Fiberglass insulation has long been a popular option for slowing the transmission of heat through the walls and ceilings of a home. While it may have the added benefit of creating a fire-resistant layer between the interior and exterior walls, fiberglass still may not measure up to the natural abilities of Rockwool. Like fiberglass, Rockwool is an insulation material that is regularly used in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings.
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However, Rockwool can be differentiated from fiberglass by comparing the heat retention, fire resistance, moisture resistance, and soundproofing capabilities. Keep reading to find out more about Rockwool insulation.
The process by which Rockwool insulation is made helps to explain the true fire-resistant potential of this product. It’s composed primarily of basalt rock and a recycled steel-making byproduct known as slag. These components are superheated, allowing them to liquefy and mix together into a lava-like liquid. In order to melt these substances, the temperatures must exceed 2,900 degrees Fahrenheit.
The mixture is then blown into a large spinning chamber designed to stretch the superheated liquid into fibers. These fibers are then gathered together and compressed into a mat, which can be cut into slabs of Rockwool insulation.
By creating Rockwool through this process, all organic matter is eliminated, greatly increasing the mold- and mildew-resistance of the finished product.
The confusion about the amount of recycled material used to make Rockwool insulation can mostly be attributed to the statistics about mineral wool insulation in general. Rockwool is a brand-specific type of mineral wool insulation that is so popular the name became synonymous with the appropriate term, which is mineral wool. The brand-specific Rockwool insulation is typically made of between 16 to 40 percent recycled materials, according to the manufacturer. However, the U.S. Department of Energy has stated mineral wool insulation contains an average of 75 percent of recycled materials.
This estimate is hard to back up because the Department of Energy makes the distinction between standard ‘rock wool’ insulation and ‘slag wool’ insulation, but doesn’t note the difference in the amount of recycled material for each product. Also, this is a perfect example of the ‘Rockwool’ brand name being used in place of the generic material name, blurring the lines between products.
In general, it can be derived that the amount of recycled material in Rockwool insulation is not precise because it ultimately depends on the specific product. Standard Rockwool insulation may only have between 16 to 40 percent recycled material, while slag Rockwool insulation can be made with up to 75 percent recycled material.
Both fiberglass and Rockwool are effective at keeping a home cool in the summer and warm in the winter, but the specific thermal efficiency of these materials favors Rockwool. While fiberglass insulation is capable of offering an R-value of about 2.2 to 2.7 per inch of insulation, Rockwool has an R-value between 3.0 to 3.3 per inch of insulation.
Fiberglass insulation also tends to lose its thermal efficiency over several years as it begins to degrade. Due to the method of construction and the materials used to make Rockwool insulation, the thermal performance of this insulation remains stable over the lifetime of the building. However, Rockwool tends to cost more per square foot than fiberglass insulation.
As noted previously, Rockwool insulation is formed from literal rocks and steel slag that must be heated beyond 2,900 degrees Fahrenheit in order to mix the component materials and create this highly effective insulation. With this in mind, it makes sense that mineral wool products in general can resist fire, flames, and heat up to 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit, while some Rockwool products are capable of resisting temperatures up to 2,150 degrees Fahrenheit without melting, smoking, or catching on fire.
This impressive heat-resistance is ideal for building homes because the insulation forms a fire-resistant barrier between the interior and exterior of the home, between rooms, and even between floors, slowing the spread of fire. It should be noted that fiberglass insulation is also highly heat-resistant, though it begins to melt at about 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit.
The durability of this insulation material is difficult to dispute, given that it is capable of retaining its thermal efficiency over several decades with minimal degradation in its R-value. This is primarily due to the materials used to make Rockwool insulation, including rock and steel slag, which are known for having a high level of durability and natural resistance to decay and corrosion.
However, the durability of Rockwool isn’t limited to the heat retention quality of the material. The impressive water-resistance, mold-resistance, mildew-resistance, and fire-resistance also contribute to the durability and capability of Rockwool insulation. This is especially true of the material’s moisture-resistant qualities, without which the insulation could absorb and retain water from highly humid air, causing the premature breakdown of the material.
