MATERIAL DATA SHEET

Sheep Wool Insulation Batts

Natural Fiber Insulation
organic › Animal-Derived › Natural Fiber Insulation
organicanimal-derivedsheep-woolnatural-insulationrenewablebiodegradablefire-resistantmoisture-regulatingacousticaustralian-sourceddiy-friendlyhygroscopic
ATLAS CODE
ORG-ANI-INS-001
Sheep Wool Insulation Batts
Category organic
Material Family Animal-Derived
Regulatory Status Self-extinguishing (Class A ASTM E84, with borax treatment)
Density
10-47 kg/m3
Carbon (A1-A5)
0.8-1.5 (production) offset by 1.8 kg CO2/kg sequestration kg CO2-eq/m2
Fire Class
Self-extinguishing (Class A ASTM E84, with borax treatment)
Lifespan
50+ years
Description

Sheep wool insulation is a natural, renewable fiber insulation material processed from sheep fleece. The material combines excellent thermal performance (lambda 0.033-0.040 W/mK, R-value 3.6-4.3 per inch) with natural moisture management properties — wool fibers can absorb up to 30% of their weight in moisture without losing insulation effectiveness. The keratin protein structure provides natural fire resistance with an auto-ignition temperature of 560-600 degC (twice that of wood), self-extinguishing behaviour, and low smoke/toxicity. Carbon makes up 50% of wool's weight, with 1 kg of clean wool storing 1.8 kg of CO2. Available as batts, rolls, and loose-fill for wall, ceiling, and floor applications.

Primary Sectors
[Residential][Commercial]
Typical Uses
  • Wall cavity insulation (timber and steel frame)
  • Roof and ceiling insulation
  • Floor insulation (suspended floors)
  • Acoustic insulation (internal walls)
  • Green building and Passive House construction
  • Renovation and retrofit projects
  • Commercial and residential applications
  • Heritage building restoration
mm
Size
Primary Form [Standard / Batt / Widths: / 400mm, / 430mm, / 580mm, / 600mm / (matching / Australian / Stud / Spacing / 450mm / And / 600mm / Centres). / Lengths: / 1200mm, / 4000mm, / 7200mm. / Thicknesses: / 50mm, / 70mm, / 90mm, / 100mm, / 140mm, / 175mm, / 200mm, / 260mm. / Custom / Sizes / Available / From / Some / Manufacturers / (terra / Lana / Made / To / Order).]
Dimensional Tol. ± [Width: +5mm/-0mm (slight oversize for friction fit). Thickness: +/-5mm. Length: +/-10mm. Source: standard insulation batt tolerances.] mm
Recycled Content 0-100 (product dependent, typically 75-85% wool)
Renewable Content 75-100
Recyclability 85-100
Embodied Carbon 0.8-1.5 (production) offset by 1.8 kg CO2/kg sequestration kg CO2-eq/m2
Embodied Energy 10-30 MJ/kg
EPD Available No
Advantages
Exceptional hygroscopic moisture management — absorbs 30% weight without losing R-valueThermal conductivity 0.033-0.040 W/mK (comparable to or better than mineral wool)Auto-ignition temperature 560-600 degC — twice that of wood, self-extinguishingCarbon sequestration: 1 kg wool stores 1.8 kg CO2 permanentlyNon-irritant — safe to handle without protective equipment (no itching/fibres)Naturally antimicrobial, mould-resistant, and pest-resistant (with borax treatment)Excellent acoustic absorption — wool absorbs up to 55% of noise50+ year service life without settling or degradationAustralian wool supports rural economies (55% of world wool production)100% biodegradable and compostable at end of life
Cautions
Approximately 4x cost of fiberglass insulation — significant price premiumLimited Australian manufacturing (Mountain Made is primary local producer)40% of raw wool lost during manufacturing processingMoth attraction if untreated — borax treatment essentialHigher embodied carbon than hemp or cotton insulation (sheep farming emissions)Variable density and quality between manufacturersLimited bulk supply for large commercial projectsSome products contain 15-25% synthetic polyester binder (not 100% natural)
TECHNICAL DATA: PERFORMANCE PROPERTIES ORG-ANI-INS-001
Density (Dry) 10-47 kg/m3
Specific Gravity 1.30-1.35 (fiber); 0.01-0.05 (batt)
Porosity 90-97 %
Water Absorption Up to 30-33% (without losing insulation performance) %
Hardness N/A (soft flexible fiber) Shore
UV Resistance Low (not relevant — concealed application)
Chemical Resistance Good
pH Tolerance 3-10 pH
Available Colors
Natural cream/off-white (most common)Grey/brown (from dark wool breeds)Mixed natural tones (recycled carpet wool products like Mountain Made)
Surface Finishes
Unfinished natural fiber (always concealed in wall/ceiling/floor cavities)
Texture Options
Soft, fluffy natural fiber textureCompressed batt form (uniform density)
Pattern Options
Natural wool fiber texture (concealed in construction)
Compressive Strength Very low (non-load-bearing) kPa
Tensile Strength 120-180 (individual fiber) MPa
Flexural Strength N/A (flexible fiber material) MPa
Elastic Modulus 2.5-4.5 (individual fiber) GPa
Impact Resistance N/A (soft compressible material) J/m
Creep Resistance Good (maintains loft and form over 50+ years)
Abrasion Resistance Good (not relevant for concealed use)
Thermal Conductivity 0.033-0.040 W/mK
Thermal Resistance R1.5-R6.0 (70-260mm) m2K/W
Specific Heat Capacity 1300-1700 J/kgK
Thermal Expansion Negligible mm/mK
Ignition Temperature 560-600 degC
Sound Transmission Class (STC) +10-20 STC improvement (in assembly) STC
Noise Reduction Coeff. (NRC) 0.70-0.95 NRC
Optical
Light Transmittance 0 %
Light Reflectance (LRV) 60-80 (natural cream colour) %

