Which is better: basalt or stone wool? Expert analysis of the properties of basalt insulation with detailed instructions for performing work with this material. The value of density indicators.

The article was prepared with the participation of specialists from the ROCKWOOL company

Modern construction cannot be imagined without the use of various thermal insulation materials allowing to minimize heat loss. IN energy efficient house there are no crazy energy bills even with a large area, since only the premises are heated, not the street. One of the most popular thermal insulation materials is stone, used both on an industrial scale and throughout the private sector. And although this insulation is perhaps the most common, there is still a lot of speculation around it, and manufacturers endlessly face the same questions. In this article, with the help of ROCKWOOL specialists, we will look at the main characteristics stone wool:

• Raw material base, production technology, release form.
• Scope of application.
• Technical and operational characteristics.
• Answers to questions from forum members

Stone wool - from what, how, in what form

A universal thermal insulation material made from rocks predominantly of the gabbro-basalt group (a product of volcanic eruptions), which is why stone wool is often called. This group of rocks is characterized not only by strength, but also by a high melting point, which determines the choice of manufacturers. The rock is melted at a temperature of more than one and a half thousand degrees, and the finest fibers are pulled out of the melt.

Stone wool has a layered structure, with a random arrangement of fibers, which contributes to the formation more air pores

Derivatives of phenol-formaldehyde resin are most often used as a binder that transforms individual fibers into a single, elastic and durable fabric. These substances are considered the most stable and durable. As for safety, the additives are contained within the amount allowed by regulations, which makes them absolutely safe for both humans and the environment. This is confirmed by numerous studies and tests.

Andrey Petrov Head of the Design Center at ROCKWOOL

This insulation is one of the few building materials with a positive environmental balance. That is, it helps save more energy than was expended in its production, and theoretically can be endlessly recycled after the end of its service life.

Stone wool is available in several forms:

• Plates of various thicknesses and hardness.
• Rolls.
• Specific products - insulation in the form of cylinders with seam or lock joints for pipelines and chimneys, laminated mats.

Characteristics of stone wool

• Thermal conductivity – 0.04-0.05 W/(m*C).
• Vapor permeability – 0.25–0.3 mg/(m h Pa). This means that the house will “breathe”, creating a useful indoor microclimate.
• Water absorption by volume is from 1 to 3%.
• Density – from 25 to 200 kg/m³.
• Compressive strength (depending on the type of material) - from compressible soft products (compressibility up to 50% according to GOST 17177), to rigid plates with a compressive strength at a deformation of 10% equal to 0.1 MPa.
• Flammability group – NG (non-flammable).
• Environmental friendliness - despite the presence of a small amount of synthetic binder, the material is recognized as natural and absolutely safe, it is approved for use even inside residential structures and public buildings.
• Durability - manufacturers promise more than half a century without loss of characteristics, which is confirmed by global experience in using insulation. In addition, if the material gets wet, which is unlikely, because high-quality stone wool materials have water-repellent properties– it’s okay, because after drying it will not lose any of its properties. But animals and mold will not touch cotton wool - manufacturers have created a material that is bioresistant.

When choosing insulation, priorities are usually placed in the specified order with minor shifts in the criteria, but the flammability group is rarely in first place. However, this is one of the most important parameters: when insulating the house, not only is it “wrapped” around the entire perimeter, the insulation is also placed in the ceilings and in rafter system. The result is a closed circuit that should, at a minimum, restrain combustion, and ideally prevent it, and certainly not support it in any way. It is enough that the “filling” of houses, like the lion’s share of the cladding, is flammable. Knowing the flammability class of the insulation, it is easier to select the remaining components of the facade or roofing “pie” in order to minimize the danger, rather than sign up for future fire victims. Here are the most popular materials.

If it is clear with non-combustible (NG) materials, then the properties of the remaining groups are worth deciphering.

Federal Law " Technical regulations on fire safety requirements" dated July 22, 2008 No. 123-FZ (current edition, 2016).

But the fire safety of a material is not only a flammability group; there are also other properties that can reduce the safety of a building, lead to death and cause serious material damage.

Each material used in the construction and finishing of houses is considered from the point of view of fire safety and is assessed according to five criteria:

• Flammability.
• Flammability.
• Smoke formation.
• Toxicity of combustion products.
• Spread of flame over a surface.

Criteria fire danger building materials	Structural fire hazard class of building materials depending on groups
Flammability
Flammability
Smoke generating ability
Toxicity
Flame Spread

Andrey Petrov

High-quality stone wool, being non-flammable, does not ignite, and fire cannot spread across its surface. Regarding smoke generation and toxicity, the binders will begin to melt and burn out before the fiber, but their amount in the material is too small to create a smoke screen. There are not enough of them to poison the air, even with an internal fire, not to mention an external one. The melting point of stone wool is 1000⁰C, since thin fibers are easier to melt than rock, but this threshold is enough for the flame to die out. Stone wool as a fire protection withstands 240 minutes direct impact flame.

But regardless of the type of insulation, experts advise paying more attention to the choice of material and basing it not on the lowest cost, but on the manufacturer’s reliability and application experience. You can “get hold of” experience both from neighbors/relatives/acquaintances and on our portal, there is more than enough of it. As for certificates, there are forgeries among unscrupulous manufacturers, that is, even their presence is not a panacea, let alone products for which they do not exist at all, although according to the law a certificate for fire safety required.

Scope of application in questions and answers

Stone wool has a wide range of applications. Due to the naturalness of the raw materials and its durability, stone wool materials are used both in private residential buildings, and in high-rise buildings, for public buildings And industrial facilities. In the private sector, soft and hard slabs are most in demand, as well as sandwich chimneys and protection of enclosing structures using stone wool when chimneys are routed through walls.

