The thickness of glass wool for wall insulation. Glass wool: technical characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. Comparison of stone and glass wool

- this is a fibrous insulation, which is one of several types of mineral wool, but differs from basalt in a smaller fiber diameter and two to four times longer. These two indicators have a significant impact on the properties of the material.

The main properties and specifications glass wool, describes the technology of insulation and the specifics of working with the material.

To negative qualities can be attributed:

Types of glass wool

Thanks to a variety of additives, glass wool is produced in different forms:

• rolls;
• mats;
• shell.

In addition, to perform specific work, this insulation is combined with materials such as aluminum foil, polyethylene foam, and waterproofing film.

The specifics of wall insulation

Consider two main methods of insulation:

Roof insulation

The second layer is better to mount not from below, but from above the rafters. In this case, a diffuse membrane is laid over the insulation layer. The diffuse membrane should span over the ridge.

Note: insulation over the rafters is carried out only in sunny weather, because. for this you need to shoot roofing material.

Foil thermal insulation of the roof from the inside If rainy weather prevails in the area, then the priority method of warming the second layer will be to fasten the wool from the bottom of the rafters. When using foil glass wool, it must be laid with a metal surface inside the room.

Glass wool is fibrous insulation material belonging to the class of mineral wool. It is considered one of the most popular heat insulators.

In the article we will consider the properties, manufacture and use of glass wool.

Glass wool production technology and its characteristics

Fiberglass is made from waste from the glass industry and natural sand. As a result, the material is the thinnest fibers interconnected by a substance.

Thermal insulation products based on glass wool are mats or rolls:

Due to the pressing of the material several times, it occupies a small volume. In expanded form - more or less rigid plates.

Features of working with glass wool

It should be remembered that during any work with glass wool, it turns into fine dust, which causes irritation of the skin, mucous membranes or enters the lungs, from where it is never removed. Therefore, it is necessary to take care of the means personal protection- gloves, goggles, respirator.

To increase strength fiberglass materials reinforce by stitching:

Another disadvantage (apart from brittleness) is the thermal conductivity, which is greater than, for example, that of polyurethane foam or penoizol. That is, glass wool, as a heater, is worse than the named materials. But it's cheaper.

Benefits of glass wool

• High sound insulation (as the sellers say, but I didn’t notice this in my frame extension, although there are four layers of glass wool - 20 cm);
• low density and light weight;
• high strength (again, at the request of sellers, who probably just have tongues without bones and heads without brains - what kind of strength does glass wool have if it exfoliates in their hands?);
• ease of installation;
• elasticity and flexibility;
• low cost;
• occupies a small volume in packed form;
• ease of transportation;
• not subject to mold and attack by rodents;
• modern cotton wool is relatively safe (the main word here is "relatively").

I would like to add a comment.

The expression, which concerns the safety of the use of glass wool, is completely unreliable.

Once again, safety precautions should be reminded:

In case of contact with the skin, you should try to rinse with water without scratching the skin; otherwise the fibers will go deep under the skin.

If the fibers get on the mucous membrane - immediately see a doctor! (in a sense, this is how doctors advise, but in reality, depending on which mucous membranes: you will wash your eyes yourself large quantity running water, for this a doctor is not needed; and from respiratory tract fiberglass dust is not removed by any doctor, so why? For a wallet...).

1). The use of tight work clothes is mandatory.

2). During installation, the wool layer should be covered with other material to prevent dust from penetrating into the room where people are.

3). If the insulation is indoors, then after the work of the room it is good to vacuum.

The main disadvantages of glass wool

Actually, we have said exhaustively about them above, we will not crush the water.

My review of glass wool Knauf (Knauf)

I would like to leave a review in this article on such material as Knauf brand fiberglass.

Packed in rolls:

Or mats:

I used cotton wool produced by mats. It is called "Thermoplate 037", represents light series glass wool.

Characteristics:

Mat dimensions 5 x 60 x 125 cm,

Thermal conductivity coefficient 0.037.

There are 24 mats in the package, total area mats in a package of 18 m2 (at the same time, you need to buy with a margin if you want to insulate in two or three layers. With what margin? It is believed that 5 ... 10% is spent on trimming any material, and estimate from these figures).

Material manufacturer: KNAUF Insulation LLC, Stupino, Moscow region.

