Abstract: An insulation panel having back and front faces spaced apart parallel to each other. A female edge has a recessed region along part of its length and a male edge has a complementary shape to the recessed region of the female edge so as to closely fit within the female edge of an adjacent similar insulation panel. A web extends across the distance separating the back and the front faces, the web being formed integrally with one of the faces. The female edge is generally channel shaped and has a base wall being defined by the web, the front wall comprising an edge portion of the front face which is turned inwardly towards the back face and then turned back upon itself to define a double thickness front wall of the channel shape, the edge portion of the front face turning to extend towards the back face so as to define the web. The male edge is also channel shaped but is stepped in so as to define a narrower width channel shape to fit within the female edge channel shape.

Abstract: A method of producing a particulate sterile material insulation or fertilizer, includes the step of comminuting a cellulose feed material such as paper, in a hammer mill so as to produce fine particles and fibres having a large surface area to volume ratio. The particulate material is entrained in an air stream to produce separate particles of the material, and the particulate material freely falls through an ultraviolet radiation flux for a period of time sufficient to substantially completely sterilize the particulate material. The product can be used in animal breeding sheds as floor insulation. The used material with animal droppings can be similarly processed to produce a sterile particulate fertilizer ingredient.

Abstract: A bonded fibre insulation batt is produced by ragging, teasing and otherwise doffering fibres of wool and/or synthetic or other natural fibres such as monoacrylic, acrylic, polyamide, polyester or cotton fibres, so as to form a sliver with said fibres randomly dispersed. The sliver is passed through a lapper which causes the sliver to lap on itself to form a mat of desired thickness. The sliver is sprayed with a resin emulsion prior to lapping so that the mat produced is throughly impregnated. The resin emulsion can include a fireproofing resin, and preferably a pesticide and a smoke retardant. The impregnated mat passes to a dryer to remove a substantial part of the water content thereof with minimal heating of the fibres. Following the water removal the mat passes to an oven to cure the resin thus forming the insulating batt which can be cut to desired size.