What is the importance of the density of the insulation when choosing a material? Density of mineral wool Mineral wool boards density 200 kg m3

In the process of building houses, cottages, heaters of various types are used.

And if you are building or reconstructing your own housing, then sooner or later you will face the question of which insulation to choose?

Today, the building materials market has a huge selection of manufacturers and brands of insulation.

All of them are designed for, flooring and much more.

Choose a heater according to their technical characteristics.

Characteristics :

The main parameter of the characteristics of the insulation, which will be discussed in our article today, is density. The density of the insulation varies from 11 to 400 kg/m3.

Classification of insulation by density level

Usually everyone remembers the physics of the school and associates the density of the insulation with weight, mass.

The heavier the better, but this does not always follow correctly, it comes from what factors and what operating conditions.

The choice of insulation directly depends on the budget, however paradoxical it may sound, and of course the load on the structure as a whole or on a specific element.

According to the density of the material, the following classification is distinguished:

Extra light

There are also grades with non-uniform stiffness, one side is compacted on the outside, and the other is soft on the inside.

The density and thickness of the insulation has a direct relationship. That is, for different types of floors, different heaters are required, both in thickness and in terms of thermal insulation density and.

From this we conclude that the thickness depends on its application:

• For the roof - 20-30 cm.
• For the basement - 5-15 cm.
• For the attic - 10-15 cm.
• For external walls - 5-10 cm.

The denser the material, the thinner the thickness.

Comparison of heaters

And now we will compare some heaters with you.

Mineral wool

One of the universal materials, density varies from 30 to 200 kg/m3.

Almost all elements of building structures. Is issued in water of plates, mats, rolls.

Most of the major mineral wool manufacturers (TechnoNIKOL, Knauf, Izorok) produce mineral heaters.

There are also manufacturers who produce mineral wool with certain characteristics.

Ursa, Knauf produce materials with a density of 11 to 35 kg / m3, which are only suitable for roofing.

Polyethylene foam

It has a density of up to 25 kg/m3 and is used as a substrate for finishing flooring. There are options using foil, they have a density of about 55 kg / m3, they are mainly used for walls.

Styrofoam

Density ranges from 80 to 160 kg/m3, it is used for insulation of walls and floors, where sufficient strength is required. It is produced in the form of plates of various sizes.

It must be remembered that for each object under construction, individual calculations are made for the choice of insulation. We recommend buying insulation from time-tested manufacturers.

Price

The average price of insulation for 1 m2 practically does not depend on the manufacturer and with a thickness of 50 mm averages 100 rubles.

The density of mineral wool insulation largely determines its intended purpose and is one of its main performance characteristics. Its value is affected by the thickness and number of fibers in the structure (the percentage of impurities is usually not taken into account), as a result, the higher it is, the more expensive the building material is. Insulation is produced in the form of soft mats and rigid slabs with a density of 11 to 400 kg/m3, the choice of a specific brand depends on the degree of load of the structures and the construction budget.

For any insulation, the rule is relevant: the lighter it is, the better, but this cannot be said unambiguously about mineral wool. Its low thermal conductivity is indeed due to the presence of air between the threads, but when a certain minimum is reached, it ceases to retain heat. In practice, the density of mineral and basalt wool affects its weight and cost, and is also directly or indirectly related to other characteristics: thermal conductivity, sound absorption, load-bearing capacity and ease of installation.

1. Thermal insulation.

This insulation uses the properties of weightless air with a thermal conductivity of no more than 0.026 W / m K. Thanks to the combination of fibers with different directions, manufacturers managed to achieve a similar value of 0.036 for light and soft boards, 0.032 for semi-rigid boards, and 0.04-0.046 for dense and cylindrical products (which is more than good for non-combustible insulation). But when a certain mass is reached, the fibers stop retaining air and thermal conductivity deteriorates. The worst protection is observed in a loose insulation with a density of up to 30 kg/m3 with a disordered direction of the fibers - 0.05 W/m K.

