5 Reasons Why Volcanic Rock Wool Insulation Is A Smart Choice

Your Choice for Safety, Comfort, Cost-Saving and Environment

Our unique Australian climate is known for its fluctuation from one extreme to the other. As electricity costs rise and our environmental concerns increase, it is more important than ever to make sure that you pick the right insulation product for your next construction project.

Insulation is the barrier with low thermal conductivity used to improve resistance to the transmission of heat and cold and is essential for keeping your home warm in winter and cool in summer. According to the Australian Government, a well-insulated and well-designed home provides year-round comfort, cutting heating and cooling bills by up to half. This, in turn, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and does wonder for the environment. 

Put simply, the right insulation can dramatically improve the comfort of occupants as well as minimising ongoing costs and environmental concerns. Volcanic rock wool insulation offers a unique, environmentally friendly option with world-class fire resistance, superior acoustic properties, thermal comfort, and extreme weatherproof capabilities.

What Exactly is Volcanic Rock Wool?

Rock wool is produced naturally during volcanic eruptions when high winds blow across lava streams of basalt. This process is replicated in the modern production of volcanic rock wool. Creating a product that is hard-wearing, non-combustible, and UV stable (amongst other things). The process involves basalt (volcanic rock) being melted with a steelmaking byproduct called slag in a hot furnace above 1400 degrees celsius. The melted strands are spun much like fairy floss and then sprayed with a binder and a little mineral oil. 

Check out the below video from Knauf Insulation to learn more about how volcanic rock wool is manufactured. We are also a proud distributor of Knauf’s rock wool insulation products, so get in touch if you need more information.

So Why Should I Choose Volcanic Rock Wool for My Next Project? 

Volcanic rock wool insulation rocks and we give you 5 reasons why you should choose volcanic rock wool insulation for your next project.

1. World-Class Fire Resilience

Volcanic rock wool insulation offers superior fire resilience because of its density and composition. Our product ASPECT VIVID, for example, is a non-combustible soffit tile. It will not promote flame spread nor will it produce toxic gases even when directly exposed to fire. Volcanic rock wool insulation has an impressive ability to withstand temperatures up to its melting point of approximately around 1117 degrees Celsius. 

2. Superior Acoustic Capabilities

The high density of volcanic rock wool insulation contributes to achieving a higher acoustical performance than most other insulating materials. Remember how it is made? The unique recreation of wind across lava spins the fibres into a fairy floss like structure. Thanks to the fairy floss like fibres, which are spun in many directions, volcanic rock wool can effectively absorb acoustic waves and dull the intensity of noise and echo. Coupled with tight, seamless joints, volcanic rock wool insulation creates a really effective barrier to noise and contributes to much quieter environment for the occupants.

3. Robust Thermal Comfort

Thermal comfort is one of the most critical considerations for architects when designing a home. By choosing the right insulation, we can even out temperature variations without the need to resort to heaters and/or air-conditioning, saving the running cost of a building in the long term.

What makes volcanic rock wool an excellent thermal insulation material is its ability to resist heat loss. Its R-value. a measure of a material’s ability to resist the transfer of heat, remains steady throughout temperature fluctuations and is consistent over time.

Why does volcanic rock wool offer such superior thermal performance? It is all in the stability of the material. Once installed in a proper position, volcanic rock wool insulation does not slump, causing gaps. It will not expand or contract due to temperature variances. Both of these factors contribute to a long-lasting and stable thermal comfort all year around.

So whether you have installed it 5 weeks ago or 5 years ago, you will experience consistent thermal comfort offered by volcanic rock wool insulation compared to other forms of insulation.

4. Moisture-Proof

Volcanic rock wool insulation is moisture-proof. Moisture/condensation in contact with the outer surface of the insulation will not be absorbed and retained within the insulation, so the R-value is not negatively affected as can be the case with other insulation materials. 

However, the material is still permeable, which means water vapor can easily evaporate and dry out quickly without causing the insulation to lose its structural integrity. Since no moisture will be trapped within volcanic rock wool insulation, you will never need to worry about dealing with mould or bacteria affecting the insulation.

5. Environmentally Friendly

It’s easy to see why volcanic rock wool is the first choice for architects, designers and builders who are concerned with environmental sustainability and superior results. Take comfort knowing that the manufacturing process of volcanic rock wool is quick and efficient and produces little waste, therefore, saving energy and leaving less impact on our environment.

Volcanic rock wool installation contains no harmful chemicals or formaldehyde. Its unique production process involves cutting the batts with water jets so no dust escapes. The final product is fully recyclable and contains on average about 75% recycled materials.

This is why we are very proud of our insulation products as they are architecturally engineered and approved by Green Building Council of Australia to maximise the benefits that natural volcanic rock has to offer.

Get Ready to Make Your Smart Choice

The unique composition of volcanic rock wool insulation makes it a versatile and attractive solution for your next construction project. Environmentally friendly, safe, and easy to install – alongside a host of great qualities such as fire resilience, moisture repellent and superior thermal comfort, volcanic rock wool insulation is really a long-term energy-efficient solution for your next project.