Rock wool mats
Insulation boards
Plaatisolatiematerialen
Plattendämmstoffe
Mats for thermal insulation
Mattenisolatiematerialen
Mattendämmstoffe
Loose-fill and blow-in insulation materials
Stort- en inblaasisolatiematerialen
Schütt- und Einblasdämmstoffe
Speciality products
Speciale producten
Spezialprodukte
Eigenschaften
Rock wool mats have sound-insulating properties as well as thermal insulation properties. Another advantage is that the mats are non-combustible. In addition, rock wool mats have a long service life and are resistant to mould and rot.
Rock wool mats are available with a thermal conductivity as low as 0.033 W/mK (rated value). Furthermore, rock wool mats are flexible and are therefore particularly suitable for applications where the insulation materials need to be highly adaptable (pitched roof insulation as between-rafter and under-rafter insulation, insulation of the top floor ceiling, insulation of partition walls, etc.).
Rohstoffe und Herstellungsverfahren
Raw materials: diabase, basalt, dolomite, phonolite and recycled rock wool, small quantities of binding agents and, where applicable, water-repellent agents, as well as other (secondary) raw materials
The mineral raw materials and recycled materials are melted at a temperature of approximately 1500 °C and defibrated using a centrifugal or jet-blowing process. This process resembles the natural activity of a volcano: when a lava fountain is formed during a volcanic eruption, the winds draw thin strands from the lava to form natural mineral wool.
In the centrifugal process, a jet of the still-molten mass strikes rapidly rotating flywheels and is spun into fibres by the rotational movement. In the extrusion process, once the molten mass has passed through the melting tank, it flows through numerous nozzles. This produces strands which are drawn into fibres by compressed air.
After defibration, a binder is applied. This is followed by heating to cure the binder and, finally, the cutting to size and packaging of the finished rock wool.
Technical Specifications
Property | Unit | Parameters |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal conductivity λR | W/(mK) | 0.035 |
| Bulk density ρ | kg/m³ | 40–60 |
| Heat capacity c | J/(kgK) | 800–1000 |
| Building material class | -- | A1 |
| Water vapour diffusion resistance μ | -- | 1 |
| Primary energy content | kWh/m³ | 270 |
| Water-repellent effect | -- | yes |
Insulation materials made from mineral wool, including rock wool, are recyclable products. If the mats are of a single type and largely free from foreign matter, the rock wool can be remelted and processed into new rock wool. Where permitted, rock wool products can also be reused. Otherwise, they can be disposed of at a landfill site. Recycling in other industries is also possible. For example, rock wool offcuts can be processed in the brick industry, in fibre-cement boards or in roof tiles.[i]
Thanks to established take-back and recycling schemes, several thousand tonnes of mineral wool from construction sites and demolition projects are already being recycled into new mineral wool every year, and this figure is rising.
DIN EN 13162 in conjunction with DIN 4108-10, Table 3 (Application-specific requirements for mineral wool thermal insulation materials)
Gesundheit und Ökologie
In Germany, only mineral wool products – namely rock wool and glass wool – that pose no risk to health and are certified in accordance with the Hazardous Substances Ordinance (GefStoffV) and the Chemicals Prohibition Ordinance (ChemVerbotsV) may be placed on the market and installed. These products bear the RAL quality mark ‘Mineral Wool Products’, which is awarded by the Gütegemeinschaft Mineralwolle e.V.[ii] The Gütegemeinschaft monitors and checks compliance with the certification requirements. The KEYMARK quality mark also certifies the high quality of mineral wool insulation materials.
The short transport distances and the good availability of raw materials are environmentally beneficial. The insulation mats are highly compressed for transport and storage, thereby reducing packaging and transport costs. Further positive aspects include the long service life of rock wool insulation materials, as well as their waste-free production and the already established recycling options. In addition, manufacturers are continuously working to optimise their production processes and reduce associated CO₂ emissions.
[i] ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCT DECLARATION in accordance with ISO 14025 and EN 15804+A2: Mineral wool insulation with high bulk density, FMI Fachverband Mineralwolleindustrie e.V., 29 June 2023: https://www.der-daemmstoff.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Mineralwolle-Daemmstoff-im-hohen-Rohdichtebereich_EN15804A2.pdf (accessed on 11 December 2025)
[ii] Gütegemeinschaft Mineralwolle e.V.: https://www.ral-mineralwolle.de (accessed on 3 July 2024)
- non-combustible (A1)
- good thermal and acoustic insulation
- Extensive experience with this insulation material; easy to work with
- Good availability of raw materials
- short transport distances, regional product
- Compressed, resulting in lower packaging and transport costs
- Long service life
- Recyclable or reusable (single-type, clean rock wool)
- Energy consumption during manufacture must be further reduced
- only for applications with no compressive strength requirements