A Clear Difference: Wood Fiber Vs. Other Insulation Options

High-performance, healthy, and sustainable wood fiber insulation is now manufactured for the first time in the U.S. from TimberHP, allowing specifiers and installers to build better without compromise.

If you’re a builder, architect, or property owner, it can be a challenge deciding which insulation to use. You have no doubt made sacrifices in one area in favor of another, such as affordability versus sustainability, or high r-value versus toxicity… etc). Now, for the first time, we have a safe, affordable, fire-resistant, vapor-open insulation solution that is healthier, lowers carbon footprints and delivers thermal and acoustic performance, naturally. See for yourself how Wood Fiber measures up to Conventional Insulation Options.

Setting a New Standard for Performance

	Wood Fiber	Mineral Wool	Spray Foam	Fiberglass	Cellulose
Thermal Barrier	High R-values, and thermal storage for year-round comfort, draft reduction, and stabilized temperatures. See our ICC-ES Evaluation Reports	High R-values but limited thermal storage.	High initial R-value but performance degrades with age/installation flaws.	Moderate R-value, thermal bridging common, drafts possible.	Good R-value per inch, but settles over time, reducing coverage.
Acoustic Comfort	Industry-leading sound dampening across walls. See our Rated Acoustic Assemblies	Good sound absorption.	Minimal acoustic benefit.	Moderate sound reduction, less dense than wood fiber or mineral wool.	Fair sound absorption, inconsistent performance over time.
Fire Resistance	Fire-Resistant. Tested to ASTM E-84 Class A Flame/Smoke with the addition of liquid borate — no toxic chemical retardants. See our Fire Rated Wall Assemblies	Noncombustible. ASTM E-84, Class A Rated.	Generally combustible. Burns and emits toxic smoke unless heavily chemically treated.	Fire resistant, but melts under high heat.	Fire-retardant treated, but performance can decreases over time
Cost	Competitive with mineral wool and made with renewable materials.	Higher cost than TimberBoard. Competitively priced with TimberBatt, but not made using renewable materials.	Higher cost than TimberBoard.	Lower cost than TimberBatt	Comparable with TimberFill.

Promoting Healthier Environments & Living Spaces

	Wood Fiber	Mineral Wool	Spray Foams	Fiberglass	Cellulose
Installation	Itch-free and has no VOCs, formaldehyde, or added toxins. Red List Free.	Can cause skin / respiratory irritation. PPE recommended.	Contains isocyanates and VOCs; requires full protective gear during install.	Causes skin irritation and respiratory issues. PPE required.	Dusty during install; requires masks and goggles.
Air Quality & Moisture Management	Vapor open & breathable. Doesn’t trap humidity, reducing the risk of condensation, mold, and rot. See Moisture Management in Action!	Vapor-open, but can absorb water and lose effectiveness if wet.	Airtight but vapor-closed — traps moisture, risk of hidden mold/rot.	Loses R-value when wet; prone to mold in damp conditions.	Vapor-open but absorbs moisture easily; needs chemical treatment.

A Product Lifecycle That’s Better for the Planet

	Wood Fiber	Mineral Wool	Spray Foam	Fiberglass	Cellulose
Carbon Footprint (Cradle to Gate)	Carbon Negative — stores biogenic carbon absorbed by trees, locking the carbon in buildings for the life of the material. See More Carbon Storing Details	High-energy, carbon-intensive production.	Made from petrochemicals; very high embodied carbon.	Energy- intensive manufacturing, moderate embodied carbon.	Lower carbon impact, but often stores about as much carbon as is emitted during manufacturing.
Sustainability in Sourcing and Manufacturing	Made in Maine from abundant, residual softwood chips produced as byproducts of lumber yard milling. Stores more carbon than is produced during the manufacturing process.	Made with a percentage of recycled materials, including natural stone. Uses an energy- intensive manufacturing process.	Some spray foam options offer sustainable materials like soy, castor oil, or recycled plastics and water-based blowing agents in place of chemicals. Manufacturing sustainability depends on chemical components and blowing agents.	Can be made using recycled glass and is produced using sand, a renewable resource. Uses an energy- intensive manufacturing process.	Made from recycled paper and uses less energy to produce.
Recyclability at End-of-Life	100% recyclable & renewable	Not recyclable – ends up in a landfill.	Not recyclable and is considered hazardous waste upon disposal.	Not recyclable and is considered hazardous waste upon disposal.	Not easily recyclable.