Thermal insulation
The Challenge
Better insulation of buildings is a profitable way to reduce the CO2 emissions according to a study by McKinsey/Vattenfall; it is a low hanging fruit in combatting climate change. Millions of tonnes of CO2 and fossil fuel can be saved by insulating our buildings.
This makes insulation a key climate technology. It can help reduce today’s unnecessary waste of fossil fuels from buildings which are responsible for 40% of the EU and US energy consumption and a major contributor to man-made CO2 emissions. The developing countries - struggling with energy poverty and air pollution – also has a need for buildings that waste less energy and emit less CO2.
Thermal insulation is a measure of how easy heat is being conducted through a material. The thermal insulation value is a combination of thermal conductivity, measured according to norm EN12667 and the thickness of the material. The thermal conductivity (l) is expressed in W/mK. The smaller the l-value, the better the thermal insulation of the material. A material can be definied as thermally insulating, if the l-value is smaller than 0.060 W/mK.
The thermal resistance value as a unit area of the specific layer of material (e.g. the ceiling tiles) is expressed in R. It can be calculated as follows: R = m/l (in m²K/W) in which m represents the thickness of the material (m) and l represents the thermal conductivity of the material.
The discovery of stone wool was related to the need for thermal insulation and has since become one of the most important technologies in the construction industry. For more information visit www.rockwool.com
Our contribution to performance
Although Rockfon is primarily designed for acoustic solutions, there are also situations where the benefit of the intrinsic thermal insulation capacity of Rockwool base material, as a major component of Rockfon ceiling tiles, can be used efficiently.
This is the case when shopping malls build over parking garages as well as in flat-roof buildings or in old buildings with cold cellars.
The Rockfon ceiling needs to be seen as part of the total thermal insulation solution taking into account building physics (e.g. condensation, avoiding thermal bridges, etc).
Rockfon ceilings are the best choice for thermal insulation in combination with acoustic absorption. Rockfon provides products specially designed to fulfil this double function.
Product comparison on thermal conductivity
| Alaska | 0.037 W/mK |
| Sonar Activity | 0.040 W/mK |
| Wetfelt | 0.052-0.057 W/mK |
| Gypsum | 0.230-0.460 W/mK |
| Gravel concrete | 1.300-1.900 W/mKv |
Overview of R-value (in m2K/W) as a contribution to Rc-value of some commonly used ceiling tiles
| Alaska (20mm) | 0.54 |
| Sonar Activity (40 mm) | 1.00 |
| Wetfelt (18 mm) | 0.33 |
| Gypsum (12 mm) | 0.04 |
