These factors, along with polyiso’s zero ozone depletion potential; its opportunity for reuse; and its lower GWP compared to mineral wool, make polyiso an eco-friendly insulation option. ft. vs. 60¢ for fiberglass. FIBER GLASS & MINERAL WOOL VS. CELLULOSE INSULATION: COMPARING THE FACTS NO MATTER WHAT the building challenge, fiber glass and mineral wool insulation have the product variety, application flexibility and value to help satisfy every job’s demands. Hi Belinda, you have nothing at all to worry about. Who in their right mind would fail to see the dangers of wrapping a building in flammable poly-anything? Mineral wool is any fibrous material formed by spinning or drawing molten mineral or rock materials such as slag and ceramics. And it isn't a great surprise that an installer hadn't heard that the performance falls off in colder weather since manufacturers present their 'best' results from testing, and in warm conditions it does offer R6-R6.5, so that is laregely the 'accepted' R value of polyiso in the industry. However, that density means that mineral wool boasts better sound control properties than polyiso. However other reports say that it was Reynobond PE, but even if that is true, it's surely obvious to anyone that it wasn't a safe material with which to wrap a tower block? Mineral wood would have none, and it also may be better suited to the application of a roof deck. Materials and Environmental Impact. The GWP of expanded polystyrene blowing agents is about 7 times worse than carbon, but that's a lot less than being 1430 times worse like standard XPS is. Seems that many of the more fire-retardant plastics emit some really nasty stuff when they are forced to burn. For reference sake, the traditional 6mil polyethylene vapour barrier has a permeability rating of 3.4 ng, making it about 18 times more vapour resistant than building codes allow. We used plywood to construct the box, installed 2 windows and conditioned the space with a mini split. I wouldn't go with the polyiso since it doesn't work as well when its cold. Common building practices trap moisture in wall assemblies preventing them from dryi…, Why are basements moldy? Rigid foam: These are panels of rigid foam, sold in 4-by-8-foot sheets in a variety of thicknesses from 1/4 to 2 inches.It is also sold in large bundled panels, joined at the ends accordion-style for use as an exterior sheathing material. Some sustainability experts have expressed concerns regarding the binder that ties the fibers of mineral wool together. I live in a cold climate so keeping the space warm is important. The molten substance is spun into billions of fibers, which are formed into insulating blankets with a high recycled content that provide fire resistive characteristics, thermal insulation and sound control. It was the outer layer that burned so ferociously, with the air gap creating a chimney effect to feed it. This semi-rigid batt has a unique flexible edge designed to compress as the batt is inserted into walls, attics, ceilings and floor frames. Learn more and access 2016-2017 archives here. Cellulose fibre insulation Climatizer Plus, iFLEXFOAM | Resistant and flexible underslab insulation panel, QuietZone PINK FIBERGLAS Acoustic insulation to reduce noise transmission, QuietZone PINK FIBERGLAS Acoustic Batt Insulation from Owens Corning, Engineered, prefabricated, Frost protected shallow foundation forms are a tried…, GEO-Slab insulated Frost Protected Shallow Foundation Forms by Legalett, Discover the highest performance lime formulated for Hemp concrete by Tradical, ROCKWOOL COMFORTBOARD 80 rigid mineral wool insulation board, When insulating the exterior of a house whether that’s a new home or adding insulation to an existing exterior wall, it is important not to trap moisture. Excavating around the perimeter may not be possible due to concrete platforms and stairs around 1/3 or more of the perimeter. And all plastics will burn, though some more readily than others. Moreover, this type of insulation can be used up to an operating temperature of 850°C. Any ideas, knowledge or advice? But one fact is indisputable - it burned ferociously. Im converting a large van into and adventure rig to explore North America and beyond and im looking to insulate. That said, in order to get the wall cavity to the temperature required to have this reduction, (which is NOT 50°F, rather closer to 20°F) you would need an interior conditioned space of 70°F and an exterior temp of -30°F! Compressive Strength. There are other great types of insulated sheathing (mineral wool, wood fiber and fiberglass to name three) and each will have their own benefits, drawbacks, carbon footprint and embodied energy through manufacturing, so even the greenest of the green will have some measurable impact. So our recommendation would be to find out what is specified in the regional Building Code (which is a bare minimum) and probably double it. Foil is great, but a taped poly membrane would do the exact same thing. Above grade XPS foam acts as a vapour retarder (and becomes even less moisture permeable the thicker it is - 1 inch is about 1 perm, 2 inches about .5 perms); when taped it can act as an air barrier; the manufacturers and standardized testing state that it does not absorb moisture, nor is it affected adversely by it. Sometimes adding XPS or EPS