The insulation was for the walls frame extension To home. I placed glass wool between uprights and ceiling beams:

My review of Material in Action:

1. Excellent for cutting sheets, cut like sharp knife, and scissors (large, tailoring, not manicure :)).
2. I confirm that rodents definitely will not settle in glass wool (the packaging was in a room accessible to gray animals, but the settlement in the insulation itself did not occur).
3. The density of this type of Knauf is low, so the material is not fully adapted for thermal insulation of vertical structures. On the packaging, the density, unfortunately, is not indicated. It is better to inquire about the density of glass wool in advance on the Internet or other sources, so as not to get a "pig in a poke" (this is not the cat that will disperse the mice :)).
4. Despite the manufacturer's assurances that cotton wool is formaldehyde-free and does not have a pungent odor, in reality there is a smell. Therefore, it is better to work with a respirator, and, again, make the inner walls airtight.

I note that the use of rolled Knauf is much more convenient for horizontal ceilings. Firstly, the convenience of rolling over the surface. Secondly, at multilayer insulation the layers will be without joints, and, therefore, without getting cold into the room insulated with such material.

The overall assessment of the material is quite good, and in the absence of the best alternative would use in the future. But there is an alternative, something I'll tell you someday ...

Application of glass wool

Thanks to its efficiency and versatility, this thermal insulation material has a wide range of applications in construction. Glass wool is more suitable for warming attic, interfloor, that is, horizontal ceilings. Of course, vertical structures it is also possible to insulate (see photo above; the fact is that cotton wool does not creep along unplaned boards, you just need to make the distance between the boards less by 1.5 ... 2 cm of the width of the insulation).

Which insulation is better: glass wool or mineral wool?

If I had to choose between glass wool and mineral wool, then I would still stop at our building material- glass wool. One of the most important advantages that especially attracted me is that mice and other living creatures did not start in it.

More. With the same thickness, glass wool is 10 ... 15% warmer basalt wool and cheaper. Glass wool has longer fibers than stone wool, so less glue is used in the manufacture of glass wool, which means less formaldehyde.

Mineral wool should only be used where it can be placed reliable layer from the penetration of formaldehyde into the living quarters. In general, it should be used wisely for facade insulation, because health (its absence) is an even more expensive thing than building a house.

I made my choice, I hope that my review will be useful to you, and you will also make your right choice.

glass wool specifications

Mineral wool or glass wool - what is better to use as a heater for your home? The choice of material will depend on the intended purpose - to insulate the room or, for example, provide sound insulation; each material has its own advantages and disadvantages.

In order to properly determine what better fit to insulate a dwelling - glass wool or mineral wool, you must first familiarize yourself with the properties of these materials.

Mineral wool- this is common name for a group of all inorganic insulation having a fibrous structure, which are made from rocks, slag and glass. The insulation “fixes” the air layer, with its help it effectively isolates the room from the cold. Mineral insulation consists of millions of fibers that are intertwined with each other in the right order.

Based on the composition of the fibers, the mineral insulation is divided into groups: glass wool, cinder wool and stone. Stone wool is often abbreviated as "mineral wool".

Phenolic or carbamide compounds are used as a binder for insulation. Phenolic components give the material water-repellent properties, but they are also toxic. Such mineral insulation can be used exclusively for outdoor work.

Mineral insulation is a specific material. Only with professional installation using blowing machines, it is possible to achieve cost-effective insulation without overspending the material. Mineral wool installation equipment is located at some distance from the object. Two people in 2 days can completely insulate a cottage-new building.

Stone mineral wool has another positive difference from other heaters, it does not shrink the material during the entire period of operation. Due to the fact that its installation is carried out with the required density, it is in building structures in a compressed state and, accordingly, has good contact with walls.

Stone wool does not support combustion. It fades immediately after the cessation of exposure to an open fire source. This is due to the salts. boric acid. Under influence high temperature water is released from them, which prevents the process of burning mineral wool. When burning, it practically does not form smoke.

Mineral wool insulation is good when it comes to thermal insulation. But they easily pass water vapor. In addition, they easily absorb moisture from environment(for this reason they are not used for insulation structural elements located in the ground). Therefore, a vapor barrier layer is placed under the wool layer, which will stop the steam seeping through the ceiling.