2. Noise absorption.

Materials with low air permeability are good acoustic insulators. Therefore, dense and rigid plates absorb sound in any case (even if this is not their main purpose). But they weigh a lot and are not always suitable for internal soundproofing of rooms, for this purpose it is better to buy specialized brands: glass wool with long and thinnest threads or basalt with randomly twisted fibers. Rockwool, Isover and other brands have such series, their insulation density lies in the range of 45-60 kg / m3.

3. Bearing capacity.

Regardless of the design, too light materials are not used when installing in areas subjected to high loads. This is due to the risk of its deformation or crushing, low compressive strength and bending. In such cases, high-density heaters are definitely required (at least 150 kg / m3). In the presence of supporting structures (framework, lags, reliable crates), the use of light grades is allowed and encouraged, insulating abilities come to the fore.

4. The nuances of styling.

There is a clear relationship between density and material handling. Lightweight soft insulation is easily placed in the interlag space of roofing systems (non-operated surfaces) when laid from above, but installing them from the ceiling is more than a complicated process. It is a little easier with vertical placement of roll marks, but because of the risk of fibers slipping down, it is better to purchase compacted wall insulation. The most convenient option is semi-rigid boards with slightly springy edges (up to 60 kg/m3) or high-density mineral wool.

Optimum performance for different designs

• Up to 35 kg/m3 - pitched roofs, vertical and inclined unloaded surfaces. Isolation of objects of complex shape.
• Up to 75 - thermal insulation of internal planes in residential and industrial premises: ceilings, partitions, floors, ceilings.
• 100-125 - insulation for the facade (ventilated or with subsequent plastering).
• Up to 150 - interfloor reinforced concrete floors.
• From 150 and above - load-bearing structures.
• From 175 - insulation for metal walls.
• 175-225 - for laying under a screed or as an upper carrier layer, this mineral wool can withstand high loads.

There are exceptions, they belong to specialized brands. For example, Izover has boards with medium density (50-80 kg/m3) suitable for placement in facade systems. Good reviews have grades with non-uniform stiffness, designed specifically for external work. They are softer on one side (facing the walls or the insulated surface) and compacted on the outside. This design provides reliable protection of the facade from the wind and allows you to apply plaster directly on the slabs. The specific gravity is important when choosing a roofing insulation, in this case, preference is given to light and elastic grades from 11 to 35 kg / m3.

Overview of manufacturers and prices

The range is represented by such brands as Rockwool, Ursa, TechnoNIKOL, Izover, Izorok, Knauf, Paroc. The average cost of 1 m2 with a thickness of 50 mm is 90 rubles. Some firms produce exclusively low-density products (Ursa, Knauf), others specialize in the manufacture of universal grades. Basalt wool, optimal in terms of rigidity and weight, is offered by Paroc and Rockwool.

Every time when it comes to home insulation, a lot of questions arise, including the question: what kind of insulation is better to choose? Is this or that insulation suitable for insulating walls, facades, floors, baths?

After reading this article, you will learn:

• what is the difference between glass wool and basalt insulation (stone wool);
• what is better mineral wool or basalt;
• pros and cons of mineral wool;
• pros and cons of basalt wool;
• what is the density of the insulation;
• which insulation is more suitable for your task;

Mineral wool. Varieties of cotton.

Mineral wool is an environmentally friendly product, which is produced in accordance with GOST 31913-2011 (EN ISO 9229:2007) “Heat-insulating materials and products. Terms and definitions” by means of various interweaving of fibers of mineral raw materials and environmentally friendly additives.

Depending on the production process and the type of mineral additives, mineral wool is divided into:

• glass wool- the basis of ecological raw materials, waste of broken glass;
• stone wool- the basis of ecological raw materials, igneous gabbro-basalt rocks;
• slag wool- the basis of ecological raw materials, blast-furnace slags (processing of production wastes).

Pros and cons of heaters

Like any material, different types of mineral wool have their pros and cons.

Pros and cons of glass wool

Pros and cons of stone wool

Pros and cons of slag wool

What is the density of the insulation? Why is it important to pay attention to it?

Insulation density- this is the most important indicator of mineral wool, which is responsible for the rigidity of the insulation and where it can be applied.