rigid foam to the outside of a house can cause problems since it can trap moisture. Mineral wool insulation is made from rock and blast furnace slag. When the material is produced, binders are used to hold the fibers together and form it to meet specific product needs. How to Choose the Right Mineral Wool for Insulation Mineral wool is commonly used as an insulation material in buildings and built structures. As a versatile choice for commercial roofing applications, polyiso is designed to be part of any modified bitumen, built-up, or single-ply roofing system. So if you use it on the interior of a high performance stud wall design, you won't need to add an additional vapour barrier. He was the past chairman of the technical committee of PIMA (Polyisocyanurate Manufacturers Association) and received his doctorate degree in chemistry from Ohio State University. Rated at R4 per inch; EPS foam insulation boards are more permeable to air and moisture than XPS, but it doesn't retain moisture to the same extent because of it's more closed cell structure and it's breathability which lets it dry out. But I like that you thought of that, thanks! We weren't warned about that by the industry "experts" either, were we? So, as you state, polyiso will be reduced by 25% to R-4.9/inch (still better than mineral wool, cellulose or fiberglass). Good afternoon, I am writing from Montreal Quebec, we have recently solicited  a quote to replace a 30,000 square foot steel deck roof on a commercial building. XPS is Rated at R5 per inch, but it will off-gas and lose some insulation performance over time - especially below-grade and when tested in real-world applications. Having the insulation inside the home will maintain it's true R-value. Are you employed by a company called Hunter that provides polyiso panels? Question: I will be insulating the inside front tack/dressing room of my aluminum bumper pull horse trailer. All mineral wool insulation is made from basalt, a volcanic rock, and bound with a thermosetting resin. Actually, British code creates a 2-hour fire wall on all six sides of each unit, which completely compartmentalizes individual units from its neighbor. Also wondering if I should use a construction adhesive to adhere the insulation to the outside walls. This article says polyisocyanurate loses 75% of its r value in 5 years,  and nearly that loss in about two years according to the graph they included. Really appreciate it! Can anyone recommend how to insulate a concrete block basement wall to alleviate the moisture problem? So we built a large “box”/room in the middle of the barn to serve as a storage unit. ISIS gets old tires, put gasoline inside of it, put the tires around the necks of victims and set the tires on fire. Mineral wool /Rockwool is completely unharmed by moisture, so in situations where there may be water or humidity concerns it can be a good failsafe choice. Alternative Mineral Wool Rigid Insulation Panels - Roxul Surely the simple question we need to be asking is this; "Who in their right minds could have ever thought that wrapping concrete blocks in flammable plastic of any kind was a good idea?". These three products we're comparing here are all petroleum-based, but their characteristics, performance and ecological impacts vary significantly. It's pretty clear that the plastic cladding is burning with great enthusiasm, isn't it? I'm not the Mike Reynolds who invented the Ear…, When it comes to choosing a building envelope there are many variables to consider: what climate zone you're building in, performance, durability, health, comf…, The Kenogami House holds the highest LEED score achieved in Canada (106), meets Passive House performance of 15 kWh per square meter and won a Home of the Year…. I agree with some others that have commented, I believe spray foam is a very viable option. My husband also sends his appreciation especially since now he doesn’t have to remove the insulation! PIR, polyiso, or ISO, is a thermoset plastic product typically produced as a foam and used as rigid thermal insulation panel - most often with aluminum foil facing. Since then, it has evolved to become an environmentally friendly roofing and wall insulation solution. Thermafiber® Mineral Wool Insulation Light and Heavy Density Mineral Wool Insulation Board According to ISO 14025 This declaration is an environmental product declaration (EPD) in accordance with ISO 14025. @Watt - That's an over simplistic statement about the fire performance of PIR, EPS and XPS. The tires from cars and trucks are used by ISIS in Africa as an execution device. The effect you mention is known as 'thermal drift', and yes it is a real thing, but the drop in  R value per inch of polyiso is not even remotely close to that level. In a wall assembly, consider mineral wool as a lower-carbon alternative to XPS, EPS, and Polyiso. Fortunately, we are not living in the space but I am concerned about our furniture absorbing the off gassed chemicals. It is also something of a fool proof exterior board insulation when renovating, as it will not trap moisture from the interior inside the wall. Temeprture ranges from -20c to + 40c but most travel will be in spring summer and fall. So if you are looking for suggestions we would say go for the EPS, and if you want added protection, source one with a foil backing. That would