Glass wool review. Glass wool: technical characteristics, advantages and disadvantages Glass wool insulation

Despite the abundance of various materials, glass wool has held a high position among for about 150 years. This is due to its low cost good characteristics.

Glass wool is most often produced from broken glass, so caution is required when using it. However, this inconvenience is compensated by excellent sound and heat protection functions. Thanks to these qualities, it is used not only for insulating buildings, but also for laying pipes, for insulating vehicles, in cooling systems and many other fields of activity.

This insulation is a type. However, both materials have significant differences in characteristics.

What are the differences between mineral wool and glass wool?

Both materials are insulation with a fibrous structure. However, the difference between them is quite big:

• softer and more elastic than mineral wool. It has good hiding power, which allows you to insulate large areas. It is also easier to transport and costs much less.
• Mineral wool absorbs less moisture, as a result of which it has a lower percentage of shrinkage. The heat resistance index is higher than that of glass wool.

Thus, when choosing between these materials, it is necessary to determine the conditions in the room to be insulated. For example, it is better to insulate the attic with glass wool due to its covering power, and the kitchen area with high humidity It is worth insulating with mineral wool. When the budget issue comes up sharply, glass wool is the leader.

What characteristics does glass wool have?

Glass wool is produced in accordance with GOST 19170 2001. According to the classification GOST 31913-2011 and the EN ISO 9229:2007 standard, it is an insulation material.

It acquires its properties due to its fibrous structure:

• Thermal insulation. The air between the fibers provides insulating properties.
• Soundproofing. Glass wool fibers reflect sound well, resulting in high levels of this property.

Thick and long fibers of this material are located parallel to each other, due to which very high strength and elasticity are achieved. The strength of glass wool surpasses even steel wire. In addition, glass wool has the following characteristics:

• Increased resistance to vibrations;
• Does not affect structures;
• Isolates unevenness and complex elements due to its elasticity and high compressibility;
• Not suitable for rodents;
• Fungal infections and mold do not grow.

Also, this material does not age, does not corrode when in contact with metal, and is suitable for use at temperatures up to – 60 degrees.

No material can be perfect. Negative characteristics include excessive fragility and increased moisture absorption. To protect against fragility, it is necessary to use special clothing and protective equipment (goggles, respirator, gloves), and to protect against moisture, glass wool is impregnated with various compounds.

Can glass wool catch fire?

This material does not burn, does not support combustion and does not spread it. It withstands high temperatures perfectly, retaining all its positive properties. Glass wool begins to sinter at temperatures above 500°. The upper limit at which the material begins to melt corresponds to the resins contained in the material. When the moment of their burnout comes, the glass wool begins to melt.

A positive point is the lack of release of toxic substances under the influence of fire. Thus, even melting glass wool remains safe in this regard.

How is glass wool produced?

Production is not particularly difficult. The main thing in this is strict adherence to the recipe and careful compliance with GOST. In addition, even cullet used in the production of insulation is strictly regulated by GOST R 52233-2004.

Main stages of production:

1. Mixing. For 80% glass add 20% sand or other material (soda, dolomite, limestone).
2. Melting. At temperatures above 1400°, the mixture melts.
3. Fiber Formation. The alloy is treated with a polymer aerosol, resulting in the formation of fibers that move along the conveyor.
4. Polymerization. The temperature is cooled to 250°, resulting in a bright yellow finished material.
5. Final stage. The glass wool is completely cooled, cut into the required sizes, and packaged in mats or rolls.

Production waste is a raw material that is recycled.

How is glass wool used?

Glass wool has a wide range of applications. It is used in aviation, pipeline laying, and the automotive industry. To solve various problems it is necessary various options this material.

For this reason produce glass wool:

• Rolls;
• Slabs - soft, hard, semi-soft options;
• Matami is only the soft type;
• Rolls reinforced with reinforcement;
• Foil products;
• Cached isolation.

At the same time, rolls are necessary for horizontal insulation, cached insulation is used for pipeline insulation, and mats or slabs are widely used in construction.

