Paul Barrett, Head of Product Management at ROCKWOOL, explores how innovation in stone wool insulation could support the future of UK housebuilding.
Pressure on the housebuilding sector to improve energy efficiency is rising and growing in complexity due to both legislative and buyer demands. As a result, now, more than ever, developers need building product manufacturers to innovate, presenting new options to help them overcome these emerging challenges.
New and improved
With this in mind, we recently launched NyRock technology, an evolution in stone wool composition that gives the most thermally efficient stone wool insulation currently available in the UK. Made using a new patented production process, it creates a more efficient fibre structure that can deliver thermal conductivity as low as 0.032 W/mK.
With NyRock technology and specifically NyRock Cavity Slab 032, our slab solution BBA certified for both full and partial fill masonry cavity walls, we are able to offer a new low level of thermal performance for stone wool alongside a wide range of additional benefits.
Space, for example, is a critical commodity, therefore an important commercial benefit for developers is NyRock Cavity Slab 032’s capacity for thinner wall construction. With a 13% improvement in thermal performance over standard stone wool cavity slab, NyRock Cavity Slab 032 can achieve the target performance of 0.18 W/m²K with a thickness of 150mm, depending on construction type – 25mm thinner than typical stone wool cavity products within the same wall build up.
NyRock Cavity Slab 032, like all ROCKWOOL stone wool solutions, is also built for longevity with independent tests showing that it remains effective as insulation for the life of the building¹ and due to its high density semi rigid composition, will not slump in the cavity.
NyRock Cavity Slab 032 also achieves a closely knitted joint with adjacent slabs, without the need for taping of the joints, helping to eliminate gaps and allow for continuity of insulation across the cavity. Further, stone wool’s high pliability negates the need for precision cutting on-site, minimising the margin for error and the likelihood of thermal bridging.
With the ability to withstand temperatures in excess of 1000°C, NyRock Cavity Slab 032 achieves the highest Euroclass A1 non-combustible reaction to fire classification. Similarly, stone wool provides acoustic performance due to a non-directional fibre orientation and increased density, significantly reducing outside sources of noise when used in an external wall.
For more information, visit https://rockwool.link/HBD-NC