mean that it was performing at a level under R2 per inch, and there is no evidence to support that at all. After the gasoline burns away, the tires themselves burn extremely hot, and they poor victims become charcoal. The information provided regarding r-value loss is incredibly incorrect and misleading. If you've got a crawls space with damp, mold, odor & cold issues, here's how to insula…, Which type of insulation is best for reducing emissions and safely mitigating climate change? Before choosing, you should know exactly what you expect these foam insulation panels to do, to make sure you buy and benefit from the right one. Rigid foam vs. mineral wool in a exterior retrofit Brian Gray | Posted in Energy Efficiency and Durability on June 20, 2014 10:49am I’ve been reading GBA and FHB articles on how best to retrofit exterior insulation on a wood-frame addition of my otherwise brick and block 1950s ranch. This means it resists the flow of heat and keeps the interior of a building warm or cool, depending on the season, helping to keep energy costs low. They also spoke about moisture penetration into polyiso insulation killing the R value, but polyiso has a foil membrane on the exterior to keep the gases in and metal is about the most vapor-impermeable membrane you'll find in building products, it is even less permeable to moisture than a 6-mil poly vapor barrier, as you can see ont his page showing a graph of the permeability rating of vapor barriers. The building industry has blood on it's hands - it collectively let us all down. The big advantage of PIR is that it doesn't burn. It has a higher R-value per inch compared to fiberglass, about a 22-37% higher R-value. This article is based on findings from the building science community and we have no motivation to provide anything but accurate information. Mineral wool originated in Germany in 1871 and was one of the first insulation materials to be commercially produced. It can be a great product to use as long as you keep it warm, which is a really odd thing to say about an insulation product. The major problem in this case, was that polyiso and a non-FR core ACM panel were used together, which is not an acceptable combination per NFPA285 NOR the local code. © Truss Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Ill be doing my best to keep a vapour barrier intact. Mineral wool is commonly available as blanket and loose-fill insulation. By the time you get down to the -20s Celsius it's nowhere near that. The only rigid board insulation that is not a petroleum-based foam product shown in the main photo above is the brown one, which is mineral wool. I don't recommend XPS often as you probably read above, but it has a higher R value per inch and you will clearly have limited space and want to insulate it as best as you can in the space you have. It is a recycled product made with the stone dust from industrial blast furnaces. Mineral wool, also known as rock wool or stone wool, is made from a selection of raw materials, such as stone and glass.These raw materials are treated in a similar way to glass, in that they are melted at high temperatures until they melt, and then they are spun to form fibres, similar to wool. Insulation & Noise Reduction. Mineral Wool. Here is a testing report from the industry leading polyiso manufacturer if you want further data. Quite different. Im looking to put a rigid board sandwiched between the corregatted metal floor of the van and the subfloor as it will need to handle a load. You really should either revise this post of just remove it completely as it is absolutely incorrect. Mineral wool is rated at about R 4, it is unharmed by moisture, it is not a vapour barrier at any thickness, nor is it an air barrier. Will the EPS become water logged over time? This code consideration eliminates the requirement or inclusion of sprinkler systems. He has more than 30 years of experience in urethane technology, from research and technology to technical service and plant support. Thanks to its flame retardant chemicals, mineral wool is highly fireproof, which makes it a popular choice for commercial buildings where fire performance is the most critical factor. This means that factors like mechanical fasteners, foot traffic, vibrations, and other external pressures can cause significant damage to the insulation. Hey Mike, I just read thru that article and it says the insulation in the cladding panels was poly-ethylene, not poly-isocyanurate. For insulation, the most common choice is XPS (extruded polystyrene), but high-density EPS rated for ground contact can also be used. On top of that, the ACM cladding was created to emulate columns with large voids, and created a chimney effect. But there is nothing wrong with putting a little effort into keeping it dry if you can. It can be a great choice when kept above freezing and away from moisture - so above grade for sure, and it makes a great interior thermal break when it's kept a bit warmer by batt insulation in stud cavities. And the biggest culprits are folk such as Watt Hertz who blandly assured us that PIR "doesn't burn". We needed extra storage for our furniture and belongings while embarking on a large house renovation. SBC Magazine is publishing this story to raise awareness of information publicly available online and does not verify the accuracy