FCBA INFO : Biosourced insulation, evaluation of the durability against moulds

In the context of the Grenelle de l’Environnement and expectations in terms of sustainable development for construction, the market for biobased insulation materials (such as cellulose wadding, wood fibre, flax, hemp, straw, sheep’s wool, etc. ….) is booming.

However, until recently, there were obstacles to the prescription of these bio-based materials in the construction industry, in particular the evaluation of the resistance of insulating materials to moulds, within the framework of the technical opinion procedure.

In France, the presence of visible mould in French homes concerns a significant proportion of households with values between 14% and 20% according to the collective expertise report published by ANSES in 2016. In Europe and North America it is estimated that at least 20% of homes are affected by the presence of mould.