Bio-based insulation panel
Rigid wood fibre (STEICO Protect, Gutex Ultratherm, Pavatex Pavatherm) bonded and mechanically fixed to the substrate. Thickness 100 to 240 mm depending on target R-value. Density 140-160 kg/m³ for thermal lag.
ETICS — Bio-based materialsBio-based
Bio-based
ETICS
Wood fibre, hemp-lime, expanded cork — natural thermal insulation with high thermal lag. STEICO, Gutex, Diathonite, Pavatex. QUASART installs and specifies in Luxembourg and the Greater Region.
14h+ thermal lagSTEICO · GutexHemp-limeCO₂ negative
14h+Thermal lag
50+ yrsLifespan
CO₂ −Carbon footprint
Why bio-based?
Natural insulation: thermal performance AND summer comfort.
Bio-based insulation materials (wood fibre, hemp, cork) offer a property that mineral insulators lack: thermal lag. Where rock wool transmits summer heat in 3-4 hours, a 200 mm wood fibre panel retains it for 14 to 18 hours — keeping your interior cool without air conditioning. In winter, thermal performance is equivalent (λ 0.038-0.042).
QUASART, based in Crauthem (L-3327), installs STEICO Protect, Gutex Ultratherm, Pavatex Isolair rigid panels and Diathonite hemp-lime render. Financial subsidies are available through the myenergy programme (Klimabonus) — visit myenergy.lu to check your eligibility.
Bio-based ETICS · Material sheet
Données certifiéesThermal lag10.0
Summer comfort9.5
Carbon footprint10.0
Winter performance7.5
Moisture regulationExcellent
Lifespan50+ years
MaterialsWood fibre, hemp-lime, expanded cork, linen-hemp
Lambda (λ)0.038 to 0.042 W/m·K (wood fibre) — 0.065-0.070 (hemp-lime)
Thermal lag14 to 18 h for 200 mm wood fibre (density 140 kg/m³)
Common thicknesses100 to 240 mm depending on target R-value (R ≥ 3.7 for LU subsidies)
Weight20 to 35 kg/m² depending on insulation and thickness
Fire ratingE (wood fibre) — B-s1,d0 with fire retardant treatment
ETAG 004 / EAD 040083EN 13171EN 13170ACERMIEN 13501-1RE 2020 / GPE
Bio-based insulators
Four natural insulators for ETICS
Each bio-based insulator has its strengths — the choice depends on budget, targeted thermal lag and finish type.
01 / BIO-BASED INSULATORS
Rigid wood fibre
STEICO Protect, Gutex — λ 0.038-0.042Thermal lag9.5
Acoustics8.5
Cost6.0
High-density rigid panel (140 kg/m³) — the most widely installed bio-based ETICS insulator. Withstands driving rain for 6 weeks without protection. Open diffusion (μ 3-5). 14-18 h thermal lag for 200 mm. Compatible with thin render and ventilated cladding.
Reference02 / BIO-BASED INSULATORS
Sprayed hemp-lime
Diathonite, Isohemp — λ 0.065-0.070Thermal lag8.0
Acoustics7.0
Cost5.5
Sprayed hemp-lime render — insulation + finish in a single layer. Natural moisture regulator (absorbs and releases humidity). Authentic mineral look. Ideal for historic buildings and heritage projects.
Bio-based03 / BIO-BASED INSULATORS
Expanded cork (ICB)
Amorim, Isocor — λ 0.040-0.045Thermal lag8.5
Acoustics9.0
Cost4.5
Natural rot-proof insulator, resistant to insects and moisture. Excellent acoustic attenuation. Negative carbon footprint (stores more CO₂ than it emits). Higher cost but lifespan exceeding 50 years.
Rot-proof04 / BIO-BASED INSULATORS
Linen-hemp wool
Biofib, Cavac — λ 0.038-0.040Thermal lag7.5
Acoustics8.0
Cost6.5
Semi-rigid linen-hemp panel — excellent performance/price ratio in bio-based insulation. Installed in timber frame for ETICS with ventilated cladding. French-grown (Nord, Normandy). A+ indoor air quality rating.
FlexibleFinishes & textures
From mineral render to wood cladding.
Bio-based ETICS accepts all finishes — thin render, hydraulic render or ventilated cladding.
Trowelled
Trowelled thin renderOn rigid wood fibre — 3-8 mm
Hydraulic
Hydraulic renderNHL lime — 15-25 mm, mineral finish
Exposed
Exposed hemp-limeDiathonite — raw natural finish
Natural
Natural wood claddingDouglas fir, larch — open or closed slats
Fibre
Fibre cement claddingEQUITONE, Eternit — on ventilated frame
Scratched
Scratched lime renderTraditional finish — heritage buildings
Referenced manufacturers
Four manufacturers. Bio-based ETICS mastered.