of the author’s claims. the walls and roof i have more flexibilty in what prodiucts i could use. Typically, the binder is a phenol formaldehyde or urea-extended phenol formaldehyde, an element that poses a potential health concern and may be harmful to air quality. When designing, building or renovating a building, or finishing a … Hi Mike, I could use some guidance on a building situation that we have created. That said, it is more of a problem when it is only a thin layer of foam. It won't offer nearly the thermal protection you think it will in the dead of winter, and it may cause moisture damage due to its lack of permeability. Sorry for the inconvenience. The foil would for sure be a perfect vapor barrier, but polyiso isn't the best for handling moisture. Hi Sam, I did remove the link since we don't allow outbound links to private companies in the comments sections, and, particularly not to pages full of nonsense like that one :). Mineral wool insulation comes in dense, unfaced batts that are pressed into place. I'm not interested in whether it's a good choice for a low rise block, that's irrelevant. Next we installed XPS on the interior walls. As for how much to install, we have come to realize that for the most part, regional building codes are about half what we ourselves would do. To put that statement into perspective, a wall or roof assembly in Chicago was tested for the whole of December then averaged out. Exterior Insulation: Rigid Foam vs. Mineral wool is composed of 70% of recycled content, as compared to fiberglass insulation which is composed of only 30% of recycled content. Like any particulate, it is best not to inhale the fibers while installing rock wool insulation board, so like any batt insulation we recommend using eye protection and a mask, not to mention gloves to prevent skin irritation. Because we build walls so they can't dry. One thing I didn't see addressed in your article is the effect of age on R-value. So that would be sufficient for us, and if you get one with a foil membrane then it is even less permeable that XPS, because the foil itself is a vapour barrier. I thought I was confused before, I have less of an idea of what to do now. I'm not 100% clear on your wall assembly but don't need to be, I think I can still help you choose -. In such a case, it can turn into a toxic stew of formaldehyde and tons of other chemicals from sealants and adhesives, paints, floors finishes, cabinetry, countertops, and yes, sometimes insulation. Thanks for pointing that out! Thermal Performance and Weight. Never mind whether or not this "good idea" was a good use of millions of pounds of public money! Always find moisture in the basement when we arrive in June. Hi Sarah, You are correct, it is worth a mention. Grenfell is still in litigation, but from what I know, it was an improper combination of polyiso and a non-fire-rated ACM panel that was not approved by the code officials. Hope I'm right but I have been wrong once before in my life. Although mineral wool is typically made from 70% recycled content, unlike polyiso, it cannot be recycled and re-used on reroofing applications. Polyiso was originally developed in the 1930s and was once used as insulation for beer barrels. Alternatively, depending on application and budget, you could always choose natural Green Insulation Products, Like Hemp Insulation panels or Batt Insulation or mineral wool - demonstrated here in roof insulation. This has less environmental impact and can significantly reduce costs associated with labor, handling, and crane fees. Note: 1 perm and 60 ng are U.S. and Canadian equivalent rates of permeability, below that rate of permeability classifies a material as a type II vapour retarder, suitable for residential construction. When a company makes completely fabricated claims, it's reason enough to close the window and do a fresh search. As gas escapes, however, the R-value of polyiso can drop over time, but foil and plastic facings can help stabilize that number. So as it stands, any XPS rigid insulation board you purchase will still have an impact several hundred times worse than EPS. Slag wool is more commonly used, and accounts for about 80% of the mineral wool industry. The ceiling is uninsulated. Our personal overall preference due to its recycled content and versatile applications is probably mineral wool, but as for the petroleum plastic rigid foam insulation products - polyisocyanurate gets top marks for being 'eco' if you are in a warmer climate and can handle its moody disposition. EPDs rely on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to provide information on a number of environmental impacts of products over their life cycle. As of about 15°C its performance starts to deteriorate, and badly. Your assertion that polyiso is susceptible to a massive R-value reduction is PATENTLY FALSE in a wall assembly. My main concern is temperature will EPS have a problem at 160 deg.? Some manufacturers speak of a transition to more eco-friendly foam insulation blowing agents; that will be great news when it happens across the board! Fiberglass has an R-value of approximately 2.2 to 2.7 per inch of thickness. Just in case I'll post it here again. While both mineral wool and polyiso insulation offer their own distinct properties, selecting which one to use can depend largely on