Biological durability of Guyanese fibre-insulation boards in tropical context – Part 1: relationships between chemical composition, water behaviour, and termite, fungal and mould resistances

An energy-efficient transition to a more sustainable building industry is required to develop a circular economy by reducing the pressure on ecosystems. This study investigated the technological potential of fibre-insulation boards manufactured using main wood residues from the Guyanese timber industry, which is considered an eco-friendly and low-cost alternative to inorganic materials. However, such tropical resources remain understudied, and the thermo-hygrometric conditions of French Guiana impose significant constraints on bio-based materials, affecting their durability and performance over time. Specifically, this work aimed to assess the fungal, mould, and termite resistance of insulation boards using seven Guyanese wood species to improve the understanding of the physical behavior of these wood-based composites in tropical climates and to support their wider application in sustainable construction. In this paper, the effects of the chemical composition of wood fiber and the corresponding hygroscopic behaviour according to resistance against fungal, mould, and termite attacks are discussed in detail. Currently, wood durability standards focus mainly on European fungi and termites, and this study proposes a new protocol to evaluate wood fibre insulation boards under tropical conditions.