It is always measured in kilograms per cubic meter, and can vary from 15 to 220 kg/m².
The greater the density of the mineral wool slab, the more rigid the slabs, and hence the ability to resist deformation under loads and its own weight, the formation of cracks and the loss of technical characteristics.

That is why it is very important to pay attention to this indicator, because. it depends on what surface they can insulate.

What density of insulation should be?

This question is asked by everyone who is just starting to understand the insulation of the house, because. due to different production technologies, this indicator can vary greatly, and due to the wide variety it is very easy to get confused.

So, let's figure out what density, and where you can use it.

Mineral plates with a density of 10-20 kg/m3- this is, as a rule, glass wool insulation in the form of rolls:

• And others

The exception is ROCKWOOL Economy basalt slabs, the density of which is 23-29 kg / m3.

Usually slabs with a density of 10-20 kg / m3 insulate:

• walls,
• frame ceilings,
• unloaded horizontal pitched roofs,
• floors on lags,
• loft loft,
• other designs in country houses where there are no large loads on the insulated surface.

Mineral plates with a density of 30-200 kg/m3- this is already a heater not from glass wool, but from mountain basalt rocks, which is much denser than ordinary glass wool. Almost all basalt insulation is produced in slabs, with the exception of technical insulation, such as: Rockwool Wired MAT, mats with a density of 50-105kg / m3 (intended for thermal insulation of air duct and pipeline systems, as well as industrial and energy equipment).

Basalt insulation with a density of 30-50 kg / m3 are well-compressed, non-rigid packaged slabs that are the softest in their class. They are usually used only for indoor insulation, namely, for insulation:

• framed walls,
• floors with lags,
• saunas and baths,
• mansards and roofs with framed ceilings,
• other, not loaded even and flat surfaces in the interior of the room.

The most famous heaters from this category are: Parok Extra, Rockwool Light Butts, Rockwool Sauna, Rockwool Tech Butts, Rockwool Acoustic Butts, Rockwool Light Butts Scandic, TechnoNIKOL Rocklight and others.

Basalt slabs with a density of 50-100 kg/m3- these are already medium-density slabs that can already be used for external thermal insulation of a house to create ventilated facades.

For these purposes, suitable: Rockwool Venti Butts D, Rockwool Tech Butts and others.

Basalt insulation with a density of 100-150 kg/m3- these are rigid boards that are resistant to deformations and are perfect for finishing non-ventilated facades (where there will be reinforcement and subsequent plastering) and facades with siding panels. this category is: TechnoNIKOL TechnoFas and others.

Basalt mineral wool with a density of 175-200 kg/m3- These are very rigid mineral slabs, which are used under a concrete screed and in places where special requirements are required for the insulated surface.

The most popular insulation with such a density: ROCKWOOL Roof Butts B and others.

Video review of heaters. Characteristics that you should pay attention to when buying.

conclusions

Warming a house, balcony, attic or floor is not such an easy task, because. you need to have a tool and certain skills in construction, as well as a good understanding of the technical characteristics of a particular insulation, first of all, this concerns its density, thermal conductivity and water resistance.

Couldn't make a choice? It doesn’t matter, ask our consultants for help, they will be happy to help you choose the right insulation option for your task, and, if necessary, arrange prompt delivery to the facility. Call us and we will always be happy to help you.

Of all the heaters used in construction, about 80% are mineral wool. The demand for the material is due to its positive characteristics - low thermal conductivity, resistance to fire, lightness, affordability. However, there is another criterion that expands the scope of the insulation - the density of mineral wool. Thanks to him, you can choose the material for any type of room.

All thermal insulation materials are divided into several groups according to their density:

• especially light;
• lungs;
• medium;
• hard (dense / heavy).

The first includes polystyrene foam (expanded polystyrene) - a material that has a structure of pores, inside which there is air. Mineral wool is also considered a light insulation. Such a material prevents an increase in the concentration of water vapor, therefore it is often used for thermal insulation of lightly loaded indoor surfaces. However, the density of mineral wool can vary from a couple of tens to several hundred kg / m3; for this reason, it refers to the lungs only conditionally.