Soft slabs are designed for insulation and sound insulation of unloaded flat and inclined surfaces: in frame houses in enclosing structures, in the roofing system between rafters, in interior partitions, in ceilings (between joists under the subfloor), in balconies and loggias. In those areas where minimal thermal conductivity is needed and no rigidity is required, since there is no load. If the task is not only to insulate, but also to isolate the room from noise, choose a material with a specific slope.

There are no particular subtleties in the selection and installation of stone wool materials - usually the manufacturer indicates all the necessary information on the package and on the website. And they are created in such a way that it is as simple and convenient to work with them as possible. For example, you can find material with a springy edge, as well as “double-density” boards, which greatly simplify the installation process and also ultimately save money.

But sometimes questions still arise, the answers to which can be easily found on, in particular, on the branches maintained by representatives of manufacturers. Here are the most popular questions that appear on our forum.

Alex_1975 User FORUMHOUSE

Tell me what layer of stone wool is needed on wood interfloor covering for sound insulation. Is there a big difference between conventional insulation and acoustic insulation?

As a rule, the interfloor ceiling is a frame made of wooden beams. According to the specialist, with such a design, to ensure sound insulation, it is necessary to use a material certified as soundproofing. The slabs are mounted sideways into the frame, the optimal layer thickness is 100 mm, but the final choice also depends on the thickness of the beams. The thickness of the wooden beams and soundproofing slabs must match. This decision allows to significantly reduce the level of airborne noise.

Medium hardness slabs are more often used for external insulation in systems of ventilated curtain facades and in well masonry between walls. To insulate rooms with high humidity, stone wool in slabs is also used; manufacturers have special series designed for specific operating conditions.

Rigid slabs are characterized by increased strength, they can withstand heavy loads (300 kg/m²) and are most often used to insulate floors under a “floating” screed. For “wet façade” systems, special rigid slabs are produced with a peel strength of at least 10 kPa, which makes it possible to apply a reinforcing and decorative layer directly to the material. It is worth considering that hard slabs, due to their higher density, have higher thermal conductivity, so if you do not intend to load the insulation, you should prefer a soft or semi-rigid variety.

Not all designs are standard; often the distance between the elements of the subsystem does not correspond to the dimensions of the slabs.

Goodmorning User FORUMHOUSE

How to insulate an attic with rafter spans of more than 580 mm, in my case 720 mm? I mean how to install the cotton wool, is it possible to insert it horizontally rather than vertically in order to reduce the amount of waste? This distance between the rafters is not my whim, this is how the company builds, and 720 mm is the average size, in fact there is not a single identical span, and the rafters are not installed in a vertical plane, i.e. if at the bottom there are 680 mm, then at the top maybe 740 mm.

In this case, it is necessary to use horizontal installation of the slabs, but their thickness should be at least 100 mm, since such slabs will be less prone to sagging under strong compression.

Sometimes it is difficult for users to determine the insulation density.

komodd User FORUMHOUSE

What density should the material for insulating the facade under siding have? The walls are brick.

Density is nothing more than specific gravity. The main aspect when choosing a material is the manufacturer’s recommendations. Certain physical and mechanical characteristics are important. For example, the material for the frame must be elastic, and for the floor under the screed it must be rigid. For materials made from different raw materials, rigidity and elasticity occur when different meanings density. The raw material, the size of the fibers, as well as a number of other parameters have an impact. To install the heat-insulating layer into the frame without mechanical fastening, a lightweight and elastic material is selected; it is easier to install and fits closely to the structure. If you choose a denser material, it will be quite difficult to mount it into a frame without mechanical damage. Therefore, in conditions of economy, you need to choose not a dense material, but the one that is necessary in the design.

dubroff

The most common option. Make an opening in the wall 400x400 mm, cover the inner walls of the opening with basalt cardboard, mineralite, then install a passage box. After the sandwich pipe passes through the box, fill it (the box) with basalt wool.

Our craftsmen also use stone wool in outdoor stove complexes to maintain optimal temperature regime tandoors, Pompeii stoves and various modifications of Russian stoves. Laminated mats with aluminum foil used for insulation of pipelines, for the same purpose they are used shaped products(cylinders).

By the way, the service life of high-quality stone wool insulation is very long - 100 years, so your home will have a long and safe life!

More information about stone wool and other insulation materials is in the section. Bulk insulators - in materials about insulation and. In the video - an expert's story

We visited the city of Yurga, Kemerovo region, at factories producing rolled roofing materials, extruded polystyrene foam boards and stone wool.
Today my story and show is about the third plant - a plant for the production of stone (basalt) wool.

"Hurry up! Quickly, let's go watch the process!" - they called us, who were carried away by cutting out Legos from extruded polystyrene foam (they cut out a heart from EPP for me!).
Intrigued, we thought that now something else would be made from these gray polystyrene cubes, but they put us in a car and rushed to another plant.

The stone wool production plant became the third plant of the TechnoNIKOL corporation in Siberia and at the Yurga site in particular. In 2013, almost 900 thousand cubic meters of product came out of the assembly line of this network plant alone.
Stone wool is a highly effective thermal insulation material. In terms of thermal efficiency, it is ready to compete with the standard heat insulator - air in a stationary state. High heat transfer resistance is achieved by keeping a large amount of air stationary inside the insulation using closely interwoven fine mineral wool fibers.

Natalya 13vredina with the fruits of labor from XPS.

