We are reaching a stage globally where we are going to have to think ahead to create the next generation of insulation products.

NyRock technology is an evolution in stone wool composition that gives the most thermally efficient stone wool insulation currently available in the UK. Made using a new patented production process, products with NyRock technology have a more efficient fibre structure that can deliver thermal conductivity as low as 0.032 W/mK.

With NyRock technology and specifically NyRock Cavity Slab 032, a stone wool slab is BBA certified for both full and partial fill masonry cavity walls, offer a new low level of thermal performance for stone wool alongside a wide range of additional benefits.

Space is a critical commodity, therefore an important commercial benefit for the housing sector is NyRock Cavity Slab 032’s capacity for thinner wall construction. With a 13% improvement in thermal performance over the existing/standard stone wool cavity slab, NyRock Cavity Slab 032 can achieve the target performance of 0.18 W/m²K with a thickness of 150mm, depending on construction type, which is 25mm thinner than typical stone wool cavity products within the same wall build up.

NyRock Cavity Slab 032, like all Rockwool stone wool insulation, is also built for longevity with independent tests showing that the product is durable, rot proof and sufficiently stable to remain effective as insulation for the life of the building and because the product has a high density semi rigid composition, it will not slump in the cavity.

Further, NyRock Cavity Slab 032 comes in 455mm widths to suit standard vertical wall tie spaces and achieves a closely knitted joint with adjacent slabs, without the need for taping of the joints. This helps eliminate gaps allowing for continuity of insulation across the cavity. Stone wool’s high pliability also negates the need for impractical levels of precision cutting on-site, minimising the margin for error and the likelihood of thermal bridging.

While thermal capabilities continue to dominate insulation choice, there is growing recognition of wider factors, particularly around fire resistance following the ban on combustible materials in relevant buildings above 18 metres and 11 metres in Scotland.  With the ability to withstand temperatures in excess of 1000°C and achieving the highest Euroclass A1 non-combustible reaction to fire classification, NyRock Cavity Slab 032 gives purchasers added reassurance and developers a marketable benefit. Similarly, stone wool provides acoustic performance due to a non-directional fibre orientation and increased density that traps sound waves and dampens vibrations, significantly reducing outside sources of noise when used in an external wall.

According to their website Rockwool have developed the next great innovation in stone wool insulation through a patented production process, and NyRock®. technology is the lowest lambda stone wool insulation in the UK.

NyRock technology delivers:

Lower lambda for thinner walls
Highest thermal performance currently available from a stone wool product
Non-combustibility
All the key benefits of the strengths of stone

However, there is one disadvantage. Rockwool it is not biodegradable and can be slightly more expensive than similar insulating materials like fiberglass and cellulose. However, with it being one of the most common insulating materials being used in the USA and Canada it its use of recyclable materials means that it is gaining in popularity.  As with all types of building materials there are pros and cons, but finding materials that are made in a more sustainable way will always catch the attention.  We now need to work towards these kinds of materials also being biodegradable.

Sources: Building.co.uk / rock wool.com