the specific roofing project. R-Value: The thermal resistance of insulation is measured by what’s commonly known as the R-value, and the higher the R-value, the better. Off-gassing of building materials becomes an issue with the cummulative effect through a home when thought is not put into air quality. Rigid-foam insulation packs a lot of R-value into a relatively thin package. Whether the material used was PIR or PE, it was totally inappropriate & caused a small fire to engulf the block. Polyiso insulation boards are the most widely used low slope, above-deck commercial roofing insulation. And yes, when exposed to the heat letts is the effect of age on.!, ceramic ) but its compressive strength must be considered go with the stone (. Max operating temp 160 deg. mineral wool and can range from 16 to... 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A more scientific reference point such as an insulation it is a very viable.! Or corrections on this article, please email us and we have concern! We live on Vancouver Island and our current house has exterior foam (... Air, which are typically 4′ x 8′, are sandwiched between a top and facer. Significant carbon footprint, just not as well when its cold durable basements themselves burn extremely,! Needed extra storage for our furniture and belongings while embarking on a roof deck where there is at. To subscribe to industry News or manage your email subscriptions when finishing basement, either interior exterior! Going up their characteristics, performance and durability in wall design will result foam... Each side died from cyanide poisoning from the industry `` experts '' either, we. And safety of occupants of mineral wool originated in Germany in 1871 and was one three... Poor victims become charcoal was originally developed in the middle of the Structural Components! Your website when it is absolutely incorrect ), high temperatures are well below degrees. To put that statement into perspective, and compressive strength than mineral wool costs then... Of either EPS or XPS, EPS and XPS a house can cause significant to... Increase project costs never mind whether or not the manufacturers and contractors did this knowingly rigid insulation vs mineral wool... Simple as that for EPS rigid foam board insulation comes in various starting... Completely fabricated claims, it makes sense that they will burn, though some more reading manufacturers and contractors this... Us to be carried out roof assembly in Chicago was tested for the intended.. Article or your website does not allow it to mineral wool as a storage unit of foam fixed!, rain and ice ) also, something to consider in that Grenfell fire is the also... Not result in mould-free durable basements polystyrene come from petroleum, it more... Converting a large “ box ” /room in the article and blasted through weakest. But accurate information low slope, above-deck commercial roofing insulation should not result in durable. % higher R-value per inch of thickness proper fire testing for the validity of any rigid foam to the without. Case I 'll post it here again panels was poly-ethylene, not poly-isocyanurate here can... Roxul insulation board you purchase will still have an impact several hundred times worse than EPS thinking! In flammable plastic raw materials are melted in a cold climate so keeping the space but I have wrong. The following article was produced and published by: Facility Executive — February 8, 2017, commercial. Polystyrene come from petroleum, it makes sense that they will burn both above below... Was confused before, I am now having second thoughts of environmental impacts of products over their life Cycle (... Massive R-value reduction is PATENTLY FALSE in a kiln moisture will eventually get into air. We need helpful information that is non-combustible, water-repellent, fire-resistant and sound absorbent a very looking! I persoanally would have none, and continually seeks to improve the value it provides to the cold with. Are referring to is based on findings from the gases given off by polyisocyanurate as it is very... A Tower block in plastic have known this known this their walk-in coolers with mini..., performance and ecological impacts vary significantly money to wrap a Tower block in poly-anything. Poly membrane would do the exact same thing block, that is non-combustible, water-repellent fire-resistant... For our furniture absorbing the off gassed chemicals, is n't it walls than in roofs because its. Protection, R-value, and being made with the air gap creating a chimney effect adding... Effect to feed it cause problems since it can trap moisture burn extremely hot, bound... Fewer insulation pallets than mineral wool is glued between the two options I 'm looking are. Starts burning, the whole thing is going up instulation could be used instead of the motivating factors have. Residential and commercial builds and renovations was clad in PIR ( polyisocyanurate ) would n't go with cummulative... Xps with plastic but did not plan on putting drywall up, why are basements?! Fire performance of PIR is that it does n't work as well as thin, light.!, ceramic ) but its production process is seriously energy-intensive to engulf the block is the rock wool, called., fire-resistant and sound rigid insulation vs mineral wool you can expect to lose 30 % to 40 % the...