At the factory we dressed up in respirators and went to the workshop. We already had helmets and vests on.

Of course, I have never seen anything like this. For some, this is everyday work, but for me it was a mesmerizing sight: men in silver suits and helmets were doing magic at a cupola furnace (this is a kind of shaft furnace). For some reason, Chicherina’s song was spinning in my head: the kind and kind firemen in silver helmets...

The production of stone wool is a complex, multi-stage technological process.
Rocks of the gabbro-basalt group (raw materials) are delivered to the raw materials warehouse.
At first production cycle the raw materials are sifted and the coarse fraction is fed to dispensers, which carefully weigh the raw materials.
Only after this the charge (a mixture of initial components) is fed into the cupola - a vertical shaft furnace. The coke-gas cupola furnaces installed at the plant using hot blast make it possible to obtain a melt of the required temperature (about 1500 °C) and the required viscosity.

This is the mouth of that same cupola furnace. It's about 1500 degrees Celsius inside!

Schematically, the cupola looks something like this:

Almost like a door to Narniryu.

and then molten metal poured out of the furnace!

Afterwards, the cart with the bowl is quickly pulled away by a second handsome man in silver robes.

This is a metal smelted from basalt - a waste product. Then at the same factory they will make briquettes from it, which will then also be used.

So, the resulting melt is sent to a multi-roll centrifuge, where, under the influence of centrifugal force, droplets of the melt are drawn into fiber. The initial raw materials and the stability of the melt composition make it possible to obtain high-quality mineral wool with high chemical resistance and durability. At the moment of fiber formation, a binder with water repellent and dust removal additives is supplied through nozzles installed on the centrifuge. latest technology, developed in the company’s own research center.

We weren't able to see this process with our own eyes, but we were told that it was similar to how cotton candy is made.

Multi-roll centrifuge Such a big cotton candy.
Only from basalt.

The smelting process ended, and we all stood spellbound and continued to click our cameras and phones. We were brought out of the trance and while stone fibers were being pulled out in the bowels of the machines, we followed into the workshop where the rest of the action took place.

A lot of attention is paid to safety at the plant. Motivational posters are hung everywhere - in workshops, on loading docks and throughout the factory complex.

I don’t know how brutal men are, but I was chilled and I even tried not to leave the pedestrian paths. These white zebras are the trajectory of pedestrian visitors.

So, from a multi-roll centrifuge, basalt fiber treated with a binder, cooled by an air flow, enters the conveyor. This creates a primary “carpet” of mineral wool, which is fed to a pendulum spreader, ensuring uniform density of the products produced.

Pendulum spreader.

After the pendulum spreader, the “carpet” goes to the corrugator-pre-presser, which gives the future product a corrugated structure due to partial vertical orientation of the fibers, which makes it possible to achieve high mechanical properties of the finished product.

Corrugator-pre-presser.

The “carpet” formed in this way enters the heat treatment chamber, where at a temperature of 200-250°C the binder is cured and the main physical and mechanical characteristics are set.
The quality of the product as a whole depends on the quality of this process. All technological processes on the line are controlled automatically. In the context of increasing standards regulating deviations from the specified geometric dimensions of building materials, much attention is paid to the accuracy of cutting finished products.

Natalya 13vredina enjoys life

By the way, you can cut not only in a straight line. Here is an example of intricate curly cutting. It’s a pity they didn’t let us cut out polystyrene foam like in the laboratory, otherwise we would have wow!

Ready-to-use products are packaged in a special shrink film, which allows you to store pallets with products in the open air, without losing their presentation or deteriorating the performance qualities of the products.

By the way, the factories amazed me with the abundance of natural light in the production areas. I expected something different, apparently based on my ideas about half-abandoned workshops in factories where dusty windows had not been washed for decades.

From the workshop we were taken to a testing laboratory, where mineral wool was torn, drowned, burned, and also performed tricks.

Product quality testing laboratory

First they tore. These are the machines.


test result in kPa and other figures

Then they drowned


As you can see, the water rolled up on the surface into round shapes and was not absorbed inside.

Then they brought us to large room and they burned and began to burn cotton wool gas burner, causing a brown spot to form on it, but it never caught fire. Technology.

The thermal imager tells us that it is hot under the burner jet.

So that everything is without deception, with reverse side When the stove was set on fire, it could be touched with your hands.

By the way, you can see here that a through stain from the fire did not form.

Everything is taken into account and recorded on the thermal imager. The stove on the back side became hot only from contact with the hand.

Then came the most interesting test for me. The most important thing is because I am an adept of silence. If it were up to me, I would soundproof everything, because the last thing I want is to know what the foreign plasterers/painters are talking about behind the wall and what the neighbor’s child is crying about. Well, I also don’t like it when people stomp over my head. Therefore, the sound insulation test was more interesting to me than others. I didn’t even spare my phone for such an event.

Volunteers placed their favorite dialers in a plasterboard box with mineral wool.


The casket closes

At this moment, the others who have pressed their cell phone with the camera to call call us. There is a ringing silence in the room, broken only by dialing beeps.

The box opens and voila! Someone was unlucky and the 5th area turned into an alarm clock and a city telephone receiver. Joke. For the purity of the experiment, we put everything that made noise in the laboratory there.

I couldn’t resist and asked the question in the laboratory: “Is it true that stone wool placed vertically settles over time?” (I read this when we were choosing the front door)
“No, it’s not true,” they told me. Products are available for horizontal installation and for vertical installation. Properly selected material for its intended purpose is guaranteed to retain its properties for several decades. At the same time, there was not a shadow of doubt in the eyes. In my head I began to calculate the cost of soundproofing the walls with my neighbors.

