# Mycelium-Derived Fire-Proof Materials RMIY University Research are Testing Mycelium Sheets By Kalin Ned | Published 2023-07-21 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fireproof-materials References: [yankodesign](https://www.yankodesign.com/2023/07/20/fungi-could-be-the-material-that-keeps-your-home-fire-proof-in-the-future/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fungi-could-be-the-material-that-keeps-your-home-fire-proof-in-the-future) & [sciencedirect](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0141391023001076?via=ihub) Fire-proof materials for buildings will always be of interest to architects and designers. Recently, a team of researchers at [RMIT University](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mpavilion-9) in Melbourne announced their experiments with mycelium sheets as a fire-proof material that could potentially be used as building insulation in the future. Mycelium is the vegetative part of a fungus, consisting of a network of thread-like structures called hyphae. The organic material has grown in popularity in recent years because of its malleability and its promise for sustainability, RMIT University researchers were able to produce a thin mycelium layer through the process of bioengineering fungi. In order to continue pursuing this innovation and making the fire-proof material market-ready, the researchers will need too collaborate with the "mushroom industry." Image Credit: RMIT University ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.3/10 - Popularity: 59% | Activity: 83% | Freshness: 16% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Fire-proof Materials:** Opportunity for creating innovative fire-proof materials using mycelium sheets. - **Building Insulation:** Opportunity to use mycelium sheets as an eco-friendly building insulation material. - **Sustainability:** Opportunity to leverage the malleability and sustainability of mycelium for various applications. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Architecture:** Opportunity for architects to explore the use of mycelium sheets as fire-proof materials and insulation in building projects. - **Design:** Opportunity for designers to incorporate mycelium sheets as a sustainable and innovative material in their designs. - **Mushroom Industry:** Opportunity for collaboration between mycelium researchers and the mushroom industry to further develop and commercialize mycelium-based fire-proof materials. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Fungal Foam Solutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mattress-foam.md) - [Flame-Retardent Mycelium Pods](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/living-with-wildfire.md) - [Sustainable Design Materials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mycoworks-reishi.md) - [Mycelium-Growing 3D-Printed Scaffolds](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/3dprinted-scaffold.md) - [Mycellium Material Art Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mycelium-muse.md) - [Mycelium Sustainable Bright Partitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/veggro-collection.md) - [3D-Printed Mycelium Columns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blast-studio.md) - [Furry Mycelium Sustainable Chairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aifunghi.md) - [Compact Mycelium Biohybrid Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mushroom-robot.md)