Effect of Density on Heat Conduction

As a rule, the consumer often pays attention to the performance characteristics of the insulation, rather than physical properties such as density. And you should definitely take it into account, because it carries important information.

Any heat-insulating material contains air either in a rarefied or in its normal state. There is a dependence: the less vapor there is inside the insulation and the worse it is isolated from interaction with the outside air, the higher the thermal conductivity will be. And the larger the latter, the worse the material retains heat.

Intertwined fibers are the basis of the structure of all mineral wool insulation. The higher the density of these elements, the less air is present inside and the higher the thermal conductivity.

Therefore, it is necessary to select mineral wool based on the purpose of insulation - for rooms where reliable insulation from the cold is required (living rooms, partitions between floors, floors), denser materials are suitable, and for areas of the house where heat preservation is not so important (non-residential attics , caisson) - lighter slabs or mineral wool rolls.

Classification of mineral wool by density

The market is filled with offers of domestic and foreign manufacturers. In order to systematize hundreds of items, below is a list of materials produced in Russia that differ in the criterion under consideration, as well as some recommendations regarding use.

P-75

The density of the insulation of this brand is 75 kg / m3. A low indicator allows the use of cotton wool only in lightly loaded surfaces, including horizontal ones (attic floors, pitched roofs). The material is more popular in the oil and energy industries - they wrap pipes of heating plants, as well as joints of gas and oil pipelines.

There are heaters and lower density (15, 25, 40 kg / m3), but they are practically not used, because they lose their shape and properties even with minimal load.

P-125

The density of this mineral wool is 125 kg/m3. The material is good for covering the ceiling, floor, walls, partitions, frame structures in the temperate climate zone. In addition to decent thermal insulation properties, it perfectly suppresses extraneous noise.

PZh-175

Material of increased rigidity (this is reflected in the name). It is used when sheathing walls or ceilings made of metal, reinforced concrete, concrete, brick.

PZH-200

It also has an increased density (200 kg / m3), rigidity and is used in the same situations as the previous one. There is one advantage over the previously named - PZH-200 serves as additional protection against fire.

Mineral wool boards with a density of 75 to 200 kg / m3, described above, are quite enough to insulate any premises of a private or apartment building. However, on the market you can find unfamiliar labeling of products manufactured abroad.

Classification of mineral wool produced in other countries:

• VL, TL (suitable for structures with a maximum load of 8 and 12 kN / m2, respectively);
• EL, ELD, ELUS (good for insulating concrete elements, maximum allowable load - 5 kN / m2);
• IM, IMP (truss, floor structures, foundation);
• AKL, KKL (materials of increased rigidity used in the thermal insulation of pitched roofs);
• TKL (flat roof insulation);
• VIL (reminiscent of AKL and KKL, but has cut corners; used if the roof needs to be sloped);
• TSL, VUL, IRL (thin slabs, used for wind protection of light structures - wall or truss);
• ILP (pressed between elements of concrete, brick, metal structures);
• A, IL (classic mineral wool boards used for wall insulation; recommended for areas where space for material is limited).

The specific density of the insulation is not indicated, since in terms of compatibility with various designs it is easy to compare its indicator with the domestic counterpart.

In order to systematize the information above, here are some tips for arranging thermal insulation of a certain density:

• slabs up to 35 kg/m3 are used to insulate unloaded horizontal surfaces (attic floors);
• 35-75 kg/m3 - internal floors, interroom and interfloor partitions, ceilings; walls of non-residential or industrial premises;
• 75-100 kg/m3 - ventilated outer walls, up to 125 kg/m3 - ventilated facades; the maximum density is indicated on the condition that additional wall processing is performed (siding, plastering, etc.);
• 100-150 kg/m3 - floors between floors of concrete and reinforced concrete structures;
• 150-175 kg / m3 - load-bearing reinforced concrete structures;
• 175-200 kg / m3 - floor arrangement under the screed, in which the insulation is the top layer of the coating; roof and attic.

It is important to remember that denser mineral wool slabs weigh down the structure. Also, almost any work on the insulation of premises requires the use of two additional levels of protection - from external moisture (hydro-) and the formation of condensate (vapor barrier).

