Mineral wool insulation

What is Mineral Wool Insulation?

Mineral wool insulation is also known as rock and slag wool insulation. This type of insulation is composed of non-compustible, man-made fibres with melting temperatures meeting or exceeding 1,800 to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Rock wool is composed of natural minerals, such as diabase or basalt, and slag wool consists of blast furnace slag, a byproduct of the steel manufacturing process.

Importance of Mineral Wool Insulation

Due to its non-combustible makeup and high melting temperature, mineral wool insulation helps prevent the spread of fire. Its fire-protective properties make it useful as a constituent of sprayed fire proofing and ceiling tile. Mineral wool insulation has such superb thermal resistance that it is frequently used in residential and commercial insulation, insulation in ships, mobile homes, appliances, and pipes.

Mineral wool insulation has the added benefit of being permanent, as it does not deteriorate or rot, as some other types of insulation do. It also will not absorb moisture, making it inhospitable to mold or mildew growth. Mineral wool insulation is also useful in providing sound control.

Cost Savings from Mineral Wool Insulation

Mineral wool insulation reduces energy use in homes and commercial buildings, providing not only lowered energy costs, but also a lessened impact on the environment. An extended benefit is that as it reduces energy consumption, it reduces the demand for additional power plants to be built, thereby saving money on a widescale basis through the community.

Mineral wool consists of approximately 75% recycled content, making it an environmentally sounder choice. Another cost saving characteristic of mineral wool is that it is already fire-resistant by nature, and does not require the application of additional chemicals to attain this property.