The slabs are joined along the length in two ways:

• Groove - tongue;
• Groove - ridge.

Fiberglass is also produced. It is used for protection from wind.

How to work with glass wool correctly?

To ensure that there are no problems during operation, you must:

1. Before starting work, straighten and clean the glass wool from crumbling particles;
2. When insulating ceiling you can use lathing. If there is no sheathing, apply waterproofing.
3. Apply glue, press glass wool to the surface, hold for several minutes.
4. Use special clothing and protective equipment (gloves, respirator, goggles).
5. Upon completion of work, treat clothing, hands and face.

What is better for floor insulation?

In addition to glass wool, expanded clay is used for floor insulation. The choice of material depends on the specific situation and preferences of the owner. Often the choice falls on glass wool due to its lower price.

However It is worth remembering about its properties:

• In areas with high humidity(kitchen, bathroom) it is better to prefer expanded clay;
• If a large load is expected on the floor in the room(living room, for example), glass wool will also not be effective.
• In low traffic areas(bedroom, attic) glass wool would be a good option.

Thus, in dry rooms with minimal floor load, glass wool is a good and inexpensive solution.

How to recycle glass wool?

Glass wool must not be disposed of with household or construction waste.

The following methods are used for its disposal::

1. Burial at a landfill;
2. Use in road construction;
3. Application in brick production;
4. Using the residue after burning it;
5. Grinding to the smallest particles for reuse in glass wool production.

For proper disposal, you must either contact the manufacturer or special service for recycling glass wool.

Does glass wool affect health?

On the Internet you can often see different opinions. Some argue that she is very dangerous, others come to her defense.

Let's sort it out individual cases:

1. During operation. Glass wool is covered with other materials, which prevents particles from getting into the air. Does not evaporate harmful substances. Does not burn. Conclusion: there is no danger to humans.
2. During work. Tiny particles can get into a worker's lungs, eyes, clothing or skin. There are no other dangers. Conclusion: there is a health risk.

To avoid risk when working with the material, Some rules should be applied:

• Work exclusively in tight overalls that cover the body as much as possible;
• Use personal protective equipment - respirators, gloves, goggles;
• After work, you must wash your hands thoroughly, and only then wash your face;
• In case of accidental inhalation or contact with eyes, rinse with plenty of water and seek immediate medical attention. Rubbing the affected area is strictly prohibited!

Compliance with these rules and care when working with the material will reduce the risk to a minimum.

What to do if glass wool gets on your skin or clothing?

Removing glass wool from clothing is challenging task. For example, it is almost impossible to remove it from a woolen product. In this case, you should contact a dry cleaner. If it doesn’t help, the only thing left to do is dispose of it. For this reason, when working with glass wool, overalls should be made of dense material. But it is not all that bad.

To clean clothes you need:

1. Vacuum thoroughly.
2. Rinse with plenty of water 3 – 4 times, while last time- under strong water pressure. rub, use washing machine, washing with other things is prohibited!
3. Dry.
4. Vacuum again.
5. Extend. It is best to use a solution of laundry soap, but you can use any powder. Rub very carefully, machine wash is prohibited.
6. Dry.
7. Contact the dry cleaner stating the problem and describing the measures taken if these steps did not help.

If clothes can be thrown away in a pinch, then the situation with skin is more serious. Essentially the actions will be similar:

1. Rinse your hands under high pressure of water, do not rub.
2. Shake dry hair thoroughly;
3. Rinse your face with plenty of water;
4. Take a cool shower under strong pressure. Friction, washcloth, soap, hot or warm water prohibited.
5. Dry naturally without using a towel.
6. Take a shower with careful use washcloths and soap. The water must be cool!

If some place remains inflamed, you can use the following remedies:

• Apply a wet cold towel for a while;
• Aloe – juice or inner part of the leaf;
• Milk;
• Calendula solution.

If the inflammation does not go away and the itching persists, you should consult a doctor.