Knowing such a physical property of mineral wool as its density greatly facilitates the task of the consumer to choose the appropriate material for thermal insulation of the room. Buying the right insulation, the buyer gains peace of mind for the durability of the structure and the overall comfort of living in the house.

TeploKNAUF Cottage and Cottage +

Insulators TeploKNAUF Cottage are mineral wool heat-insulating materials of a new generation, the use of which is beneficial for those who want to save on heating their private home and at the same time make their home cozy and comfortable for living.

TeploKNAUF Dacha

Warming and soundproofing materials TeploKNAUF Dacha is an excellent opportunity to save on the price of materials without losing quality characteristics and durability in cases where you want to insulate pitched roofs, ceilings, partitions, etc.

TeploKNAUF House and House +

TeploKNAUF Dom is an inexpensive, but environmentally friendly, durable and extremely easy to install insulation that is in demand in private housing construction for heat and sound insulation of various structures. Using TeploKNAUF Dom you save three times: when buying material, when installing and paying bills for energy resources spent on heating.

Isobox Extralight

Isobox Extralight is a highly effective thermal insulation of any structures in which the insulation is not loaded during operation. Isobox Extralight serves as long as possible and is absolutely reliable, plus, it is quite inexpensive. Isobox Extralight - lightweight insulation for reliable thermal insulation!

Isobel

Need an inexpensive but high-quality insulation? Mineral wool boards Isobel is the perfect solution. After all, Isobel is ecological cleanliness, incombustibility, high noise and heat insulation characteristics, excellent vapor permeability, and durability. And all this at low prices. Order Isobel now and enjoy savings on heating for decades.

ROCKLIGHT

Rocklight - high-quality mineral wool boards designed for insulation and soundproofing of any structures, during the operation of which the insulation will not be loaded. Demanded - for floors, attics, external walls and internal partitions, pitched roofs, etc. Rocklight insulation - the price is much lower than the quality!

Isolight L (pl. 40)

Isolight L- a cost-effective mineral and non-combustible insulation that you can easily use for - floors between logs, attics, pitched roofs, interfloor ceilings, that is, wherever the insulation is not loaded during operation. Save maximum heat in the room!

Isolight (pl. 50)

ISOLIGHT- Lightweight and durable, easy to install and reliable in operation, hydrophobic mineral wool insulation Isolight this is an excellent solution for thermal insulation of any structures where the insulation will be protected from mechanical stress. Choose Isolight if you want the heat in the house to be stored for a long time!

Technolight EXTRA

Technolight EXTRA- this non-combustible mineral wool solves the issue of heat and sound insulation in residential and industrial structures where there is no external load on the heat-insulating plate itself. It is used for pitched roofs, in floors along logs, between storey and interior partitions, in attics and mansards.
Density: 30-38 kg/m3

Technolight OPTIMA

Technolight OPTIMA- a highly effective mineral wool insulation that will perfectly retain heat in any room or building. It is used in cases where external influences and loads will not be exerted on it. Technolight OPTIMA is an excellent solution for insulating floors between joists, frame partitions, attics, attics. To keep warm in winter - you need to start warming now!

Izorok P 75 (pl. 65)

Izorok P 75 is inexpensive semi-rigid mineral wool boards that reliably retain heat, serve for a long time and reliably. Izoroq P 75 is a versatility of use and a huge number of advantages, both during operation and during installation. Izorok P 75 - keep maximum heat in your home!

Rockwool Light Butts

Rockwool Light Butts - mineral wool boards for insulating non-loaded surfaces. This material is produced using the special Flexi technology, which distinguishes it from analogues, since this technology greatly simplifies the installation of mineral wool boards inside any frame. Rockwool Light Butts is a reliable insulation that is easy and simple to install!

Baswool Vent Facade

Mineral wool BASWOOL VENT FACADE is created from melts of rocks of the basalt group, thanks to which this insulation for a ventilated facade can be safely called environmentally friendly. But good thermal insulation is far from Basvul's only trump card. We will tell you about its main advantages now!