Eugene vovney makes a serious face, as if he himself invented rock wool)))

By the way, the entire stone wool production cycle looks something like this:

Production and environmental safety

A plant for the production of stone wool (like other plants of this company in Yurga - for the production of rolled waterproofing materials and extruded polystyrene foam) is a waste-free and waste-free production.
What does it mean?

Drainless technological systems and water circulation cycles are when the process waters of the enterprise do not leave the mineral wool production. All process water is used in the preparation of the binding solution within the production itself.

For implementation waste-free a system for recycling industrial waste as secondary waste has been introduced material resource. IN production workshops Highly efficient gas and dust collection equipment has been installed. The plant uses in further production the resulting screenings of stone, coke, waste and rejects of mineral wool products, captured filtered dust from gas purification units, used filter elements of gas purification cassette filters.
To reduce the total mass of waste generated and to save raw materials, a section for the production of briquettes in the raw materials workshop and processing of production waste is provided. At the briquetting plant, briquettes are obtained from production waste for use together with feedstock in cupola furnaces for the production of mineral wool.
Taken together, these measures make it possible to ensure environmental safety of production.

Stone wool is an innovative building material for thermal insulation. It is considered a highly effective product that performs the tasks of an insulator better than other analogues.

Characteristics of stone wool

The material is based on rocks. Their processing makes it possible to obtain a product that can withstand heat transfer. This becomes possible thanks to the design of the product - the presence of cells in it that retain air.

Composition and properties of stone wool

There are several substances in basalt rock:

• stone;
• fibers;
• connecting components.

After combining them, the building material acquires new qualities that are highly valued by specialists. The main one is the property of preservation indoors comfortable temperature. After insulation, the house will be cool in summer and warm in winter.

One type of wool, stone slabs, is not capable of deformation over many years. Particular attention is paid to the vapor permeability of the product. At large quantities It does not absorb moisture in the room, but repels it.

Important! The product can withstand significant loads - up to 70 kPa, i.e. 7 tons. This became possible due to the thickness and density of stone wool.

Types of insulators

Exist various modifications insulation:

• cylinders;
• rolls;

They may differ in rigidity, density, and size. Rolls are very popular among buyers. Their density is insignificant. The sheet shrinks well. However, the product protects the object less well from moisture. That's why it's foil-coated on one side. To improve the properties of the product, metal film is also used. The dimensions of the product depend on the manufacturer's brand.

The boards are mainly used to insulate walls and ceilings. Their density is quite high. This allows you to quickly work with them - cut, fasten, finish.

Read also: Plastic windows: benefit or harm?

The slabs can withstand loads well and are waterproof. The joints formed during installation are easily hidden when plastering the wall. Some types have a special groove or ridge, which greatly facilitates the installation process. Sometimes they are used for insulation:

• ventilated facades;
• different types of frames;
• some objects for the purpose of sound insulation.

In most cases, the width of basalt stone wool insulation is 1 m, the length is 2 m.
Some manufacturers produce cylindrical insulators. They are used for pipes. The size depends on the diameter of the communications.
The cylinders include:

• foil;
• mineral fibers;
• fiberglass mesh for reinforcement.

The note! The materials have grooves that allow you to adjust the size of the insulation yourself and connect the joints correctly.

Types of stone wool insulation are easily distinguished by markings. The designation P-75 indicates a low density of the insulator. It is laid on walls that will not undergo significant loads. Products marked P-125 have improved sound insulation qualities. PPZh-175 means that the product has a high density. The letter Z speaks of toughness. Cotton wool marked PPZh-200 is the densest. It also belongs to fire-resistant insulators.

Pros and cons of stone wool

Unlike other types of insulation, stone wool has many positive characteristics. It belongs to natural products, as it is made from natural materials. Construction specialists have the opportunity to operate the insulator in different temperature ranges. Fire safety is another significant advantage. The stone slab is fire resistant. It begins to smolder when the temperature reaches 1000°C.

The insulation has excellent soundproofing qualities. This became possible thanks to the unusual structure of wool. Fibers are randomly intertwined in it, with air gaps between them. It is this structure that does not allow sound waves to pass through the material.

Modern technologies make it possible to create moisture-proof products. They are treated with a special substance that repels water. The service life of stone wool is unlimited. After all, it consists of durable natural material, which does not collapse for a very long time. Experts emphasize the absolute safety of the product for human health and the environment. This is a chemical resistant material. However, it has one significant drawback - its high price.

Read also: Linocrom - a new generation roofing material

Dimensions of the material and its calculation

The dimensions of products directly depend on their types. The dimensions of the slabs are determined by the ratio of length and width - 1000×500, 1200×600. Thickness is 30, 50, 100, 150 mm. Cotton wool is actively used to insulate the walls of residential and industrial premises outside. Rigid types of products are used to insulate floating and heated floors.

To save money when purchasing, you need to make a preliminary calculation. To calculate the area of ​​an object, determine its width and length. These values ​​are then multiplied. When insulating the entire room, the perimeter of the building is established. The result obtained is multiplied by the height and number of floors. If necessary, determine the roof area.

The packaging indicates the area that the product can cover. When calculating, product shrinkage should be taken into account. Therefore, it is bought in excess - to total area add another 15%.

Installation of stone wool

Modern construction can no longer do without this material and it is used in 90 cases out of 100. Before installing it, you need to study several important rules. During transportation, the goods must be placed strictly vertically. It is also not allowed to remove the packaging. It protects the product from unwanted contact with other objects, which can deteriorate the quality of the slabs.