Vapor barrier materials can reduce the amount of moisture seeping through thousands of times. If steam nevertheless passes through it, then it settles on outer surface layer. There, the condensate freezes, forming ice. The additional insulation causes the wool layer to quickly fill with ice. It will begin to melt in the spring, raising suspicions of a leak.

Glass wool is a type of mineral wool. The main difference between glass wool and mineral stone wool- in the thickness of the fibers. The thickness of the fibers of mineral stone wool is 2-10 microns, and for glass wool it is 3-15 microns. Due to this, glass wool products are more durable and resilient. Glass wool provides better soundproofing. This is due to the damping sound waves in fibers.

Other differences between glass wool and mineral wool have several disadvantages. Glass wool is highly susceptible to shrinkage. Glass wool has the ability to absorb moisture, which leads to the fragility of its fibers and the transition of their structure to crystalline. Because of this, glass wool over a long service life can undergo severe shrinkage. Other mineral heaters, due to the elasticity of the fibers, practically do not decrease in volume over a long service life.

The thermal conductivity of both materials is almost the same, since they have a similar coefficient of thermal conductivity. Mineral wool has a thermal conductivity coefficient of 0.030-0.052 W / m K, and glass wool - 0.041-0.043 W / m K.

Glass wool work less safe and require special precautions. Glass wool is used for the production of glass wool, so the fibers are caustic. During operation, they can crack and form the smallest particles of glass. The crushed fibers that got into the air, when breathing, penetrate into the lungs. Therefore, when working with glass wool, it is imperative to use a respirator.

Cost difference

Both heaters have a low cost. The average cost of mineral wool various manufacturers ranges from 860 to 2500 rubles. per roll. Glass wool is available in the product lines of many home insulation manufacturers. The most popular brands are:

• isover- average price is 700-1800 rubles;
• URSA - the average price ranges from 800 to 2600 rubles;
• Knauf - the average price of the material is 1100-2100 rubles.

Miscellaneous production

Mineral wool or glass wool are materials of mineral origin identical in structure and characteristics.

Broken glass and natural quartz are the main components of glass wool. Fiberglass is formed by melting both components in furnaces.

Stone wool or mineral wool is made from various rocks, but the material based on basalt fibers is considered the highest quality. After heat treatment get cotton wool with a specific structure that can withstand high temperatures well.

Today it is impossible to imagine thermal insulation without mineral wool. Indispensable in construction and repair, it is suitable for all types of surfaces. One of the oldest types of material is glass wool. Despite the emergence of new forms, this one is still in steady demand.

It is made from melted glass. At a temperature of +1450°C from a mixture of sand and broken glass(secondary raw material) the fiber is drawn. The semi-finished product is glued into small bundles using a synthetic or bituminous binder, heated to +200°C to polymerize thermosetting resins, and pressed into glass felt of a certain thickness. It is then cut into mats or rolled into rolls.

According to the properties of glass wool, it differs significantly from basalt and slag material. Due to their length (on average 5 cm) and softness, glass mats are more elastic, lighter and have better elasticity, which allows to reduce the volume by 5 times. This feature becomes noticeable during storage and transportation, since the compressed material takes up much less space. And after unpacking, glass wool quickly takes its original shape, which allows it to be used in structures of any configuration, without additional spacers and fasteners.

Thanks to additives, manufacturers began to produce insulation based on glass wool fibers in the form of rigid plates and shells intended for pipelines of water supply, heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems. Laminating with aluminum foil provides protection against moisture and UV rays. The only limitation is that the temperature on the surface of the pipes should not exceed +250°C, otherwise polymer resin will start to break down.

In addition, glass wool provides sound insulation (noise and shock), has vibration damping and windproof qualities.

Specifications of glass wool

As can be seen from the table, glass wool retains heat better than basalt material. This fact is explained by the fact that longer and thicker fibers are twisted into a kind of "cocoons" filled with air, which limits thermal conductivity.

Glass wool as a heater is used for:

• outdoor works (Knauf Aquastatik Facade, Isover Ventfasade);
• horizontal surfaces (Knauf Thermo Roll, Tisma P-15);
• roofing works (URSA Geo, Isover Pitched roof);
• partitions and internal walls(Knauf Insulation, Isover Classic Plus);
• sound insulation (series of glass wool Acoustic URSA, Knauf).

