Mineral wool (also known as Rockwool) is one of the most common insulating materials currently used in the US and Canada. It is made from natural rock and steel slag, a recycled by-product of steel production.
Mineral wool insulation is typically made from volcanic rocks such as basalt, dolomite, or diabase. It also contains some recycled materials such as steel slag and iron-ore waste. Hence, mineral wool is made almost entirely from raw materials that are recyclable, natural, and renewable. Thousands of tons worth of slag is produced every year by the iron ore and steel industries. Typically, this waste material is sent off to landfills to clog the earth’s surface for centuries to come. The manufacturing process of mineral wool turns this waste material into effective and high-performing insulation. It makes excellent use of industrial waste that wouldn’t otherwise have been used for anything productive. Volcanic rocks are the other component of mineral wool. As you probably know, rocks and stones are natural resources that are almost inexhaustible in quantity. Igneous or volcanic rocks form more than 15 percent of the planet’s entire land surface. .
Mineral wool insulation provides a barrier to heat’s natural tendency to flow to colder surfaces. Properly installed, it will cost-effectively reduce heating and cooling demand, increase overall energy efficiency resulting in substantial energy savings and carbon emission reductions over the lifetime of buildings.
Fire causes incalculable social, financial and environmental damage – many lives are lost every year. Buildings and their contents contribute to the spread of fire. Mineral wool insulation contributes to safer buildings by delaying fire spread, acting as a fire barrier, slowing down fires and giving emergency services extra time to reach buildings – this helps to save lives, money, property and keeps pollution to a minimum.
Unwanted sound or noise pollution inhibits privacy, increases agitation and is bad for human health, concentration and productivity. A 10dB reduction in sound levels is perceived by the human ear as a halving of the audible sound – a well-constructed wall using mineral wool insulation can reduce noise transmission by more than 50dB!
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