Fire performance with and without penetration in building components with sustainable insulation materials – An international insight
(2025) In LUTVDG/TVBB VBRM10 20242Division of Fire Safety Engineering
- Abstract
- Climate change and its environmental consequences is a pressing global challenge, with the construction
industry being a major contributor to carbon dioxide emissions. This has led to an increased interest in
biobased insulation materials, such as hemp fiber and wood fiber, which offer more sustainable
alternatives. However, questions arise regarding their fire performance, particularly when replacing non-
combustible materials or when structural penetrations are present.
This study investigates the fire performance of hemp fiber and wood fiber insulation through
experimental testing. A series of 14 tests were conducted at LTH, Lund, using a mini furnace to simulate
fire-exposure on wall-like building elements, with 8 specimen... (More) - Climate change and its environmental consequences is a pressing global challenge, with the construction
industry being a major contributor to carbon dioxide emissions. This has led to an increased interest in
biobased insulation materials, such as hemp fiber and wood fiber, which offer more sustainable
alternatives. However, questions arise regarding their fire performance, particularly when replacing non-
combustible materials or when structural penetrations are present.
This study investigates the fire performance of hemp fiber and wood fiber insulation through
experimental testing. A series of 14 tests were conducted at LTH, Lund, using a mini furnace to simulate
fire-exposure on wall-like building elements, with 8 specimen lacking penetrations and 6 including
them. Temperature and pressure data were collected during 30 pr 60 minutes of fire-exposure followed
by cooling for 60 minutes. Additional tests were performed in South Africa using a cone calorimeter to
compare Swedish hemp fiber and wood fiber with hemp-based alternatives used in South Africa.
Results indicates that both materials underperformed compared to non-biobased insulation, with hemp
fiber exhibiting faster temperature increases and higher peak temperatures. Wood fiber, however,
showed higher residual temperatures during the cooling-phase. Penetrations further reduced
performance but did not compromise classification for EI 30 or EI 60, though full compliance with SS-
EN 1363-1 was not verified. Cone calorimeter tests confirmed that material composition significantly
affects fire behavior, with hemp fiber releasing more energy than wood fiber.
In conclusion, wood fiber demonstrated better fire performance than hemp fiber, but penetration and
material composition critically influenced outcomes. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9183798
- author
- Carlsson, Alice LU and Backman, Julia LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- VBRM10 20242
- year
- 2025
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Biobased, insulation material, hemp fiber, wood fiber, hempcrete, hemp shives, mini furnace, cone calorimeter, sustainable, fire resistance, penetration, South Africa, Sweden
- publication/series
- LUTVDG/TVBB
- report number
- 5733
- other publication id
- LUTVDG/TVBB--5733--SE
- language
- English
- id
- 9183798
- date added to LUP
- 2025-02-06 07:31:57
- date last changed
- 2025-02-06 07:31:57
@misc{9183798,
abstract = {{Climate change and its environmental consequences is a pressing global challenge, with the construction
industry being a major contributor to carbon dioxide emissions. This has led to an increased interest in
biobased insulation materials, such as hemp fiber and wood fiber, which offer more sustainable
alternatives. However, questions arise regarding their fire performance, particularly when replacing non-
combustible materials or when structural penetrations are present.
This study investigates the fire performance of hemp fiber and wood fiber insulation through
experimental testing. A series of 14 tests were conducted at LTH, Lund, using a mini furnace to simulate
fire-exposure on wall-like building elements, with 8 specimen lacking penetrations and 6 including
them. Temperature and pressure data were collected during 30 pr 60 minutes of fire-exposure followed
by cooling for 60 minutes. Additional tests were performed in South Africa using a cone calorimeter to
compare Swedish hemp fiber and wood fiber with hemp-based alternatives used in South Africa.
Results indicates that both materials underperformed compared to non-biobased insulation, with hemp
fiber exhibiting faster temperature increases and higher peak temperatures. Wood fiber, however,
showed higher residual temperatures during the cooling-phase. Penetrations further reduced
performance but did not compromise classification for EI 30 or EI 60, though full compliance with SS-
EN 1363-1 was not verified. Cone calorimeter tests confirmed that material composition significantly
affects fire behavior, with hemp fiber releasing more energy than wood fiber.
In conclusion, wood fiber demonstrated better fire performance than hemp fiber, but penetration and
material composition critically influenced outcomes.}},
author = {{Carlsson, Alice and Backman, Julia}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
series = {{LUTVDG/TVBB}},
title = {{Fire performance with and without penetration in building components with sustainable insulation materials – An international insight}},
year = {{2025}},
}