MATERIAL DATA SHEET

Hemp Fibre Batt Insulation, R1.5-R4.0 (90mm, 140mm, 190mm)

Insulation
organic › Plant-Based Fibre › Insulation
organicplant-based fibrecarbon-negativesustainablethermal-insulationacousticmoisture-regulatinghempbiobasedVOC-free
ATLAS CODE
ORG-PLA-INS-001
Hemp Fibre Batt Insulation, R1.5-R4.0 (90mm, 140mm, 190mm)
Category organic
Material Family Plant-Based Fibre
Regulatory Status Combustible
Density
30 – 100 kg/m³
Carbon (A1-A5)
-2.3 – -0.198 kg CO₂eq/m²
Fire Class
Combustible
Lifespan
50 – 100 years
Description

Hemp fibre batt insulation is a high-performance, sustainable insulation material comprising 90% natural hemp fibres and 10% polymer binder. Available in standard thicknesses of 90mm (R13), 140mm (R20), and 190mm (R28), it provides thermal conductivity of 0.040-0.045 W/mK comparable to conventional glasswool. The material offers exceptional moisture management through vapour permeability of 0.647 Perms, natural pest resistance from high silica content, and carbon sequestration resulting in negative embodied carbon of -0.198 to -2.30 kg CO₂eq/m². Suitable for walls, ceilings, and floors in all Australian climate zones.

Primary Sectors
[Residential]
Typical Uses
  • Residential wall cavity insulation (timber and steel frame)
  • Ceiling and roof insulation
  • Underfloor insulation
  • Acoustic treatment for recording studios and theatres
  • Heritage building retrofits
  • Passive house construction
  • Modular and prefabricated buildings
  • Van and RV conversions
Recycled Content 0
Renewable Content 90
Recyclability 100
Embodied Carbon -2.3 – -0.198 kg CO₂eq/m²
Embodied Energy 30 – 35 MJ/kg
EPD Available Yes
Advantages
Carbon negative material (sequesters more CO₂ than emitted in production)No VOCs or toxic off-gassingNatural pest, mould, and mildew resistanceExcellent moisture regulation without performance lossSuperior acoustic absorption propertiesNon-irritant installation (no protective equipment required)Biodegradable and recyclable10-hour thermal phase shift for temperature stabilityUSDA certified biobased material (89.9% organic content)
Cautions
Higher initial cost than conventional insulation ($1.40-3.10/sq ft)Limited Australian suppliers and availabilityRequires import for most productsLimited Australian fire testing certificationInstallation contractor unfamiliarityMinimum order quantities (often full pallets)Variable density control in manufacturingPotential for settling if incorrectly installed
TECHNICAL DATA: PERFORMANCE PROPERTIES ORG-PLA-INS-001
Density (Dry) 30 – 100 kg/m³
Specific Gravity 1.48
Porosity 85 – 95 %
Water Absorption 25 – 40 %
Surface Roughness High μm
UV Resistance Moderate
Chemical Resistance Good
pH Tolerance 6 – 10 pH
Compressive Strength 10 kPa
Tensile Strength 35 MPa
Elastic Modulus 70 GPa
Impact Resistance Low J/m
Poisson's Ratio 0.3
Creep Resistance Good
Abrasion Resistance Moderate
Thermal Conductivity 0.04 – 0.045 W/mK
Thermal Resistance 3.7 m²K/W per inch
Specific Heat Capacity 1600 – 2300 J/(kg·K)
Thermal Expansion 0.00005 1/K
Ignition Temperature 250 °C
Sound Transmission Class (STC) 45 STC
Noise Reduction Coeff. (NRC) 0.27 – 0.62 NRC
Optical
Light Transmittance 0 %
Light Reflectance (LRV) 35 %

Hemp has been used for thousands of years in construction, with hemp-lime composites found in ancient structures. Modern hemp batt insulation emerged in the 1990s in Europe, particularly France and Germany, as sustainable building practices gained prominence. The technology was refined through the 2000s with improved binding agents and fire retardants. North American production began in the 2010s following hemp legalisation. Australian interest has grown since 2017 with industrial hemp cultivation expanding, though local batt production remains limited. Current developments focus on reducing synthetic binder content and achieving full biodegradability while maintaining fire performance standards.

SAFETY, ECOLOGY & INSTALLATION ORG-PLA-INS-001
Flame Spread Index 25
Smoke Developed Index 50
Combustibility Class Combustible
Ignition Temperature 250 °C
Heat Release Rate Low kW/m²
Toxicity of Combustion Low
Embodied Carbon (A1-A3) -2.3 – -0.198 kg CO₂eq/m²
Embodied Energy 30 – 35 MJ/kg
Water Footprint 2500 L/kg
EPD Available Yes
Recycled Content 0%
Renewable Content 90%
LEED Points 3-5 points
Circular Economy Score 85 %
VOC Emissions 0 μg/m³
Skill Level Basic
Crew Size 1-2 persons
Installation Time 10 minutes/m²
Curing Time 0 hours
Setting Time 0 hours
Temperature Range -20 – 50 °C
Humidity Range 0 – 95 %RH
Required Tools
Utility knife or insulation sawMeasuring tapeStraight edgeStaple gun (if required)Safety glasses (optional)
Weather Limitations
Keep dry during storage and installation
COMMERCIAL, LOGISTICS & REGULATORY ORG-PLA-INS-001
Material Cost 15 – 35 $/m²
Installation Cost 20 – 35 $/m²
Annual Maintenance 0 $/m²/year
Lifecycle Cost (50yr) 35 – 70 $/m²
Market Availability Limited
Lead Time 4 – 12 weeks
Design Life 50 – 100 years
Warranty Period 10 – 25 years
Maintenance Interval 0 years
Service Temp Range -40 – 100 °C
Freeze/Thaw Resistance Excellent
Dimensional Stability Good
Certifications Held
ETA (European Technical Assessment) for EU productsICC-ES evaluation (pending for US products)USDA Certified Biobased Product (89.9%)EPD certified (various manufacturers)Living Building Challenge Red List FreeVOC-free certificationFormaldehyde-freeREACH compliant (EU)
Fire Code Compliance
Requires testing to AS 1530 series for Australian complianceClass A fire rating achievable with treatment (US standards)
Standards Compliance
AS/NZS 4859.1:2018 Thermal insulation materials for buildingsNCC 2022 Section J - Energy Efficiency (Performance Solution pathway)ASTM C518 Thermal Transmission PropertiesASTM C167 Thickness and Density of Blanket InsulationASTM E84 Surface Burning CharacteristicsISO 14040:2006 Life Cycle AssessmentISO 14025 Environmental Product DeclarationsEN 15804 EPD for construction products

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.

ID: ORG-PLA-INS-001 Schema: v3.0