**Material Research Ltd** has developed a novel bio-based insulation material that utilises locally grown hemp as the insulating material, held together with a patent pending binder. This material, trade marked HempSil, has already been licensed for use as the moisture buffering insulation within a pre-fabricated construction solution comprising a breathable thermal envelope, cladding, internal walls, internal finishes and MEP services. The Natural Building System requires a breathable board to provide a fire resistant layer and to support the internal finishes and currently the only available materials are cement based woodwool materials which have relatively high embodied energy and are heavy and awkward to handle. This project is a feasibility study to create a replacement for imported woodwool boards which will make use of a waste stream from the production of biodiesel, combined with locally grown hemp.Hemp is an annual crop which bio-remediates contaminated soil, improves soil structure and nutrient levels and can lead to greater yields in follow-on crops. Most importantly hemp is a growing industry which empowers small communities by providing local manufacturing and industry employment. The combination of these two materials will result in a low density breathable acoustic and thermal insulation board with a very low environmental impact. A 25mm thick 2m x 600mm board will weigh around 6kg and would have a thermal conductivity of 60mW/mK. The proposal is to develop this material, using known technology, through to prototype full scale boards. Benefits from this novel board include: * Supply chain resilience with no reliance on imported raw materials or finished goods * Growth in local employment * Valorisation of an industrial waste-stream * Improved ease of use on site through lower unit weights * Improved thermal performance of buildings

The tragedy at Grenfell Tower in 2017 highlighted the dangers associated with the use of combustible insulation in high-rise dwellings, giving rise to the interdiction of their use in buildings taller than 18m. PIR insulation is extensively used as a convenient, energy efficient method of insulating buildings, but is inherently combustible and was implicated in the Grenfell disaster. A safe non-combustible alternative to foam insulation is a critical requirement for the construction industry to meet fire regulations and improve fire safety. **MilaFoam** is a mineral based material that has been shown in the laboratory to be totally non-combustible and with the potential of being fabricated as an ultra-low density rigid foam panel with a thermal conductivity of the order of 0.02W/m.K. When exposed to high temperatures, prototype versions of **MilaFoam** does not combust, deform, or emit any gases, indicating that it will not only be Euroclass A for fire resistance, but also for safety in terms of smoke inhalation. In addition, the constituent ingredients and the manufacturing process are intrinsically low energy, meaning that **MilaFoam** is not only low energy in use, but also has low embodied energy. This project seeks to take **MilaFoam** from the laboratory through to a prototype capable of being manufactured at high volume using a modified version of the same plant currently used to manufacture PIR insulation. This means that current insulation manufacturers can start to manufacture and distribute **MilaFoam** very soon after taking out a licence. Since **MilaFoam** has the same physical characteristics as PIR insulation (lightweight, robust, rigid, highly thermally efficient boards -- but non-combustible), it can be used to rapidly replace existing flammable insulation using the same fixing methods. This will make it a highly cost effective solution to restoring the fire-safety of high rise buildings. Similarly, builders who are familiar with the installation of PIR insulation will not have to learn new skills when installing **MilaFoam**. **MilaFoam** uses low environmental impact materials that are readily available at low cost, and which have a lower environmental impact than PIR which is made from Benzene (a carcinogenic extract from crude oil). This means it is not only beneficial to the pocket but also to human health and that of the environment.