For each of the listed areas of application, their own types of felt have been developed. They differ in density, thermal conductivity, the presence of additional coatings (aluminum foil, foamed polyethylene, waterproofing film) and the arrangement of fibers (to give better soundproofing properties). Accordingly, depending on the destination, the price also varies. The cheapest and thinnest fiberglass mats and rolls are used for internal works, the most expensive and effective - for facade.

Care should be taken when handling it - glass wool is harmful to health. The fibers are rather fragile, crumble easily, and, falling on open areas bodies can cause small scratches, itching and irritation. Therefore, the manufacturers themselves strongly recommend the use of all kinds of protective equipment (tarpaulin suits, rubber-coated gloves, and others).

Glass wool dust is especially harmful for people suffering from lung diseases (asthma, tuberculosis, allergies). Therefore, its use for internal finishing works better to limit. The exception is glass wool for plaster.

In addition, another disadvantage is the fear of water. Under the influence of steam, the insulation gradually collapses and crumbles, so it is advisable to cover it with a waterproofing film.

Manufacturers

The most famous are 3 brands of manufacturers: URSA, Knauf, Isover. Below is comparison table average prices for similar types of glass wool in Moscow and the Moscow region:

Glass wool is produced from glass melt: at temperatures above +1400 °C, fiber is drawn from broken glass and sand. After that, the resulting products are assembled into bundles using a special bitumen binder, heated to +200 °C and pressed. Next, the resulting materials are cut or rolled up and delivered to the market.

According to its properties, this glass wool differs from basalt insulation. Due to its length and softness, glass wool is light, elastic and has the best elasticity. This is especially noticeable during the transportation and storage of materials, since glass wool takes up quite a bit of space. By the way, after unpacking the material quickly takes desired shape, which makes it easy to use it when working with various designs.

The heater is used for:

• carrying out outdoor work;
• work with horizontal surfaces;
• implementation of roofing works;
• insulation of walls and partitions;
• soundproofing.

At the same time, for each of the selected areas, different types glass wool according to the type of fibers. And each of the materials is distinguished by the presence or absence of an additional coating, thermal conductivity, fiber arrangement, and the density of glass wool is also different. That is why when choosing products, purchase a certain type of glass wool for work. After all, only in this case it is possible to guarantee the quality and durability of products.

Advantages and disadvantages

If you decide to stop at glass wool, then you first need to study the pros and cons of this material. So, the advantages of glass wool include:

• frost resistance and fire resistance (after all, many are interested in whether glass wool burns or not);
• ease of use of products when working in hard-to-reach places;
• low cost, which is often the determining factor;
• resistance to high and low temperatures;
• the material is not susceptible to chemical reagents;
• rodents do not like glass wool, so the material does not need to be equipped additional protection from small pests.

True, one should also take into account the shortcomings of glass wool, which will “open” when using the material. These include:

• the material shrinks, which is important to consider during construction;
• increased level of fiber fragility;
• insufficiently high thermal insulation properties;
• low density level;
• fear of water, which leads to the need to use a waterproofing film to protect the material.

Paying attention to the insulation, you need to take into account the thermal conductivity of glass wool. So, the thermal conductivity coefficient should be below 1, and the lower this indicator, the better. You can often hear that this material is unsafe for health. Modern manufacturers produce products that do not contain substances harmful to health. However, due to the fact that given material crumbles, it is desirable to work with him in a protective suit, glasses and gloves.

The main advantages of glass wool include the fact that it is quite easy to work with it - even a beginner who first picked up construction tools. Installation of glass wool begins with the preparation of the surface for fastening - for this, the surfaces must be leveled. Then we attach to them waterproofing film, be sure to glue the joints with a construction tape, and nail to the surfaces wooden slats, placing them in increments of 60 cm. For fastening, it is best to use dowels or self-tapping screws.

Important: to cut glass wool, it is advisable to use a sharp knife, cutting the mats a few centimeters more right size. Thanks to this, the pieces of the mat will lie as tightly as possible.

The laying of products starts from the bottom up - a vapor barrier is stuffed on top of the glass wool, and the mats are fastened with staples or a stapler to the timber. All joints of the vapor barrier are also glued with construction tape.

After that, the surfaces can be sheathed with drywall or plywood, carrying out further finishing of the coatings. Now you know if glass wool burns, how to choose a material based on the advantages of the material, and how to insulate with these products. Thanks to this, you can insulate your house yourself without spending a lot of money on paying for the services of professional builders.