Thermal and acoustic insulation of buildings: the cork as a natural alternative
Its most common use is as a stopper for bottles, but the cork is a resource from which come to life hundreds of products. The material resulting from the cork, in fact, is used in clothing, in the footwear industry, the nautical, crafts, furniture and even in bio-building and bio in the traditional one. About its many properties. And 'fire resistant, waterproof, lightweight, protects the environment from the heat and cold, is renewable, biodegradable and recyclable.
From cork waste we produce panels of the caps and granules for thermal and acoustic insulation to be applied to the entire building envelope to improve energy efficiency and ensure the comfort of living: sottotegole and attics, crawlspaces, under floor, walls, insulation to coat inside and outside of buildings. In addition to the high performance resulting from natural material, the panels are made with minimal quantities of adhesives without health risks, typically the same ones used for the production of stoppers.
"85% of Italian production is concentrated in Sardinia, where there are the cork. Every 10-12 years old receive the decortication, extraction of the bark which was carried out by hand and non-invasive, saw that the tree would get rid of the cortex, however, and is profitable for the plant to absorb more CO2, "says Raymond Mandis, project manager of Sardinia research, regional agency for innovation. "The best quality cork extract is intended for the caps, what's left over is used for products in green building. To take full advantage of this resource and create an industry, we have launched a campaign of recycling of cork stoppers used to collect useful for the production of building components. "
The project, in addition to Sardegna Ricerche, involved the non-profit organization with open arms that held in Milan and 55 collection points plugs in schools, supermarkets, bars, clubs and redirect then to Arts & Crafts, cooperative specializing in green building and bioarredamento, for transformation into new panels or in granulated blond.
"Research conducted by the Department of cork Agris Sardegna panels made from recycled found that have an efficiency greater thermo-acoustic panels made from new raw material," continues Mandis. "In any case the cork, even that is not recycled, guarantees waterproofness, breathability, avoids the mold and is fire retardant. Suffice it to say that was applied to the capsule of the shuttle to prevent combustion when the spacecraft has returned from space. "
Applications
Some examples of use of cork for thermal insulation are located in Milan, Genoa, Cagliari, Policoro and Aquila, and some great clothing stores have applied a cork parquet wood with a top layer which guarantees an excellent sound insulation .
The companies that turn the cork and produce elements for green building focus where there are the cork, then in Sardinia, Sicily and Tuscany.
The blond natural cork is the most comprehensive of the thermo-acoustic insulation that are used in buildings, and due to its versatility is used in the different cases: in the cavities of the walls, a coat in exterior cladding, in flat and pitched roofs, in attics, in the substrate of the floor, to protect blades, beams and reinforced concrete columns with the system of casting against formwork.
Furthermore, it is non-toxic, it is water-and steam, is an antacid generic thanks to these features combined with great sound insulating properties and special treatments to the fire, is used extensively applied in view, in various shapes and colors, in public buildings, schools, places of worship, health centers, classrooms, canteens, offices, etc..
Despite being a historical warranty, the cork in Italy is considered a niche product, because of its price which is much higher than the products of synthesis and fibrosis in trade. But comparing the performance price-duration-quality, cork offers a guarantee unlimited in time than that of any other insulating limited trade thus resulting in the most beneficial.
10/04/2012
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Translated via software
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Source:
Italian version of CercaGeometra.it