The application of rock wool accordingly to its types is various. Among others, Petrochemical Industry, Refineries, Hospitals, Power plant, Heavy Industries, Recording Studios, Metro Tunnels, and Cement and Steel Factories are the consumers of this insulation. Loose wool (Iso term)is employed as sound-thermal insulation inside buildings’ walls, chimneys, vehicles’ and industry tolls’ silencers and also as filler the irregular spaces.
Slabs (Phenopanel) for the insulation and coverage of Niches Roof, Air Fow Ducts, HVAC systems, and Water cooling. If this kind of rock wool is without covering, it can be used to insulate instruments with temperatures up to 700C, while it can be used only for lower temperatures if a covering, made from Kraft paper and Aluminum Foil, is used.
Slabs, due to its strength, to absorb air, are used as insulations between the layers of walls in Recording studios and Metro tunnels. Iso pipe is employed in the utilities of HVAC systems to insulate the hot or cold pipelines.
The insulation rock wool with Grid cover (iso blanket) is usable up until 800C and is used for flat and curved surfaces in industry like Great diameter pipes, Furnaces, Turbine exhaust, Tall chimney.
Insulating with rock wool insures the optimal energy consumption in throughout a building including Grass roots, roofs, attic and walls. Furthermore, rock wool is also applicable for the insulation of pipes, boilers, and hot water tanks with the view to preventing from energy losses in buildings, Industrial facilities, Ships, Oil derricks, and etc. insulation is also linked to warm weather as much as it is linked to cold weather.
Insulations, in the case of clod and chilly regions, maintain buildings warm and reduce the needs of energy for heating. Whereas, in the case of hot regions, they keep heat out and also reduce the need of energy for air conditioning. In a sunny day having a 70C in a roof is not unconceivable. Without insulations this unusual kind of heat can easily infiltrate into the building and transform it into a sauna, a place which is annoying and inappropriate for working or living.
Improper insulation of buildings spells an increase on energy consumption. For instance, the amount of energy is consumed to cool an ordinary office in Malaysia or Asian regions is by far more than energy consumption for heating in cold regions like the north of Europe.

Rock wool – In use

• The most widespread thermal insulation
• Insulation of Buildings, and Structures
• Hot insulation adapted for refining industry, petrochemical, pipe lines, and
other process which have more than 500C temperature
• Insulation of furnaces, oven, Thermal reservoirs, and Hot gas Ducts

Classified advantages of rock wool

• High level operating temperature range which has lead it to be known as hot insulation
• Very low level of heat transformation coefficient
• Availability in various dimensions and densities
• Availability of insulation accompany by various External coverage (Nonstandard)
• Not only they are thermal insulation but also they can be used as soundproof and
fire insulation
• By far less inexpensive than Elastomeric and Polymeric insulation, and Foams
• Easy usability in buildings
• Completely made of natural ingredients, and chemical ingredients like colors and
Acrylic are not used to form them
• Their ingredients are easily recyclable
• Durability over time
• Replaceability

Usages of rock wool

This insulation due to its capacity not propagating sound is considered as an excellent sound insulation. For that reason, it is usually implanted in airports, sound studio and metro stations. Its thickness being increased and devising an air gap in walls may empower its capability to weaken sound energy.
Due to its mineral ingredients it is suitable for using in constructions. Correspondingly, it won’t result in the corrosion or ruining of buildings elements.
The permissible thermal conductivity coefficients base on national regulation on building is as follow. Notably, these values might differ based on the temperature and producer and they must be provided by producers.

The fiber particles of rock wool have been found harmless for human by the World Health Organization and even base on European standards breathing an air which contains at most 5 Milligrams per cubic meter for 8 hours is permissible.
Rock wool is decomposable and because of its mineral ingredients not only it has very good durability but this fact causes it not losing high quality. Additionally, they are absolutely nature-friendly and from this perspective rock wool is the least dangerous insulation.
Rock wool is not flammable or ignitable and enjoys a tough resistance to direct fire up until 4 hours. Rock wool itself has a very high melting point but due to its resin and other additives it can resist to fire in the range of -50C to 850C. Furthermore, they are certain not to emit poisonous gases that are one of its greatest advantages.

According to International standards employing rock wool as the separator in fire zones in buildings and floors has been attracting a lot of attention.
The other principal advantages of rock wool, especially in our country, are its availability and its being inexpensive comparing to other insulations. That’s why, Rock and slag wool are the most commonly in-use insulation in different industries: among others, Oil & Gas Petrochemical. Additionally it is known as a very suitable insulation for massive insulation tasks.

Despite all of the mentioned advantages, one of the most limiting drawbacks of rock wool is its vulnerability toward moisture. Owing to the fiber structure of rock wool and existence of air gaps in the structure, this insulation is prone to be infiltrated by moisture or steam. Infiltration of moisture into rock wool results in a thermal bridges in the insulation which reduces its insulating features. Therefore, if the rock wool is installed in outdoor or in the places with moisture higher than average, using of an external coverage upon the insulation is highly recommended and necessary. Fortunately, there are various external coverage for Rock and slag wool in market such as Aluminum foil, Kraft paper and Fireproof fabric jacket.

The other drawbacks of rock wool can be listed as following:

• Its thermal conductivity coefficient increases, if the temperature and the pressures after installation and moisture absorption rises
• To refigure this insulation for some products such as slabs and isopipe, adhesive resin is used which reduces the insulation resistance to temperature down to 350C.
• Stored rock wool for long time (more than a year) can loses its features and properties.