Sheep wool has been used for insulation and textiles for thousands of years, with pastoral communities historically using wool for building insulation, clothing, and shelter. Modern building insulation applications developed in the 1970s as environmental awareness grew, with the first commercial wool insulation products appearing in New Zealand and the UK where sheep farming traditions were strongest. The Australian wool insulation industry emerged in the 1990s, leveraging the country's position as the world's largest wool producer (55% of global raw/processed wool). Mountain Made became Australia's first locally manufactured sheep wool hybrid insulation, using by-product wool from carpet manufacture. International brands Thermafleece (UK, est. Yorkshire) developed optimised 75% wool + 25% recycled fiber blends, while Terra Lana (NZ) created custom-manufactured high-density products. Black Mountain (UK) established dedicated manufacturing facilities for both wool and hemp insulation. Recent developments focus on higher-density acoustic products, improved borax treatment processes, and EPD/carbon sequestration verification. The Declare Red List Free certification (Terra Lana) and GreenSpec listings (Black Mountain) reflect growing industry maturity.

SAFETY, ECOLOGY & INSTALLATION ORG-ANI-INS-001
Flame Spread Index <25 (Class A, ASTM E84) FSI
Smoke Developed Index 25-75 SDI
Combustibility Class Self-extinguishing (Class A ASTM E84, with borax treatment)
Ignition Temperature 560-600 degC
Fire Resistance Rating Assembly dependent (wool contributes through self-extinguishing behaviour) minutes
Heat Release Rate 30-80 kW/m2
Toxicity of Combustion Very Low
Embodied Carbon (A1-A3) 0.8-1.5 (production) offset by 1.8 kg CO2/kg sequestration kg CO2-eq/m2
Embodied Energy 10-30 MJ/kg
Water Footprint 500-2000 (farming dependent) L/kg
EPD Available No
Recycled Content 100%
Renewable Content 100%
LEED Points 5-9 points
Circular Economy Score 8.5 /10
VOC Emissions <5 (wool absorbs VOCs rather than emitting them) ug/m3
Skill Level DIY-friendly (no specialist skills required)
Crew Size 1-2 people
Installation Time 0.5-2 hours/10m2
Curing Time 0 hours
Temperature Range -5 to 40 degC
Humidity Range 20-85 % RH
Required Tools
Sharp knife or bread knife for cutting batts to sizeMeasuring tape and straight edgeStaple gun (optional — for securing in overhead applications)No protective clothing required — wool is non-irritant and safe to handle bare-handedStandard PPE only (safety glasses if cutting overhead)
Certifications Required
No specialist certification required — standard building practiceGeneral construction safety awarenessNo hazardous material handling qualifications needed (unlike spray foam or fibrous insulation)
Weather Limitations
Protect batts from direct rain during storage and installationWool absorbs moisture naturally but should not be saturated before installationEnsure building envelope is weathertight before installing internal insulationNo temperature limitations for installation
COMMERCIAL, LOGISTICS & REGULATORY ORG-ANI-INS-001
Material Cost 15-60 (R-value dependent) AUD/m2
Installation Cost 8-20 AUD/m2
Annual Maintenance 0 AUD/m2/year
Lifecycle Cost (50yr) 25-80 AUD/m2
Market Availability Moderate — specialist supply, growing availability
Lead Time 7-70 (source dependent) days
Supply & Logistics
Design Life 50+ years
Warranty Period 15-25 (lifetime available from some manufacturers) years
Maintenance Interval None required years
Service Temp Range -20 to 80 degC
Dimensional Stability <2% settling over lifetime % change
Certifications Held
GreenSpec listed (Black Mountain NatuWool)EPD to ISO 14025 (Black Mountain — referenced in GreenSpec)Declare Red List Free (Terra Lana)Mountain Made — Australian manufactured quality certificationDeclare Red List Free (Terra Lana — International Living Future Institute)GreenSpec listed (Black Mountain)LEED contribution (renewable, low-emitting, regional material credits)Green Star contribution (renewable, low-VOC material credits)Declare Red List Free (Terra Lana — Living Building Challenge)Non-irritant — no respiratory or skin protection required during installationNaturally hypoallergenicVOC absorbing (wool absorbs formaldehyde and other pollutants)
Fire Code Compliance
ASTM E84 Class A (with borax treatment)Self-extinguishing behaviour — does not support sustained flameIgnition temperature 560-600 degCNCC Section C — Fire resistance (assembly dependent, contributes through non-flame-propagating behaviour)
Standards Compliance
NCC Volume 1 — Compliant as thermal insulation materialNCC Section J — Energy efficiency (contributes to R-value requirements)NCC Part F5 — Acoustic performance (excellent acoustic absorption)AS 4859.1 — Thermal insulation materials for buildings (general compliance)ASTM E84 — Standard test method for surface burning characteristics (Class A achievable)ASTM C518 — Standard test method for steady-state thermal transmission propertiesASTM C1104 — Standard test method for determining the water vapor sorption of unfaced mineral fiber insulationISO 8302 — Thermal insulation — Determination of steady-state thermal resistance (guarded hot plate method)ISO 14040/44 — Life cycle assessment (where EPD available)EN 13162 — Thermal insulation products for buildings — Factory made mineral wool products (reference for testing methodology)

DISCLAIMER: This specification document is generated from the CLAD Materials Atlas Database. Information is for general guidance only and does not constitute professional engineering advice. Values are typical and may vary by batch, manufacturer, and production run. Verify suitability for specific project applications independently.

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