Table of Contents
Hydrophobic and non-hydrophilic solutions for your facade
The Rockwool and mineral wool are insulations acting as moisture barriers.
They are hydrophobic solutions, they do not waterproof the facades (they are fibrous and porous materials) or prevent leaks, but they are non-hydrophilic solutions, that is, they have no affinity for water, and are not hygroscopic
Although there are leaks or condensations that generate large amounts of water or humidity or water vapor.
Mineral or rock wool will not absorb it, nor will they trap it from the environment in any case, since its classification against humidity is < mu1 (that is, in 1 m3 they may contain less than 1 liter of water), an extremely easy quantity to evaporate or eliminate quickly through the material.
Mineral wool is a product of mineral origin in which minerals have been used, that is, basalt rocks in the case of rock wool, and silica sand in the case of mineral glass wool.
They are internationally recognized as acoustic insulators, due to their flexible structure, and thermal, due to their interlacing that keeps the air immobile, and they are also non-combustible, due to their inorganic origin.
Many of the damages that occur in construction are caused by the harmful action of humidity.
When moisture enters a building, it causes different problems such as decreased thermal protection, degradation of materials, the appearance of mold and mildew, etc.
If your facade generates condensation and humidity problems, including molds, you need materials with characteristics of good behavior against water; Materials such as cellulose or wood fiber are not recommended; the only materials that will guarantee the quality of the insufflated insulation in these cases are rock wool and mineral wool.
The same occurs in homes with very humid or cold climates, with mountainous areas or with a lot of rainfall or high humidity, such as the Pyrenees or the Basque Country, in which case it is also advisable to insulate the facade with mineral wool or rock wool.
We must also warn that in Spain many facades with an air chamber, exposed-face brick or cement plastered, are non-waterproof facades.
So injecting materials with the ability to absorb moisture or similar is crazy and will cause many problems in the future. The option for them is mineral wool or rock wool.
Mineral wool is water-repellent and not hydrophilic. Hydrophilic (from the Greek hydros “water”, and philia “friendship”) is the behavior of any molecule that has an affinity for water.
In a solution or colloid, hydrophilic particles tend to approach and maintain contact with water. Hydrophilic molecules are in turn lipophobic, that is, they have no affinity for lipids or fats and do not mix with them
Rock wool or blot
Rock wool is the insulation obtained from the spinning process by heating volcanic basalt rocks and mineral coke, up to 1500 degrees Celsius; In the liquid state, “threads” are obtained, which, in their stretching and cooling, intertwine obtaining raw rock wool.
The fluff is the raw material that we use and is the only version or format for blowing. They cannot be considered natural, nor a recyclable material, but 95% of the raw material is natural (basalt)
Mineral wool
Mineral wool is the insulation obtained from the mineral silica; in the case of mineral wool, it is obtained from recycling glass (transformed silica), heating up to 1600 degrees centigrade; In the liquid state, yarn-fibers are obtained, which are intertwined obtaining the mineral wool in bulk or fluff.
The eraser is the raw material that we use and is the only version or format even injected. It cannot be considered a natural material, but it is recyclable and respectful of the environment.
Protect your home from fire
Rock wool and mineral wool are 2 good options to insulate our home and have extra protection against fire. We explain which is the best system and the advantages it entails.
The fire has been one of the great enemies of homes throughout history. The wooden houses, the straw floors, and the adobe walls have been fueled by fire on numerous occasions.
This threat is much less in the 21st century, but it has not completely disappeared.
Given the risk that our home and all the furniture and souvenirs that we keep in it may be damaged by a fire, it is highly recommended to install additional and specific protection.
There are 2 options to make good interior insulation that protects our home from fire: rock wool or mineral wool. Let’s see the characteristics of each one.
Rock wool
This insulator is obtained from a spinning process, by heating volcanic basaltic rocks and mineral coke.
Once it reaches 1500 degrees of temperature and is in a liquid state, from this material “threads” can be obtained, which are intertwined until rock wool is formed.
95% of the raw material of this insulation is natural. The main manufacturer of stone wool is rockwool and it has the following characteristics as an insulator:
- Low thermal conductivity 0.038 w / m k.
- High thermal resistance.
- Exceptional behavior against Euro fire. It is in class A1 – Fireproof.
- High acoustic absorption: 0.70-090 alpha.
- Low specific heat: 825 joules.
- Low thermal lag: up to 6 hours in thicknesses of 200 and 250 mm.
- Hydrophilic. This wool does not absorb water and does not rot.
Mineral wool
This insulator is obtained from silica. The mineral is transformed into glass, it is heated up to 1600 degrees and, already in a liquid state, fibers are obtained from it that are intertwined to form mineral wool.
The main mineral wool manufacturer is Isover and it has the following characteristics:
- Very low thermal conductivity: 0.035 w / m · k.
- High thermal resistance.
- Exceptional behavior against fire. It is in class A1 – Flame retardant.
- High acoustic absorption: 0.70-090 alpha.
- Moderate specific heat: 950 joules.
- Moderate thermal lag: up to 6 hours in thicknesses of 200 and 250 mm.
- Hydrophilic, good behavior against water and humidity
In case of fire, these two types of insulation protect your home for a period between 30 and 240 minutes, depending on the thickness installed.
Whether your home is protected during this time can make the difference between saving your property or not, since fire services take an average of 30 minutes to go to an emergency.
Therefore, protecting your home with insulation against fire is very interesting. Either of these two materials can protect your home against a possible fire.
This insulation is carried out in the exterior air chambers by filling the air chamber, inside or outside the house. A system by which it is isolated without the need to carry out any work in the house.
Insulating with non-combustible and fire-safe materials guarantees the installation of insufflated insulation systems as they can be in contact with high-temperature sources such as halogen lights, interior heating ducts in facades or chimney ducts.
In addition, insulating against fire has economic benefits for insurance. Insurers value positively that we take measures to protect our home and it is possible to find bonuses in the annual premium.
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