When considering the type of building insulation materials availablex for a project, many homeowners and builders find themselves asking one question: how much better is Rockwool than XPS/EPS/PIR foam boards? The answer is that in most key performance aspects, rock wool completely outperforms foam.

1.Superior Fire-Resistance:

Rock wool has a melting point of over 1000℃, classifying it as a European A1 class non-combustible material with zero flame spread and zero dripping. The highest grade for foam boards is B1/B2; they shrink, melt, and give out dense smoke and toxic gases on fire. Rock wool is the preferred choice for high-rise buildings and public projects.

2.Stability at High Temperatures:

The rock wool keeps up its dimensions and performance above 200℃, while the foam boards soften and shrink above 70-80℃, which leads to detachment of insulation layers and frequent cold bridging.

3.Superior sound insulation:

Rock wool is of an open-cell construction, thus allowing walls to easily reach a sound insulation temperature of STC 55+, whereas closed-cell foam offers almost no sound insulation. It has become the go-to choice for home theaters and even hotels and hospitals.

4.Breathable, waterproof, and mould-resistant:

The vapor barrier of rock wool is less than 0.005 m²·h·Pa/mg, hardly affecting the "breathing" of the wall. Used together with breathable paper, it can avoid condensation within the wall. In that respect, the vapor permeability of foam boards is super bad, and they easily build up water and grow mold with time.

5.Green & Sustainable:

Rock wool contains 70-90% basalt and is recyclable. Most foams contain HBCD flame retardants whose use is restricted in the EU.

While lightweight and waterproof, the major uses of foam boards are for external wall insulation and inverted layers in roofs, while rock wool is much more serviceable in fireproofing, sound insulation, and high-temperature-resistant uses.

United Insulation specializes in the supply of export-grade rock wool boards and rolls. Ranges include: 40-200 kg/m³ density, and from 25-200 mm thickness for full coverage. Products have all passed the anti-mildew test under CE, FM, and ASTM C665 specifications, and some of them are provided with EU CE and US ASTM certification respectively. We also offer customized rock wool with aluminum foil, black felt, or wire mesh facing. We can ship products in 48 hours worldwide.

Need top-quality rock wool that's both fireproof and soundproof? For the best one-stop solution to your insulation problems, contact United Insulation!