mineral wool

Environmental Impact Rating

Harvesting — Moderate

The mining of ore is a high-impact process, but as a recycled product the impacts are mitigated.

Manufacturing — High

To make mineral wool, rock must be heated to approximately 1600 °C (2900∞F), an energy intensive process with high fuel usage and emissions. The chemical binders used to form the insulation into batts and boards have wide-ranging impacts throughout their life cycle.

Transportation — Low to High

Sample building uses 930 kg of mineral wool:

1.4 MJ per km by 15 ton truck

0.9 MJ per km by 35 ton truck

North American production is limitedregional. Impacts accrue proportional to distance traveled, though the material is lightweight.

Installation — Moderate

Products carry carcinogen warnings on the label, and dust and offcuts can proliferate in the environment.

Waste: Low

Recyclable – Plastic packaging.

Landfill – Insulation offcuts.

Chart of Embodied energy & carbon

Energy Efficiency

R-value: 3.7–4.5 per inch

A wide variety of mineral wool products are available at different densities and thicknesses, and thermal properties vary with density.

All mineral wool insulation requires an air control layer on both sides of the insulation. Gaps and voids in the insulation due to improper installation will lower the thermal performance.

Material costs: moderate

Market penetration of mineral wool batts has increased dramatically over the past decade, and costs are often competitive with mainstream insulation choices like fiberglass.

Labour Input: low to moderate

The installation of mineral wool products is similar to that of any batt or board style of insulation.

Health Warning

Mineral wool fibers and formaldehyde binders are both considered carcinogenic. Material will cause skin irritation.

Skill level required for homeowners: Low

Batt and board insulation can be successfully installed with very little experience, as long as care is taken to ensure tight fits in all cavities and to avoid voids or gaps.

Sourcing & availability: Easy

Mineral wool products can be sourced through many building supply stores, though availability will vary by region.

Durability: High

Mineral wool is not affected by moisture and offers no food value to insects and rodents. It can be expected to have a long lifespan.

Code compliance

Mineral wool products are produced to meet all building code standards.

Indoor air quality: low to moderate

During installation, mineral wool particulate is dangerous. To the degree that particulate is sealed in the wall, there should be little evidence of it in the air of the finished home. Many mineral wool products use formaldehyde binders, which off-gas throughout their lifespan.

Resources for further research

n/a

Future development

Mineral wool products have been in use for many decades. Future developments are likely to include the use of non-off-gassing binders.