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. Thermapad is part of the Performance Technology Group’s new GroundID range of products integrating natural fibres. The Group worked with bio-based materials business IndiNature to develop the hemp ceiling pad, which is manufactured at Group company Mayplas.
“Our objective was to improve both the energy efficiency of the building and the working environment for our team,” explains Mark Corbett, director of the Biorenewables Development Centre. “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.”
Thermapad is designed for installation within metal tray suspended ceilings and is available in a number of sizes to fit different manufacturers’ systems. It achieves thermal resistance of 2.25 m²K/W, 3.40 m²K/W and 4.50 m²K/W depending on the thickness, 100mm, 150mm or 200mm, specified.
With a nominal bulk density of 35kg/m3, which is comparable to conventional insulation products, Thermapad also assists in reducing sound reverberation.
“We are delighted that the Centre selected Thermapad,” says Mark Atkinson, the Performance Technology Group’s product and business development director. “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.”
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.
IndiNature’s Co-founder and Business Development Director Sam Baumber adds, “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.”