QUASART works with European leaders in bio-based insulation.
Germany · Wood fibre referenceGermany · Reference · PEFC
STEICO
Protect · Special Dry · FlexWorld's leading wood fibre panel manufacturer. STEICO Protect (rigid, rendered ETICS), Special Dry (ventilated cladding ETICS), Flex (interior insulation). Lambda 0.038 W/m·K, density 140 kg/m³. Benchmark thermal lag.
Protect — rendered ETICS, rain-resistant 6 weeks
Special Dry — ventilated cladding ETICS, open diffusion
Lambda 0.038 W/m·K — high bio-based performance
ACERMI · PEFC · Nature Plus certified
Germany · Black ForestGermany · Black Forest · Carbon −
GUTEX
Ultratherm · Thermowall · MultithermGerman manufacturer (Black Forest) specialising in high-density wood fibre panels. Ultratherm (rendered ETICS), Thermowall (cladding ETICS), Multitherm (multi-purpose). 100% renewable energy production. Certified negative carbon footprint.
Ultratherm — rendered ETICS, density 160 kg/m³
Thermowall — ventilated cladding ETICS
100% renewable energy production
Nature Plus · PEFC · Blue Angel
Italy · Hemp-limeItaly · Hemp-lime · Heritage
DIATHONITE
Evolution · Acoustix · ThermaciaSprayed hemp-lime render — insulation + finish in a single layer. Lambda 0.065-0.070 W/m·K. Natural moisture regulator, absorbs and releases humidity. Authentic mineral appearance. Ideal for historic buildings and listed facades.
Evolution — hemp-lime insulating render
Acoustix — enhanced acoustic attenuation
Lambda 0.065-0.070 — insulating and decorative
Natural raw materials, CO₂ negative
Switzerland · Soprema GroupSwitzerland · Soprema · PEFC
PAVATEX (SOPREMA)
Isolair · Pavatherm · DiffuthermWood fibre range by the Soprema group. Isolair (ETICS with integrated rain screen), Pavatherm (rendered ETICS), Diffutherm (interior open diffusion). Swiss-made, PEFC-sourced wood. Widely used in Luxembourg and Belgium.
Isolair — integrated rigid rain screen
Pavatherm — rendered ETICS, lambda 0.038
Diffutherm — interior open-diffusion insulation
Soprema Group · PEFC · Swiss made
System components
Insulation, fixing, finish — three layers, one natural system.
Mechanical fixing
Bio-based specific anchoring — expansion or screw anchors, 6 to 10/m². Standard ETICS anchors are compatible. Supplementary adhesive by Weber, Sto or Baumit depending on the system.
Reinforced base coat
Glass fibre mesh embedded in a mineral or organic base coat. Impact resistance class I to III. Double reinforcement on ground floor and exposed areas. Thickness 3 to 5 mm.
Render or cladding finish
Thin render (3-8 mm) or hydraulic render (15-25 mm) on rigid wood fibre. Ventilated cladding (wood, fibre cement, metal) on flexible or rigid wood fibre with air gap.
Moisture management
Bio-based insulators are hygroscopic — they absorb and release moisture. Wall design must follow the factor 5 rule (Sd ext < Sd int / 5) to prevent condensation.
Subsidies & grants
Financial subsidies are available through myenergy (Klimabonus) for ETICS with R ≥ 3.7 m²·K/W. Bio-based insulators qualify under the same conditions. Visit myenergy.lu.
Installation process
Bio-based ETICS installation steps
Bio-based ETICS installation requires special attention to moisture, storage and weather conditions.
01
Assessment & design
Thermal study, target thermal lag calculation, substrate verification. Insulation choice based on constraints (fire, acoustics, exposure). Dynamic summer/winter simulation.
Thermal lag · Substrate · Simulation02
Storage & protection
Wood fibre panels must be stored sheltered from rain (wrapped pallet, tarpaulin). STEICO Protect withstands rain for 6 weeks, but dry storage extends installation quality.
Dry · Covered · 6 wks max03
Bonding & anchoring
Adhesive applied in dabs/beads (Weber, Sto), then mechanical anchoring after setting. Staggered layout, crossed joints. Aluminium starter profiles. Reinforced corners.
Dabs · Anchors · Staggered04
Reinforcement & finish
Glass fibre reinforced base coat, minimum 48h drying. Trowelled, scratched or lime finish coat as selected. Conditions: > 5 °C, < 30 °C, no rain, no frost.
48h drying · > 5 °C · Render05
Ventilated cladding (option)
For cladding finish: timber or metal frame fixed through insulation, minimum 20 mm air gap, rain screen if insulation is not water-resistant. Top and bottom ventilation mandatory.
