Choosing insulation for your home can be tricky as it is an essential part of a home and a decision that should not be taken lightly. Choose insulation like rock and glasswool insulation to have your home protected at all times.
The term “mineral wool” may be used to refer to either rock mineral wool or glass mineral wool, each of which has its own set of characteristics that set them apart from one another. Both rock mineral wool and glass mineral wool are commercially available in a variety of densities; hence, both of these types of mineral wool are flexible and may be used in a variety of building situations.
The two kinds of material have certain characteristics, yet they are also very different from one another. Continue reading to learn how to have your ceiling insulation made from the best insulation for your home.
Rockwool vs. Glasswool Insulation
There is an obvious preference for using glasswool in applications that are either home or industrial. Rockwool insulation’s capacity to adjust temperature might more than makeup for its higher initial cost, resulting in cheaper energy bills for heating and cooling. Find out which type of insulation is better below.
Sustainable
Depending on the production method, rock mineral wool has the potential to be a highly environmentally benign material; however, this cannot be guaranteed. A maximum of 25% of the components in some treatments, such as rock mineral wool, come from recycled sources. Rock mineral wool is another material that may assist in preventing heat loss and is a potential component in energy-efficient building design.
Increasing amounts of recycled glass are incorporated into the manufacturing of glasswool insulation. After it has served its purpose and reached the end of its useful life, the glass mineral wool that was used might be recycled and used again. It should be brought to your attention, however, that doing so in the UK is more difficult since there are currently no processes in place that are designed to “take back” the content.
Installation
The assembly of most rock mineral wool-based systems is a reasonably straightforward process. Rock mineral wool is easier to deal with in terms of cutting, transporting, and installing because of its lower weight compared to glass mineral wool. It is possible to cut many rock mineral wool systems using standard construction equipment, and they may be installed correctly without the need for any specialised tools at all.
In comparison to its cousin, rock mineral wool, glasswool insulation is much more flexible and lightweight due to the material’s lower density. Rock mineral wool is an ecologically friendly alternative to regular wool that is denser and more rigid than traditional wool. It is conceivable that one might be easier to set up than the other would be for a particular endeavour, but it is not guaranteed.
Insulation Against Sound and Heat
Systems for heating and cooling for ceiling insulation that are constructed out of rock mineral wool have R-values that vary from 3 to 3.3.
The R-values that can be achieved with glass mineral wool range from 2.2 to 2.7, which is acceptable but not quite as excellent as the values that can be achieved with rock mineral wool. Rock mineral wool is a very dense substance that exhibits exceptional insulating properties, both in terms of temperature and sound. As a result of its high density, rock mineral wool provides excellent sound absorption, and as a result, it may be used to insulate structures against the presence of unwanted noise.
Although items created from glass mineral wool have excellent thermal and acoustic properties, their effectiveness is not on par with that of counterparts made from rock mineral wool. Even though it’s thicker than rock wool, glass mineral wool doesn’t provide quite the same level of protection against sound.
Fire Resistant
Although it is said that both rock mineral wool and glasswool insulation are fireproof, the truth is that the two varieties of mineral wool really have varying degrees of resistance to fire.
The melting point of rock mineral wool is reportedly more than 1,000 degrees Celsius, which is a claim made by a number of manufacturers that create mineral wool insulation. It is well known that fibres made of glass mineral wool can withstand temperatures of around 400 degrees Celsius.
There will be several insulation solutions available that are incombustible and conform to the strict criteria of BS EN 13501-1 since they are manufactured from glass mineral wool. However, in order to ensure that the glasswool insulation chosen for a project satisfies this need, it is necessary to check this before making a final decision. Products made from glass mineral wool have the potential to attain the maximum possible degree of reactivity to fire classification, which is denoted by the Euroclass designation “A1.”
It is possible to employ glass mineral wool as part of a fire-stopping system to aid in fulfilling ever-stricter fire laws; nevertheless, the effectiveness of glass mineral wool insulation in preventing the spread of fire is not on par with that of rock mineral wool insulation.
Conclusion
Despite the fact that both of these materials perform their functions well, glasswool insulation may just work out for your home perfectly along with your budget. It is a kind of insulation that is highly regarded for both its effectiveness and its little impact on the environment. Because of its exceptional thermal properties, you will be able to reduce your carbon footprint and save money on your utility bills.