Buildings
Structure, lining, insulation or finish depending on family.
Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
Strength16
Heat resistance86
Fire performance96
Insulation86
Workability70
Circularity58
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Quick answers
Is Mineral wool non-combustible?
Declared reaction class in this atlas: A1. Assemblies still need resistance tests.
Does Mineral wool insulate?
Thermal mark 86/100 versus the atlas. Conductivity note: λ ~0.032–0.040 W/m·K typical batts.
What is the density band?
20–150 kg/m³ products
How is it made?
Origin story: Slag wool 19th c.; glass wool 1930s (US / Germany / Denmark).
Can it be recycled?
Circularity mark 58/100 — editorial, route-specific.
Typical melting or failure heat?
softens ~1000 °C class (stone)
heat 86 · fire 96
Mineral wool earns its keep in systems: a beam, a batt, a fibre blend, a coated steel — rarely a lone coupon.
Products below are cultural landmarks as much as SKUs.
Sectors
Transport
Mass, fire and fatigue rewrite the grade list.
Energy
Heat, voltage and hydrogen compatibility.
Consumer
The volume that pays for the mill.
Medical / food
When allowed — extractables and allergies matter.
Defence / safety
Ballistics, FR clothing, fire stops.
Products
Owens-Corning Pink
1938–
ROCKWOOL
1937–
Knauf Insulation
1970s–
Cavity batt
1970s–
High-rise rainscreen
2010s
Pipe section
1950s–
Acoustic ceiling
1960s–
Slag wool heritage
19th c.
Pairings
polyurethane-foam
Lower λ, combustible unless protected.
aerogel
Better λ, much higher cost.
gypsum-board
The lining that faces the room.
ceramic-fiber
When service temperature exceeds stone wool.
If the pairing is wrong, the material will be blamed for a system fault.
Keep exploring
More in Thermal
🧽
Polyurethane foam
The low-λ organic foam of fridges and buildings — excellent insulation, a fire design problem unless PIR and coverings are honest.
Overall 46 📦Vacuum insulated panel
A sealed vacuum sandwich — λ around 0.004–0.008 W/m·K until the envelope leaks.
Overall 44 🕯️Phase-change material
Latent-heat packets that flatten temperature swings — not a substitute for λ insulation, a complement.
Overall 36