Rock wool just makes wood stud structures safer. This is the same material used for fireproof steel components in commercial buildings. Rock wool will withstand temperatures that reduce glass fiber to molten lava. Rock wool will increase the standing time of wood structure houses in a fire. It gives occupants more time to leave safely and firefighters safer time to enter burning houses.
Now let's look at some broad conclusions. Rock wool board is a completely different material from glass fiber. Or do they both happen to belong to the broad classification of batts.
Rock wool has a higher insulation value than glass fiber. The rigid shape of rock wool and the ability to accurately measure and cut enable it to fill stud voids more completely than any other insulation product, with less effort and faster. Rock wool is suitable for more builders and building practices, without new processes and extensive training, or changing new installation processes.
Rock wool is a simple way for the vast majority of builders to enhance their construction efficiency and start building more houses better.
Those who focus on building technology usually immediately point out the presence of formaldehyde in the adhesives used for rock wool. For a long time, formaldehyde-based resins have been used as the "glue" to prevent fiber insulation materials from separating. It has long been used in glass fiber and is still used in many glass fiber products today, but it is clearly on the way out.
Rock wool still contains a very small amount of formaldehyde-based adhesive. Wall insulation products meet relevant certification standards, which means they can be used in schools, daycare centers or other environments where children are active for long periods, and can be used for a very long time. Of course, if you are a builder transitioning from traditional glass fiber batts, the formaldehyde emissions of this rock wool may be lower than what you used before.
Rock wool boards have 75% to 93% recyclable components, depending on the availability of raw materials, and they are almost "zero landfill". It would be great if the same performance could be obtained from materials with less embodied energy. The energy saved by the service life performance of rock wool will greatly exceed any difference in the manufacturing energy of the glass fiber you use now. For higher R-value insulation materials, it will eventually open up a larger market.
Not all of these companies are actively promoting rock wool for residential building insulation, but it is worth noting that we find that almost most building structures cannot do without rock wool. And the classification of glass fiber, similar to rock wool, is considered so-called "biosoluble". This means that these mineral fibers will dissolve when in contact with tissue, leaving no fibers to cause disease. Whether glass fiber can get rid of its unhealthy reputation, or whether it will be replaced by rock wool with higher performance levels, remains to be determined.
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