Important! Cut the cotton wool with a special construction knife. Only he will be able to cut the sheet without damaging it.

If the product contains 50% fiberglass, it is not allowed to be compressed. Otherwise, the product may become deformed and partially lose its properties. thermal insulation properties. In order to lay the insulator on the wall, you need to adhere to certain important principles. Laying begins with the supporting frame. If this rule is not followed, there is a high probability of distortion and cracks.

Among all types of mineral wool, stone wool is especially popular. This insulation not only provides a high level of protection against temperature loss, but also has unsurpassed sound insulation properties. All this determines a wide range of its use.

High-quality insulation of natural origin

The very name of the insulation seems to contain some kind of contradiction, because stone is associated with something hard, dense, heavy and highly durable, while cotton wool is something light, porous, airy. But this insulation really manages to combine low mass with high level resistance to mechanical loads and other external influences.

Such characteristics are due to the specific origin of the stone wool slabs. The insulation is based on volcanic rocks (mainly basalt, as well as diabase and porphyrite), which are melted by TechnoNIKOL specialists at a temperature of 1500 degrees. Next, this plastic mass of future stone wool is sent to a centrifuge, where, as a result of exposure to a strong air flow, it is converted into thin fibers. Then binders are added to them, providing a unified structure of the insulation, and a water repellent. Thanks to the latter, stone wool acquires moisture-repellent properties, which are very important for thermal insulation of external walls.

Using a special corrugator, the basalt fibers of the material are compressed into a web that is sent to a polymerization chamber, where at a temperature of 200 degrees it hardens, acquiring its final form and required characteristics. At the final stage, using cutting equipment, the stone wool insulation is divided into blocks, the sizes of which can vary over a wide range.

Key properties of insulation

One of the most important indicators characterizing insulation is the acidity module. It reflects the ratio between the acidic oxides contained in stone wool (substances with fairly high stability) and basic oxides (substances characterized by higher activity). Accordingly, the higher this indicator is, the less susceptible to external negative impacts and the material will be more durable.

TechnoNIKOL insulation materials mostly have a high acidity modulus, which determines the widespread use of this material in modern construction. In addition, stone wool has the following positive properties:

• Effective thermal insulation. Almost the standard insulation is stone wool, the price of which allows it to be used both for the walls of private residential buildings and for industrial buildings. High resistance to heat transfer can be achieved due to the fact that the fibers of the material closely intertwined with each other hold a large volume of air in a stationary state;
• Removing moisture from walls. Traditional insulation materials cannot withstand exposure to water, and when wet, they lose a significant part of their thermal insulation qualities. A material such as stone wool behaves completely differently. This insulation has high vapor permeability, however, it practically does not retain moisture coming from the room, remaining dry. This is explained by the use of stones in the manufacture of material slabs, as well as additional treatment with water-repellent solutions carried out by the TechnoNIKOL company;
• High-quality sound absorption. The fibrous structure is the key to the excellent acoustic and soundproofing characteristics of the material. That is why stone wool insulation for walls, the price of which depends on the type of rock, density of the material, type of binder and other factors, is so in demand in housing construction.

This material has a lot of advantages, which determine its wide distribution and use. However, stone wool also has some disadvantages. True, most often they are associated either with the purchase of low-quality insulation, or with improper installation of slabs or violation of operating rules.

So, among the potential disadvantages of stone wool are:

• Negative health effects. This can be avoided by using protective clothing and special equipment when working with insulation. Plastering or facing with stone wool is also mandatory;
• Tracking of insulation over time during operation on vertical structures. The solution lies in carefully and uniformly fastening the slabs to the supporting surface;
• The need for mandatory use of a vapor barrier layer to protect stone wool from the room side.

Safety comes first

One of the most important problems that need to be solved when insulating walls with stone-based slabs is ensuring a high level of fire safety. Measures taken in this regard sometimes lead to a significant increase in the price of work. However, the use of TechnoNIKOL’s product eliminates this problem.

Thermal insulation for walls of this brand is made from basalt rocks, which makes it absolutely non-flammable; the melting point of the fibers exceeds 1 thousand degrees. It is important to note that even when heated, the material does not emit any harmful substances or toxic gases.

Attention! High-quality insulation not only does not itself catch fire, but also prevents the spread of heat generated during a fire, protecting wall and roof structures from deformation and destruction. Due to this, it is possible to gain additional time for evacuation, the cost of which in emergency situations is extremely high.

Density value

When choosing a material from TechnoNIKOL, you need to pay attention to a number of key indicators that influence the features of its further use. Be sure to take into account the density, which can be as follows:

1. 30-50 kilograms per cubic meter - mineral wool, which has the appearance of soft fluff, supplied in bags or in rolled rolls, but does not form the usual slabs. It is used mainly in the arrangement of thermal insulation of horizontally oriented planes located indoors, that is, reliably protected from negative external influences. When loaded, the material is capable of compressing to half its original volume;
2. 75 kilograms per cubic meter - semi-rigid stone wool with a higher density, designed for insulation of horizontal planes of buildings. Has the ability to shrink under pressure by 20 percent;
3. 125 kilograms per cubic meter is a medium-hard insulation material with suitable characteristics for use on horizontal and vertical house structures. The level of its compressibility, laid down by the manufacturer TechnoNIKOL, does not exceed 12 percent;
4. 150-175 kilograms per cubic meter - a material that has very high rigidity and is supplied to the market in slab format. Provides high-quality wall insulation and roofing structures. Distinctive feature- a minimum level of compressibility under load of approximately 2 percent;
5. 200 kilograms per cubic meter - elite category mineral wool slabs, characterized by super strength, thanks to which they are able to withstand pressure up to 12 MPa.

