Naturchanvre Insulation Board: Biosourced and 100% Local

ISOFIB is the co-founder and official distributor of Naturchanvre thermal and acoustic insulation in Canada. These hemp wool panels are perfectly suited for the construction and renovation of hyper-efficient, passive, healthy and low-carbon green buildings. Discover the technical and environmental characteristics of these panels made from plant biomass, proudly manufactured in the Eastern Townships.


Insulation Made in the Eastern Townships

Consuming locally is also possible when insulating a building! Naturchanvre panels are made from industrial hemp, and although right now most of it comes from France, our goal over the years is to reach total autonomy with Quebec hemp fibre. For the portion of hemp grown in the Eastern Townships, the distance travelled from the fields to the production lines located in Val-des-Sources (formerly Asbestos) is extremely short: less than 200 km!

After harvesting, the central part of its stem, called the hemp chaff, is used as raw material, passing through the industrial processes of defibration and napping. The finished products, i.e., the insulating boards, come off the production lines, ready to be installed in the walls of your buildings. Insulating with Naturchanvre boards contributes to the dynamism of the agricultural and industrial sectors of the Des Sources RCM.


The Best Insulation for the Home: Bio-based and Healthy

Naturchanvre insulating boards are biosourced: meaning its raw material is organic. They are therefore particularly suitable for bioconstruction projects, while being adapted to all types of buildings.

Cultivated without pesticides and insecticides, industrial hemp requires very little water to grow. Its growth is very fast (about 120 days), which allows it to store 5 times more CO2 than wood, for the same growth period. The raw material represents 88% of the finished product, for 12% of binders.


Thanks to a simple industrial process, hemp materials do not contain any glue harmful to health. Only organic binders are used in the manufacturing process, in addition to a salt-based fireproofing treatment. Such insulating boards reduce the risk of mould, insect and rodent infestations. Putting it simply, they don’t degrade over time.

The environmental impact of hemp insulation products is therefore limited to a minimum.

Naturchanvre insulation is also extremely healthy: not only is it safe for workers to install (and even pleasant: it doesn’t sting!), but the product does not emit volatile organic compounds (VOC) into the home.




An insulation that contributes to year-round indoor thermal comfort

Insulation is a priority strategy to improve the energy efficiency of a building Naturchanvre boards offer aninteresting thermal resistance of R-3.7 per inch, equivalent to cellulose and glass wool, slightly lower than rock wool. The different board sizes available provide an insulation level of R9, R13, R20 or R30, for the thickest products. Find all the information below.


How to ensure thermal comfort indoors during summer? How do you not get too hot in the attic? Naturchanvre boards have a great capacity to retain heat penetration inside the building. In fact, hemp offers an ideal solution to meet these needs. In addition to its insulating properties, the thermal phase shift of hemp fibre is remarkable: up to 3 times more efficient than conventional insulation. The solar calories are stored during the day in the walls and roof, then slowly redistributed at night. This is an advantage for the attic of a building where the roof does not slow down the heat transfer.

Interior comfort is also assured by its water vapour permeability properties. Hemp naturally regulates the flow of vapours from temperature differences between the interior and exterior. The relative humidity level inside remains balanced, even during humid summer heat waves.


Lastly, Naturchanvre insulation is an interesting asset to optimize the acoustic comfort of a building. Indeed, hemp has a good attenuation coefficient of airborne sound:

NaturChanvre insulation application areas:

Interior insulation of above ground walls

Interior insulation, lining and divisions

Insulation of lost or converted attics

Cathedral roof insulation


The advantages of the Naturchanvre insulating board in a nutshell

Naturchanvre insulating boards are perfectly integrated in the composition of a high performance ecological wall:

Good thermal insulation against heat and cold

Excellent capacity of thermal dephasing and hygrometric regulation

High mechanical strength

Durable fibres: no crushing over time

Comfortable installation, no need for gloves

Very good resistance to pests

Low carbon footprint: bio-based, recyclable and 100% local

Does not emit VOC




What are the disadvantages of hemp wool?

While hemp wool has advantages that make it comparable or better than other insulation solutions, there are some characteristics that must be considered:

Various applications, but not universal: semi-rigid hemp wool panels are very versatile products, which can be installed in interior walls, as well as the roof, but outside installation is delicate, because they do not support the rain as well as rock wool panels. Similarly, they should not be used to insulate a slab.

Competitive price, but not entry level: hemp wool is more expensive than cellulose or glass wool. But if the price of hemp wool is comparable to rock wool, it will cost you less in hemp than in rock wool for the same thermal phase shift.

Non-fireproof board, although meeting required fire standards. Rock wool is fireproof, but hemp is not

With comparable thermal resistance and soundproofing properties, why use hemp wool instead of rock wool? This question is often asked by ISOFIB customers.

Here’s what we say to them: because rock wool is a mineral wool fibre material made from basalt (a volcanic rock) and slag, its grey energy (the energy required for its production), is much greater than that of hemp wool. And the rock wool panel, manufactured by an international brand, is far from local!

What are the advantages of hemp over glass wool? The thermal capacity of “pink wool” is very average and its phase shift is mediocre: the thermal comfort offered by hemp wool is truly superior. Moreover, glass wool is very resistant to humidity: it often settles in the walls, which is absolutely not the case with hemp panels.

Buy Naturchanvre Insulating Boards

Thanks to their attractive price, Naturchanvre’s semi-rigid compressible insulating boards meet the needs of contractors as well as individuals, whether they are builders or renovators.

Dimensions and prices of Naturchanvre insulating boards

Natur-Chanv 2 1/2”, R9. Prix d’un paquet (45 sq ft): 1.09 sq ft

Natur-Chanv 3-1/2", R13. Prix d’un paquet (45 sq ft): 1.45 sq ft

Natur-Chanv 5-1/2", R20. Prix d’un paquet (45 sq ft): 2.21 sq ft

Natur-Chanv 8", R30. Prix d’un paquet (45 sq ft): $2.98 sq ft

For more information, see product data sheet

Easy application

Installation of hemp wool panels is easy: since they are compressible, add ¾ inches to the desired dimension to ensure compression placement. Cutting is done with a grinder, a circular saw or a sabre knife.

High Performance Wall and Roof Compositions

Hemp insulation is an ideal material for efficient and healthy roofs and walls. Here are two applications for walls:


Source : naturefibres.com

For more information on the products and advice on their applications, and to get a quote: simply fill out the online form or call the ISOFIB team at 514 623-7942.