Barrisol Biowood®: The Bio-Based System, One of a Kind
- Jacob Gryc
- Apr 6
- 3 min read
The building industry is changing - and fast. Architects and designers across Ontario are navigating stricter sustainability requirements, rising material costs, and clients who expect more from their interiors than just good looks. Barrisol Biowood® is a product that answers all of it at once.
It’s not a minor update to an existing system. It’s a genuine world innovation - and here’s why it matters.
What Is Barrisol Biowood®?
Barrisol Biowood® is a stretch ceiling membrane where wood and plant-based materials replace petroleum-derived components. The membrane contains a bio-based plasticizer made from up to 92% natural ingredients - making it one of the most sustainably formulated stretch ceiling systems available anywhere in the world.
The range currently includes an Ultra Matt white sheet, two translucent options, and a silver mirror finish - all derived from wood and plant sources. And because it’s still a Barrisol system at its core, it retains all the performance characteristics the industry has come to rely on.
Built for Green Building Standards
LEED certification is no longer a “nice to have” for commercial and institutional projects in Ontario - it’s increasingly a baseline expectation. Barrisol Biowood® is designed to support that direction.
It holds GreenGuard Gold certification, carries the Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 label, and achieves a VOC emissions class A+, the highest possible rating for indoor air quality. For projects pursuing LEED points, this membrane checks the right boxes without requiring trade-offs on aesthetics or performance.
Performance That Doesn’t Compromise
Sustainability credentials alone don’t close a specification. Barrisol Biowood® earns its place on the schedule for technical reasons too.
The membrane is fire rated, non-porous, antistatic, waterproof, and moisture resistant - making it viable across a wide range of environments from healthcare to hospitality. It can also be acoustically treated to achieve absorption ratings of A15, A20, A30, or A40, giving you acoustic design flexibility built right into the ceiling plane.
And because it’s compatible with Barrisol Clim®, the entire ceiling system can function as a uniform HVAC distribution surface - eliminating the need for separate diffusers and reducing dependence on aluminum components (a material whose cost has risen significantly). The result is cleaner design, less labour, and lower long-term maintenance.
Design Freedom Still Fully Intact
Going bio-based doesn’t mean going plain. Barrisol Printing is available for the Biowood membrane, so custom graphics, brand imagery, or architectural photography can be applied directly to a ceiling that’s also contributing to your project’s sustainability story.
It's also worth noting that Barrisol's aluminum profiles - installed on the perimeter and used to fasten the Biowood and ensure smooth, even light diffusion - are made from more than 80% post-consumer recycled material and are 100% recyclable, making the entire assembly fully aligned with circular economy principles.
Award-Winning Innovation
The industry has taken notice. Barrisol Biowood® has received the Décarbonons Award, the InvESTir l’Avenir Award, and the JTSE Award (with ORAY) - recognitions that reflect how seriously the product advances the global transition toward low-carbon construction.
The Bottom Line
For architects and designers specifying interiors in Ontario, Barrisol Biowood® offers something rare: a ceiling system that genuinely performs on sustainability, doesn’t sacrifice technical or acoustic capability, and still gives you the design freedom your projects require.
It’s not a compromise. It’s the direction the industry is heading - and it’s available now.
Interested in specifying Barrisol Biowood® for your next project? Contact the LG Interiors team - we’d be happy to walk you through the options.
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