4-Benefits-in-one
Mineral wool offers unparalleled ‘4-benefits-in-one’ products that meet ever more testing demands in terms of thermal, fire and acoustic requirements and environmental performance, both during use and when its whole-life impact on the environment is assessed.
1. Thermal Insulation
Mineral wool provides excellent thermal insulation, which helps to restrict heat transfer through building envelopes thus reducing the demand for space heating and cooling energy. This in turn reduces a host of negative environmental impacts associated with the production of gas and electricity, including the emissions of CO2 and other pollutants such as Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) and Nitrogen Oxides (NOX) which are associated with global warming and acid rain. As well as these environmental benefits, thermal insulation provides increased comfort for building occupants (warmer in winter, cooler in summer) and delivers substantial cost savings.
2. Acoustic Protection
The ability of mineral wool to absorb sound energy means that it is able to improve the acoustic performance of walls, floors and roofs helping to restrict noise transfer within a building, from one building to another and both to and from a building and the external environment.
3. Fire Protection
Mineral wool is non-combustible, so provides in-built fire protection and effectively contributes to the fire safety of buildings.
4. Environmental Sustainability
Mineral wool insulation is one of the few building materials that saves energy in use and reduces the need for combustion of fossil fuels to provide energy for the heating or cooling of buildings.
When used as a thermal insulant in its in-use phase mineral wool will save many tens of times more CO2 and primary energy than is invested in the sourcing of raw materials, manufacture, distribution, installation and disposal at end of life. The balances become positive in the first few years after installation. The recycled content and recyclability of the material reduces waste disposal needs and saves valuable resources both now and in the future. This is shown in the Green Guide A+ rating of many mineral wool products. For further information please see sustainability credentials