A high level of strength and density contributes to the presence of the following significant qualities in the material:

• Its shape is maintained over time;
• Does not deform and practically does not shrink;
• Can withstand quite significant loads.

Types and forms of production of TechnoNIKOL stone wool

Due to its high level of quality, this thermal insulation material is used extremely widely. However, not in every situation it is convenient to use insulation made in the form of a traditional slab. For example, when thermal insulation of pipes or large surfaces is carried out, the material in this form is not suitable. Therefore, the TechnoNIKOL company produces stone wool insulation, the price of which is quite affordable, in the following formats:

• In the form of rolls and mats, which are used mainly for insulating walls, roofs, floors between floors, as well as structures that do not bear significant loads. This is due to the fact that the material produced in this form does not have a high density;
• In the form of slabs on a basalt base with a density of up to 220 kilograms per cubic meter. The excellent characteristics and affordable price of the insulation provide a wider range of its application. This type of wool is suitable for laying under a screed made of concrete mortar, on roofs where it is planned to arrange parking for vehicles, as well as in other places involving high loads;
• In the form of cylinders with holes inside - perfect option for carrying out thermal insulation work with pipes.

The TechnoNIKOL company produces stone wool insulation, the characteristics of which differ significantly in price, in a wide range:

• Rocklight is one of the most popular types of insulation, characterized by almost complete versatility and focused on performing the most diverse thermal insulation work. It is made in the form of slabs, the dimensions of which are 1 thousand or 1.2 thousand millimeters in length, width - 500 or 600 millimeters, thickness - 50 or 60 millimeters. The material has fairly average density, vapor permeability, and thermal conductivity. The undoubted advantage of this type is its very attractive prices, which allow you to install high-quality thermal insulation without a significant increase in the budget.
• Technolight is another type of material, the difference from the previous version is primarily in its lower weight. The dimensions of the stone wool insulation of this model are generally similar to Rocklight, however, the thickness of the slabs can vary from 40 to 200 millimeters. The material does not have a high density, so it is most rational to use it in those places where it does not have to experience significant load: between floor joists, when arranging attic floors, partitions, walls.
• Technoblock - insulation boards with a density of 40-50 kilograms per cubic meter, which makes it possible to use them as in internal works, and when finishing facades and roofs. Excellent qualities and low price make this insulation option one of the most attractive offers on the market.
• Technovent is a specific type of insulation boards that has a high density (within 72-88 kilograms per cubic meter) and is primarily intended for use in the construction of the thermal insulation layer of ventilated facades.
• Technoflor is the top of the TechnoNIKOL stone wool line. The material has increased level density (up to 185 kilograms per cubic meter) and thickness in the range from 20 to 150 millimeters.

Areas of application

This thermal insulation material, due to its high performance qualities, and also due to the fact that its price is quite low, it is used for insulating a wide variety of building structures, from partitions with walls to ceilings and roofing. It is able to withstand long-term use in conditions where it is simply irrational to use other types of insulation for the reason that their service life will be extremely short.

Attention! The undeniable advantage of stone wool is that it can be used without any problems in rooms where there is always a high level of humidity, in particular, baths, saunas, and swimming pools.

It's hard to find more suitable material for thermal insulation of facades of the most different types ranging from ventilated, hinged and ending with such a specific option as wet facades. Stone wool combines perfectly with sandwich panels and walls, the masonry of which is made according to the layered principle.

The versatility of the insulation is also evident in the fact that it is excellent for minimizing temperature losses in pipelines. This is primarily due to the fact that this material can easily withstand extreme temperatures in the range from -100 to +1 thousand degrees. An important role when choosing stone wool is played by its low price, which makes it possible to significantly reduce the cost of thermal insulation work on large-scale projects.

High density and resistance to deformation make it possible to use such slabs in places where high mechanical loads are expected. Therefore, this insulation is perfect for use in private, multi-story and industrial construction.

When carrying out thermal insulation work on ventilated facades, it is advisable to use two-layer stone wool slabs. Their peculiarity lies in the fact that each layer has different density indicators: the softer and looser layer is directed towards the wall, and the denser one - outwards. Thus, it is possible to achieve high-quality insulation and ensure effective ventilation.

First, let’s establish that the general term “insulation mineral wool", according to the technical document GOST 52953-2008 “Thermal insulating materials and products. Terms and Definitions", refers to three types of materials used as insulation - stone wool, slag wool and glass wool:
«

3.17 mineral wool: Thermal insulation material having the structure of wool and made from molten rock, slag or glass.

3.17.1 glass wool: Mineral wool made from molten glass (glass wool).

3.17.2 rock wool: Mineral wool made primarily from molten igneous rocks (rock wool).

3.17.3 slag wool: Mineral wool made from molten blast furnace slag (slag wool).

Therefore, when the customer is faced with the question: basalt insulation or mineral wool - which is better, clarification is required. When using the terms “mineral wool”, as well as “mineral wool for wall insulation”, we will talk mainly about stone wool.

For comparison we present specifications three types of mineral wool:

You can see that stone wool has the best performance in almost all parameters.

Origin of stone wool

The idea of ​​producing heat-insulating materials from molten rocks arose back in the 19th century after observing the processes occurring during volcanic eruptions, when thin threads were formed from splashes of hot magma under the influence of wind. Such insulation as stone wool as building material was first obtained from metallurgical waste products - blast furnace slag - at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, first in the USA, and then in Great Britain and Germany. However, these first experiments were not widely used on an industrial scale due to imperfect technology.

