Celenit is a series of thermal and acoustic insulation panels made from mineralised fir wood-wool coated in the mineral binder, Portland cement. Further Celenit products include the important series of sandwich panels obtained by joining one or two panels with other insulating products, thus uniting the best characteristics of all the components.

65% of Celenit is made up of long, strong fir fibres, the remaining 35% being made up of mineral binders, mainly Portland cement. The fibres are mineralised, a procedure which, while retaining the mechanical properties of the wood, stops the process of biological deterioration, renders the fibres completely inert and increases their level of fire resistance. The fibres are then coated in Portland cement, bound together under pressure in order to create a stable, resistant, compact and long-lasting structure.

 




Photograph, taken through an electronic microscope, showing a section of a thin layer of fir wood-wool taken from a standard panel. University of Padua, February 1995.

The cellular structure of the wood gives the insulation panels lightness and elasticity.
The sound absorption and the excellent ability to adhere to all forms of mortar are due to the gaps between the fibres.
The combination of wood and Portland cement, joined under pressure, determines the product's compactness and strength, two qualities always appreciated in the building trade.
These characteristics make Celenit a multi-purpose product of great adaptability in the building industry.

It is used for:

• concrete casting insulation
• flooring insulation
• roofing insulation
• internal and external facings
• the facing of fire resistant walls
• the facing of wooden, metal, etc. structures
• acoustic insulation between floors and adjacent rooms
• sound-absorbing, false ceilings

Its transpiration properties and lack of noxious elements identify it as a natural material that meets the principles of biological architecture.

Celenit has been certified as being eco-biocompatible by ANAB (Italian National Association for Bioecological Architecture), IBO (Österreichisches Institut für Baubiologie - Wien), IBN (Institut für Baubiologie Neubeuern - Germany).

Celenit is produced by a firm which operates in accordance with the Quality System, in compliance with ISO 9001:2000 regulations, certificate IT 2161.

Celenit is a member of ANAB-ANIT-UNI-CTI.

FIR WOOD-WOOL - WHY

Fir is the best wood for this type of product. Its fibres are the most resistant and ductile, and result in a light, sturdy panel, like the precious wood from which it derives.

PORTLAND CEMENT - WHY

Amongst the panels made of wood-wool and mineral binders, those using Portland cement give the best levels of thermal insulation.
Furthermore, Portland cement:

• Renders panels completely waterproof, freeze-proof and damp-proof, making them appropriate for use in even the most severe temperature conditions. Proof of the excellent performance of panels in Portland cement is given by research carried out by the German Ministry for Public Works, which verified the cement's behaviour in humid conditions compared to that of other mineral binders. 

• Resists biological degradation by hindering the development of mould on the panels, even in the worst conditions. Indeed, such panels taken from old buildings, which had been in contact with the ground, contain less mould than healthy wood! This was the finding of research carried out at a qualified laboratory.

• Renders the fibres fire-resistant. Indeed, in the event of fire, they do not create toxic gases or fumes, they do not drip, and they prevent the spreading of flames. It is classified as a Class 1 (B1) product, though strict Swiss regulations classify products in fir wood-wool and Portland cement as practically incombustible, class 6.q.3.

• Ensures a progressive petrifaction of the product, due to the process of carbonation of the lime contained in Portland cement, which takes place over time. This process has allowed our architectural heritage, from ancient villages to the most notable monuments, to survive until today!

• Allows us to produce, thanks to the low temperature, all the multi-layered panels (coupled with other insulators) that make up the most innovative products on the European market.

The combination of wood and Portland cement forms a light, porous structure made up of numerous cavities, and it is these that deaden sound waves, turning the panels into excellent sound-absorbers and acoustic insulators when placed between walls, under floors, etc. 

Research findings are as follows: panels with Portland cement were the only ones to demonstrate a totally intact state, with "sharp corners and fibres fully adherent to one another, thanks to the binder" (Portland cement in this case). In this regard, Padua University carried out some important studies, with excellent results, on panels subjected to freezing and defrosting cycles.