Air gap · Rain screen · VentilationTechnical standards
Standards & certifications
Every QUASART installation complies with current standards for bio-based insulators.
ETAG 004 / EAD
ETICS systems
European assessment guideline for the complete ETICS system — bio-based insulator, fixing, render. Basis for manufacturer ETAs (STEICO, Gutex, Pavatex).
EN 13171
Wood fibre panels
European standard for wood fibre insulation panels — declared lambda, thermal resistance, water absorption, mechanical resistance.
EN 13170
Expanded cork (ICB)
European standard for expanded cork insulation panels — thermal, mechanical and dimensional characteristics.
ACERMI
Thermal certification
French certification of insulation thermal performance. Certified lambda, ISOLE classification (I vapour, S compression, O water, L fire, E mechanical).
EN 13501-1
Fire classification
Wood fibre classified E (combustible). Rock wool fire barrier strips mandatory every 2 levels and around openings in public and high-rise buildings. Hemp-lime classified B-s1,d0.
RE 2020 / GPE
Thermal performance
Bio-based ETICS is fully compatible with RE 2020 and Luxembourg GPE regulations. LCA (Life Cycle Analysis) bonus for materials with negative carbon footprint.
Application areas
Bio-based ETICS — for whom?
01
Individual houses — summer comfort
The 14-18 h thermal lag eliminates the need for air conditioning in summer. Wood fibre is the ideal insulator for homes with converted lofts and south/west-facing facades.
02
Historic building renovation
Diathonite hemp-lime render is the reference choice for stone, brick or half-timbered facades. Open diffusion, natural mineral appearance, compatibility with irregular substrates.
03
Low carbon footprint projects
Negative carbon footprint (1 m³ of wood fibre stores 250 kg of CO₂). DGNB, BREEAM and HQE certifications reward the use of bio-based materials in ETICS.
04
Multi-unit housing — acoustics
The high density of wood fibre (140-160 kg/m³) provides excellent acoustic attenuation. Combined with cork, bio-based ETICS reduces facade noise by an additional 5 to 8 dB.
Selected projects
Bio-based ETICS in practice
STEICO Protect 200mm + trowelled render
Residential · 2024Villa BridelBridel, Luxembourg
Gutex Ultratherm + larch cladding
Renovation · 2024Strassen HouseStrassen, Luxembourg
Diathonite sprayed hemp-lime
Heritage · 2023Restored Remich FarmRemich, Luxembourg
STEICO Protect 240mm + lime render
Passivhaus · 2024Passive Residence BertrangeBertrange, Luxembourg
Pavatex Pavatherm + thin ETICS
Multi-unit · 2023Esch HousingEsch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
STEICO Protect 160mm + wood cladding
Residential · 2023Thionville HouseThionville, France
Insulating with wood means storing carbon in the walls. In summer, thermal lag does what air conditioning cannot — regulate naturally.QUASART — Installation philosophy
FAQ
Questions about bio-based ETICS
Everything you need to know
In supply terms, wood fibre costs 15 to 30% more than EPS and 5 to 15% more than rock wool. Cork is the most expensive (×2 to ×3). However, the extra cost is partially offset by summer air conditioning savings and a longer lifespan (50+ years). Financial subsidies are available through myenergy (Klimabonus) — visit myenergy.lu.
No — STEICO Protect and Gutex Ultratherm panels are designed to withstand driving rain for 6 weeks without protection. They are hygroscopic: they temporarily absorb moisture and release it without performance loss. However, dry storage on site is recommended.
With a 200 mm rigid panel at 140 kg/m³ (STEICO Protect), the thermal lag is 14 to 16 hours. This means that the 2pm heat reaches the inner face of the wall around 4am — when it's already cool outside. For 18h+ thermal lag, upgrade to 240 mm.
Financial subsidies exist in Luxembourg for insulation works. The myenergy programme (Klimabonus) may cover part of your investment if R ≥ 3.7 m²·K/W. Bio-based insulators qualify under the same conditions as conventional insulators. Visit myenergy.lu.
Yes — STEICO Protect, Gutex Ultratherm and Pavatex Pavatherm rigid panels are specifically designed to receive a thin ETICS render (3-8 mm). The system is identical to standard ETICS on EPS: reinforced base coat + Weber, Sto or Baumit finish coat.
Wood fibre is classified E (combustible). In ETICS, rock wool fire barrier strips are mandatory every 2 levels and around openings in public and high-rise buildings (EN 13501-1). The finish coat (A2-s1,d0) protects the insulation. QUASART strictly follows the fire requirements of each ETA.
Areas of operation