The greatest success in developing production methods and high quality materials was achieved in the 30s of the 20th century by specialists from a Danish company, which first produced mineral wool boards for insulating building structures and began to be called after the main type of product produced, Rockwool (literally “stone wool”). Since then, Rockwool has been producing basalt slabs for insulation. various types, is constantly expanding the range of produced materials and today has become one of the leaders among the world's best manufacturers of thermal insulation based on basalt wool.

In Russia, the products of the TechnoNIKOL company are very popular, a generally recognized domestic manufacturer of various building materials, which produces thermal insulation slabs made of mineral wool, which are in no way inferior in quality and range to Rockwool materials, so here we will take a detailed look at the production technology, varieties, properties and scope of application of stone wool produced by TechnoNIKOL.

TechnoNIKOL stone wool production technology

The raw materials from which mineral wool insulation is made include the bulk of inorganic components - gabbro-basalt rocks with the addition of dolomite, as well as organic elements - phenol-formaldehyde resin, water repellent and dust remover.

First, inorganic components are mixed in the raw material preparation unit, weighed and in precisely defined quantities fed into a vertical coke oven-cupola furnace, where the mixture is melted at a temperature of 1600 °C. The molten mass enters a centrifuge consisting of several rotating rollers, where droplets of the molten stone mass are broken under the influence of centrifugal forces, stretching into thin threads, then, under the air flow, they enter the fiber deposition department, in which they are treated with an airborne mixture of organic elements - phenol-formaldehyde resins with water repellent and dust remover. The composition of the mixture was developed in its own research center, is the company’s know-how and is not subject to disclosure. The main effect of the development is that in one mixture it was possible to combine binding, water-repellent and dust-removing qualities.

Next, the mass of basalt fibers is supplied to a pendulum spreader and a corrugator-pre-presser, in which it is formed into a sheet of basalt mineral wool of a certain thickness, density and structure. In the corrugator-prepressor, the fibers are given different direction, which increases the elasticity of the material and tensile strength.

At the final stage of insulation formation, the fabric passes through a thermal chamber, where at a temperature reaching 250°C, the binder mixture hardens. After that ready material is cut at the cutting unit using circular saws on mats where certain insulation dimensions are specified. Then the finished mats are packed in batches in shrink film and sent for sale.

Properties of stone wool - pros and cons

Basalt slab as insulation, sound insulator and fire protection has many positive properties:

• low thermal conductivity in the range of 0.035–0.042 W/(m °C), approximately in the same range as expanded polystyrene;
• almost zero hygroscopicity - no more than 0.095% per day, which does not allow moisture to penetrate into the insulation mass, maintaining its properties in any unfavorable conditions. The inaccessibility of the material to moisture penetration eliminates the possibility of the proliferation of microorganisms unfavorable to health, such as mold and mildew, in the body of the insulation;
• high vapor permeability, unlike closed-cell foam materials such as expanded polystyrene or polyurethane foam. Basalt thermal insulation as part of enclosing structures ensures the evaporation of any amount of moisture formed on adjacent surfaces of walls, ceilings or roofs, excluding Negative consequences hydration. This quality of the material makes it possible to use it for thermal insulation of structures with high levels of humidity in rooms, such as saunas, laundry rooms or baths;
• high fire resistance is one of the unique properties basalt wool. Mineral slab made of stone wool, belonging to the NG category, that is, non-combustible materials that can only melt when high temperature, is used not just as a non-flammable insulation for walls and ceilings, but also as fire retardant material, which covers metal and reinforced concrete structures in order to improve fire protection;
• in addition to thermal insulation, insulating walls with mineral wool significantly increases their sound insulation properties due to the structure of stone wool, most of the volume of which is filled with air between randomly located stone fibers that dampen sound vibrations;
• has high resistance to aggressive substances - oils, alkalis and acids, household chemical products, as well as high biological resistance to the influence of microorganisms - fungus and mold, which suggests a high durability of the material. From the experience of using stone wool in construction, it has been established that the durability of this insulation is guaranteed to reach 50 years or more;
• Minslab made of stone wool - environmentally friendly pure material, since it is based on molten basalt fiber, which does not emit any substances harmful to humans. However, a caveat should be made here - polymer resins are used as a binder for stone wool, constituting no more than 5% of the total volume and capable of releasing harmful substances when exposed to fire - this only happens during a fire;
• stone wool products are easy to process; slabs and mats are cut with a regular hacksaw to the required size.

Stone wool has several disadvantages that can easily be eliminated by following certain methods of working with the material and its operating conditions:

• There is a common belief that stone wool is harmful to health. Indeed, during the installation of insulation of structures, cutting and other processing of mats and stone wool slabs, tiny particles of basalt fiber enter the air, which can cause harm to health if they get on the skin, eyes and Airways. In this regard, thermal insulation work must be carried out with the mandatory use of protective overalls, gloves, goggles, masks and respirators. After insulation with stone wool, structures are always closed using cladding or plastering, which is better for operation when the entry of fiber particles into the air is excluded and access to the premises of harmful phenols from the binder is difficult;
• the tendency for the material to caking over time under the influence of its own weight, especially in vertical structures - in multi-layer walls or ventilated facades. This disadvantage is easily overcome due to fastenings evenly distributed over the entire area of ​​the structure;
• mandatory use of vapor barrier on the premises side. WITH outside in this case, a material must be used that does not prevent the free escape of water vapor through the material, which is used in almost all enclosing structures, except for insulation using polyurethane foam.

