass wool or otherwise. Regardless of the type of insulation material, ingress by mice and other rodents must be prevented by use of appropriate measures in accordance with the national standards in the building’s location. Prevention is better than cure :)
Gramitherm has also been tested for mould resistance as part of its approval for European Technical Approval and achieved excellent results :)