Some people may not appreciate the heftiness of Rockwool insulation because it does tend to be thicker than fiberglass insulation, but this helps to slow the transmission of heat and it has the added effect of slowing sound waves. As sound waves attempt to move through the material, they are slowed and sometimes completely blocked, creating built-in soundproofing.
While the thickness of the insulation helps to block noise, it is the density of Rockwool insulation that provides the soundproofing. Fiberglass insulation has a density of about 0.5 to 1.0 pounds per cubic foot, allowing it to reduce sound by 4 to 10 decibels. Rockwool insulation has a density of around 1.7 pounds per cubic foot, which is capable of consistently dampening sound by 10 to 15 decibels.
The construction and composition of Rockwool makes it ideal for rooms that are prone to high levels of humidity, like the bathroom or kitchen. Rockwool insulation’s moisture-resistant and vapor-permeable qualities mean that any liquid water will drain away from the insulation instead of soaking into it, while gaseous water vapor will pass through without dampening the material.
Additionally, Rockwool insulation is inorganic, so it makes a poor medium for mold and mildew to grow as there is nothing for them to use for energy. In fact, Rockwool products are also tested and certified as resistant to fungal growth, reducing the chance that users will open up the wall and find a dangerous biological problem waiting for them.
Trace Heating Products
Rock wool insulation comes from a volcanic rock that is melted at a temperature of roughly 1,600C and then spun into wool. The newly created insulation is then bound together using resins and oils, giving the material waterproof qualities too. In this guide, we’ll be looking how rock wool insulation is used in relation to trace heating UK and the advantages of it.
How is rock wool insulation used?
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Pretty much all the insulation within a building can be done with rock wool, the walls, roof, and floor. Not only does rock wool insulation provide thermal insulation, but it also has many benefits relating to noise and fire too. Therefore, it can work with trace heating cable to help with fire protection and sound insulation as well. This suggests that it doesn’t have an organic breeding ground, meaning rock wool is entirely immune to mould and rot.
What are the advantages of rock wool?
Every insulation material has its own set of characteristics and work methods. This means that no one job is the same and you might need to select different insulation materials depending on the project. Below you can see some of the main advantages of rock wool insulation.
Vapour permeable material
In comparison to chemical products such as polyurethane foam, rock wool insulation is a vapour permeable material. So, damp can freely move around and evaporate, and the likelihood of damp problems stays minimised. With this is mind it is clear to see why rock wool is so frequently used for cavity wall insulation, as the cavity often touches damp.
Insulation value doesn’t change
A lot of insulation materials lose some of their insulation value as time goes by, but this doesn’t apply to rock wool. The initial value of rock wool will not change, so you will always be suitably insulated.
Rock wool vs glass wool
Unlike glass wool, rock wool insulation does not cause skin irritation to the same degree, making it easier to have installed.
Are there any disadvantages to rock wool insulation?
Some people prefer to go with fibreglass insulation over rock wool and the main reason behind this is the cost. The purchase price of rock wool is normally about 10% higher than fibreglass and other types of insulation. To make the right price comparison, it is best to consider the density of the insulation (quantity of material per cubic metre). Although this can vary widely from producer to producer, which naturally impacts the price and insulation value.
What is the weight of rock wool insulation?
The weight of rock wool comes down to the application it is being used for, the categories are:
Around 23kg/m3 in the case of blankets
30 to 80kg/m3 boards for common application, insulation, or cavities between beams
Approximately 90 to 150kg/m3 for applications under load, roof boards, and floating floors
Foil faced insulation batts
Foil faced insulation blankets are used for insulating roofs and stories. They are much cheaper than other types of insulation, but it can be difficult to get the batts into place. These insulation blankets can come in different finishes that will facilitate application onto the beams.
Standard insulation boards
Standard rock wool boards are mainly used to insulate cavity walls. They are very easy to install, and the boards can hide irregularities in the masonry. As a result of this, you can be sure that the external wall of the building is suitably insulated. The outside of the rock wool boards are, in the case of cavity walls, covered with a more solid finishing material that is wind and damp resistant.
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