Types of stone wool and its areas of application

Stone wool products, in accordance with the requirements of two regulatory documents: GOST 21880-2011 “Mineral wool pierced thermal insulation mats” and GOST 9573-2012 “Mineral wool slabs with a synthetic binder for thermal insulation”, are divided into mats and slabs of varying hardness, which have their own designations and specific areas of application, which can be seen in the following table.

Marking of mineral wool mats and slabs and their areas of application

The density of mineral wool for insulation is the main indicator by which the scope of application is determined.

Basalt wool from leading manufacturers and its characteristics

Here we will consider basalt insulation, the characteristics of which give a complete picture of the properties of various varieties of this material and areas of application - insulation from the Rockwool company.

Basalt wool, the technical characteristics of which are given in the table, has recognized better properties when compared with other well-known manufacturers that began to be used in the construction industry much later, such as Nobasil, Turkart, PAROC, Knauf, Isoroc, etc.

Mineral wool TechnoNIKOL

TechnoNIKOL stone wool, the technical characteristics of which are given in the table below, is in no way inferior both in properties and in the variety of Rockwool products.

Technology of wall insulation with mineral wool

Mineral wool insulation is used for sound and heat insulation of the following enclosing structures:

• external walls of buildings for subsequent plastering;
• multilayer walls with insulation inside the masonry;
• ventilated facades;
• frame partitions;

The technology for insulating walls with mineral slabs under plaster consists of sequentially performing the following operations:

• preparatory work - leveling in the presence of significant unevenness, cutting off protruding metal elements, cleaning and dust removal;
• fastening slabs of a grade of at least P-160 in density using a polymer-mineral adhesive composition and additional fastening with dowels with a galvanized metal core - at least 8 pcs/1 m². The bottom row of slabs is installed on a pre-fixed perforated wall metal corner section 25x25x0.5;
• covering the heat-insulating layer with a protective adhesive composition up to 8 mm thick and reinforced with a plaster polymer mesh;
• applying white plaster composition up to 4 mm thick;
• coloring facade paints based on architectural design for facade design.

The thermal insulation thickness of the insulation is selected based on calculations taking into account the conditions of the climatic region in which the facility is being constructed.

The procedure for carrying out insulation of walls under plaster is developed in detail in the manual P 1-99 to SNiP 3.03.01-87 “Design and installation of thermal insulation of external walls of buildings for plaster”, published in Belarus and the Russian Federation.

Walls can be insulated mainly from the outside. The option - insulating the walls from the inside with mineral wool plus plasterboard - should be used only in the case where external insulation is impossible for some reason. In this case, insulation of the walls from the inside with mineral wool is carried out with an indispensable device ventilation gap between the insulation and the sheathing to prevent the deposition of condensation moisture inside the structure.

More details about the principles of external and internal insulation can be read in the article "".

Insulation of multilayer walls

Insulation of multilayer walls is carried out in the process brickwork or the construction of walls from small or large-sized blocks. Insulation in the form of mats or slabs of grades P-40 or P-50 in terms of rigidity is placed in the air gap between the inner wall and the facing layer.

The internal masonry and the facing layer are connected by metal or polymer anchor rods, which are installed in a checkerboard pattern with a pitch of 600x600 mm. When installing anchors, they should be placed, if possible, at the joints between the slabs; otherwise, the anchors should be passed through the slabs.

When laying the facing layer, provisions must be made ventilation holes– entrance in the lower part of the wall, exhaust in the upper part, which serve as vertical joints unfilled with mortar in an amount of at least 150 cm² per 20 m² of wall area.

Installation of ventilated facades/h3>

To install insulation using a system of ventilated facades, a frame of thin-walled metal profiles is pre-installed on external walls made of concrete, reinforced concrete or brick. The profiles are installed in horizontal and vertical directions so that insulation boards fit between them.

Insulation boards, the grade of which must be at least P-75 in density for buildings up to 12 m high (1-4 floors), and no less than P-120 for buildings over 12 m high (5 or more floors), are installed between the frame elements and fastened with dowels with wide plastic caps. For buildings up to 12 m high, each insulation board is secured with two dowels; for buildings higher than 12 m, the insulation board is secured with four dowels.

The insulation layer is covered with a windproofing membrane made of a special film, then the frame with insulation is lined with various facade materials– siding, porcelain tiles, composite panels, etc. An air gap must be left between the surface of the insulation and the facing materials for ventilation. For buildings up to 12 m high, the air gap must be at least 15 mm; for buildings over 12 m, the air gap must be at least 40 mm.

The thickness of the insulation is taken by calculation. In many cases, a small thickness is sufficient, for which, for example, Rocklight stone wool 50 mm thick can be used.

Installation of frame partitions

When installing the filling of frame partitions, a frame of thin-walled steel profiles or wooden beam, consisting of racks installed on soundproofing pads and horizontal crossbars. The pitch of the racks and the distance between the crossbars are selected in accordance with the dimensions of the mineral wool slabs used, so that the slabs fit tightly in the space being filled. To fill frame partitions, a mini-slab with a P-50 or P-75 density grade is used.

After filling the partition frames with mineral wool slabs, they are sheathed on both sides plasterboard sheets or other cladding materials with subsequent finishing.

Expert opinion website

According to the portal's experts, stone wool is one of the best insulation materials for many reasons. When the customer, when choosing insulation for own home asks himself the question: which insulation is better - foam plastic or mineral wool, you should choose stone wool, since, despite approximately equal thermal conductivity, mineral mats and basalt wool slabs are superior to foam plastic and other materials in other qualities - fire resistance, environmental friendliness , vapor permeability and durability.