Rockwool Cavity Butts

Rockwool Cavity Butts is a lightweight 3-layer wall insulation. Due to low thermal conductivity, light weight, hydrophobicity, this material will not only perfectly protect the walls from heat leakage, but will also serve as long as possible. Rockwool Cavity Butts - insulates walls with high quality and for a long time!

Technoblock STANDARD

Mineral wool boards Technoblock it is an insulating material for frame, including external walls, as well as for thermal insulation of walls made of layered (well) masonry. The material is perfect for both vertical and horizontal surfaces.

Rockwool Acoustic Butts

Rockwool Acoustic Butts are special mineral wool boards for soundproofing rooms. Their special composition and modern production technology make it possible to reduce the noise level in any room to a minimum. Rockwool Acoustic Butts - reliable sound absorption for many years!

Rockwool Venty Butts D

Mineral wool boards Rockwool Venti Butts D is a special thermal insulation solution for ventilated facades. The material, on the one hand, is rigid, on the other hand, a softer and lighter plate. Thus, there is no need to spend money and time on the installation of two-layer thermal insulation systems. Over Rockwool Venty Butts D also do not need to use windproof materials. Rockwool Venti Butts D - high technology allows you to save without losing quality!

Isovent - L (pl. 80)

Isovent mineral wool boards are high-quality thermal insulation for ventilated facades of buildings for various purposes, as well as for walls made using the well or layered masonry technology. If you are looking for a reliable insulation that will last for decades without replacement, then Isovent is an excellent solution!

Technovent STANDARD

Technovent STANDARD- highly reliable, durable, special mineral wool insulation for ventilated facades. Its use guarantees a long period of heat and sound insulation without replacement and new financial investments. Technovent STANDARD – choose the best insulation for the best facades!

Rockwool Venty Butts

Using these mineral wool boards, it is possible to make durable, high-quality and reliable thermal insulation of a ventilated facade, both in one layer and in two, using Rockwool Venty Butts as an outer insulation layer. The use of Rockwool Venti Butts is savings, because this material does not require the mandatory use of windproof materials. Rockwool Venty Butts is an effective and economical insulation for ventilated facades!

Isofas (pl. 110)

Have you decided to insulate the facade in a “wet” way? Isofas mineral wool boards are the best solution, because Isofas has excellent thermal insulation characteristics, incombustibility, strength, durability and ease of processing. In winter, it is warm in the house - if it is insulated with Isofas material!

Technovent OPTIMA

Mineral wool boards Technovent OPTIMA– an excellent choice for ventilated facades. These materials are designed for a long service life, maximum heat retention in the premises, have excellent hydrophobic and fireproof characteristics, plus they are not of interest to rodents. Technovent OPTIMA is a reliable insulation for ventilated facades!

Rockwool Roof Butts N OPTIMA

Rockwool Roof Butts N is a high strength mineral wool board for flat loadable roofs. This material is allowed to be laid directly on the base of the roof without a protective screed. It withstands heavy loads, is non-flammable and excellently retains heat and protects against noise. Rockwool Roof Butts N - reliable insulation and saving time and money.

Isoruf H (pl. 130)

Isoruf N It is a high-quality and reliable insulation for flat roofs with a base made of reinforced concrete or corrugated board. It is used in two-layer insulation systems as the lower thermal insulation layer. The use of Isoruf N materials means saving money without losing quality. Make your roof warm with Isoruf H and save time and money!

Technovent PROF

insulation Technovent PROF this is the best solution when choosing mineral wool boards for ventilated facades. Technovent PROF is produced according to the most modern technologies and in accordance with the highest quality standards, so you can be absolutely sure when using it in "ventilated facade" systems that you will get maximum efficiency, reliability and durability. Technovent PROF is the choice of professionals!

Rockwool Facade Butts OPTIMA

Rockwool Facade Butts are reliable, durable in operation and easy to install mineral wool boards for external insulation of facade walls under plaster. This material is characterized by strength, rigidity and fire safety, so it can be used on the facades of any buildings. Rockwool Facade Butts - all the heat stays in the room, not through the walls!