Rock Mineral Wool Insulation Vs Glass Wool Insulation

Rock Mineral Wool Insulation & Glass Wool Insulation

Rock Mineral Wool & Glass Wool Insulation Types: What are they and why should you choose them?

Glass wool and Rock Wool insulation types are manufactured as rolls, slabs, pipe sections and crimped or wired mats.

Rock Mineral Wool is a versatile form of insulation with a wide array of applications in different buildings and industries. It is formed from a natural type of volcanic rock called basalt which is heated until it becomes molten and is then spun into fibres, creating a mat used as insulation. At Thermal Clad we specialise in thermal insulation installations to HVAC and industrial pipework and ductwork installations.  Effective insulation means the plant does have to work as hard to maintain the operating temperature of the plant and maintains the optimum temperature of fluids distributed around a building within the pipework and ductwork, therefore reducing energy consumption.

In fact, there are a number of different wool insulations with similar names, and today we will be discussing two of them. Whilst they all provide thermal insulation and help to reduce energy consumption, they do hold different positive and negative aspects.

The other type of mineral wool insulation is glass mineral wool, also known as fibreglass, made from recycled glass and sand. It’s so effective because the process traps many small pockets of air between the glass, and these small air pockets result in high thermal insulation properties.

The R-value is an insulating material’s resistance to conductive heat flow. The higher the value, the greater the insulating effectiveness.  An R-value relates to a material’s ability to resist heat following through it at a certain thickness. The higher the R-value, the better it can resist heat transfer. When comparing the R-values of glass wool and mineral wool insulation, they both tend to have a thermal conductivity of around 0.044W/mK, so they are very similar in this regard.

Let’s now compare mineral wool insulation against glass wool insulation:

Benefits of Mineral Wool Insulation

• Superior compressive strength: It’s made up of hard rock fibres bound together ready for use.
• Cost-effective solution: Mineral wool insulation helps to prevent fluids within pipework and ductwork services from losing or gaining heat throughout distribution due to its insulation properties, which helps to save money in the long term.
• Rock mineral wool pipe insulation prevents the formation of condensation which can cause corrosion or damage to the surrounding structure and can also reduce unwanted noise, particularly when used to insulate rain/waste water pipework.
• Improved fire safety: It has a higher melting temperature and minimises the transfer of heat extremely effectively, especially when compared with other insulation options. it is an incombustible material with the capacity to resist high temperatures without fuelling the fire or spreading flames.
• If you’re looking for a moisture-resistant form of insulation, mineral wool is a reliable choice. Mineral wool is resistant to water, so it doesn’t get damp and provides good growing conditions for fungi, mould, mildew or other bacterial growth. protecting your investment over a longer period of time.

Benefits of Glass Wool Insulation

• An eco-friendly insulation solution: When purchasing glass wool from our suppliers. Thermal Clad Ltd will purchase glass wool manufactured by leading brands. These products have Zero Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP) with no CFCs or HCFCs produced during the manufacturing process.  The manufacturer incorporates recycled glass into their manufacturing processes, which reduces landfilling and the need for new raw materials, making for a greener insulation product, meaning you are gaining great thermal benefits whilst also helping to protect the environment.
• Glass wool doesn’t fuel fire or propagate flames either, as it is incombustible by nature. 
• Cost-effective solution: Glass wool insulation helps to prevent fluids within pipework and ductwork services from losing or gaining heat throughout distribution.

Due to its insulation properties, which helps to save money in the long-term. The exceptional thermal properties help save energy and therefore reduce emissions.

Looking for a mineral wool insulation solution? Get in touch and speak to a member of our expert team today on 01827 259 972, or get your FREE mineral wool insulation quote today.