Traditional Crops insulating Traditional Buildings Today
Suspended ceiling insulation pads for non-domestic buildings including offices & schools just became more sustainable, with IndiNature Inside the Thermapad from Mayplas installed at the Biorenewables Development Centre.
Thermapad, Mayplas’ newly launched thermal insulation product for suspended ceiling systems made from UK-grown industrial hemp, has been installed at the Biorenewables Development Centre – a subsidiary company of the University of York which works with industry to develop, scale and commercialise bio-based products and processes.
With the aim of improving ceiling insulation to counter summer heat and winter cold in its offices, the Biorenewables Development Centre was seeking a product that reflected its ethos.
With a nominal bulk density of 35kg/m3, which is comparable to conventional insulation products, Thermapad also assists in reducing sound reverberation.
IndiNature's industrial hemp insulation in the Loft at Long Furlong House, Highgrove Estate. Photo credit: Duchy of Cornwall
Scottish Borders, 2024 industrial hemp trials reviving this traditional crop in the region.
Mark Corbett, director of the Biorenewables Development Centre explains:
“Our objective was to improve both the energy efficiency of the building and the working environment for our team. We wanted to use natural materials to achieve that.
“It is great to be the first to install Thermapad. It’s not only a more natural product, but also a great northern success story. The hemp is grown in Yorkshire, processed by IndiNature in the Scottish Borders and developed into a ready to install insulation product by Mayplas in the North West.”
450 square metres of Thermapad have been installed in the Centre’s first floor suspended ceilings by the Centre’s own team.
“Installation has been straightforward and completed over a few weeks with minimal disruption to the colleagues working in the offices,” says Mark Corbett.
The Biorenewables Development Centre is an open-access research, development and demonstration biorefining centre. It sits at the interface between academia and industry, offering clients access to a broad network of partnerships, pilot-scale processing capabilities, and a team of multidisciplinary experts including biologists, chemists, and innovation advisors. Biorenewables Development Centre has created a video explaining the reasons for installing Thermapad:
Mark Atkinson, the Performance Technology Group’s product and business development director, said:
“We are delighted that the Centre selected Thermapad. This is a perfect example of how and where this new product can be used. As a first project for Thermapad the Biorenewables Development Centre is entirely fitting.”
IndiNature’s Co-founder and Business Development Director, Sam Baumber, added
“Industrial hemp insulation has a net capture of carbon. Growing hemp also has benefits for biodiversity and soil health. As a re-processable, renewable resource, it is a sustainable material with excellent thermal, acoustic and moisture management properties when made into technical insulation. This is now possible in the UK, with ISO9001 quality management systems in place, and we’re delighted to work together with Mayplas to make products like Thermapad available to help decarbonise retrofit and newbuild construction.”
IndiNature is an innovative leader in bio-based materials and construction products. IndiNature uses leading science and traditional crops to manufacture UK grown natural fibre insulation. It is the first dedicated facility for natural fibre insulation production in the UK.
Part of the Performance Technology Group, Mayplas is an insulation specialist, producing thermal, acoustic and fire insulation products. Working with architects, contractors, developers, distributors and merchants, Mayplas delivers insulation solutions to meet most specifications.
IndiTherm fitting in an a historic building loft