What quality of material do the main manufacturers produce?

On modern market There are quite a lot of glass wool manufacturers. Let's consider the quality of products of some brands:

1. Knauf– glass wool is produced according to German technology. The quality is high. Full compliance with Russian standards.
2. Ursa– the material is intended for insulating the frame, roof, facade. The quality is high. Increased security.
3. Hemah– convenient transportation thanks to 7-fold compression. Insulation of roof and ceiling. World class quality.
4. Isover- for a variety of jobs. 2x compression. Quite high quality material.

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

Below we will discuss the main properties and specifications glass wool, the insulation technology and the specifics of working with the material are described.

TO negative qualities can be attributed:

Types of glass wool

Thanks to various additives, glass wool is produced in different forms:

• rolls;
• matah;
• shell.

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

Specifics of wall insulation

Let's consider two main methods of insulation:

Roof insulation

It is better to install the second layer not from below, but from above the rafters. In this case, a diffuse membrane is laid on top of the insulation layer. The diffuse membrane should overlap the ridge.

Note: insulation over rafters is carried out only in sunny weather, because To do this you need to remove roofing material.

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

Are you planning to insulate your home and decide to use glass wool? I will tell you about the features and characteristics of this material, how fiberglass insulation differs from similar types of thermal insulation. And you will no longer have any questions about what glass wool is.

Features of glass wool

What it is

Glass wool is a fibrous heat insulator, one of the varieties of mineral wool. It is used in the construction of buildings for insulating walls, roofs, foundations and ceilings, as well as when laying pipelines for thermal insulation of pipes.

Glass wool and mineral wool are not two different insulation. The first is a variation of the second. Nevertheless, many people call slag (or stone) wool mineral wool, while glass wool is considered a separate species. This is mistake.

Once again: there are several varieties of mineral wool according to GOST 31913-2011 (EN ISO 9229:2007), which can be compared with each other:

1. Fiberglass wool.
2. Basalt or stone wool.
3. Slag wool.

Comparing slag wool with mineral wool makes no sense. Fiberglass also consists of mineral compounds; accordingly, materials based on it are classified as mineral products. Therefore, glass wool can be defined as a type of mineral wool.

Technical specifications

To determine the quality and performance characteristics of a material, you need to look at the numbers. Technical characteristics of glass wool:

As you can see, glass wool insulation shows good performance: low, high vapor permeability, elasticity, shape memory, excellent soundproofing qualities. This played a decisive role in choosing glass wool as one of the most common heat insulators.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantages of glass wool:

• Low thermal conductivity. This indicates the effectiveness of the material as thermal insulation;
• Low density. Glass wool applied to the wall or roof elements will not create a serious load on the supporting structures;
• Good compressibility. Vata can be compressed 6 times without affecting quality. After unpacking, the material quickly restores its original volume. This property plays important role for transportation and storage of material;
• Fire safety. The substance does not burn and does not support combustion. Thermal insulation can perform its functions at temperatures of about 450 °C and protect various structures from fire;
• Chemical inertness. Cotton wool does not react to most chemicals used in everyday life, including gasoline, acetone, organic solvents, solutions of acids and alkalis;
• No corrosion. Fiberglass is not afraid of mold, bacteria, electrochemical reactions, insects, etc. Fiberglass and rodents do not get along well;
• Low price. This is one of the cheapest thermal insulation materials;
• DIY styling. Installation work does not require special skills or knowledge.

Thanks to the set of listed advantages, glass wool remains the No. 1 thermal insulation material when insulating heating mains, various industrial pipelines, chimneys, etc.

Disadvantages of glass wool:

• Harm to health. The material has a range of harmful effects per person, ranging from skin itching and allergies, ending with eye damage and serious lung diseases;
• Hygroscopicity. Like any cotton wool, our heat insulator is capable of absorbing a large number of moisture. Because of this, its resistance to heat transfer decreases, so there is no point in installing it without additional vapor barrier;
• Shrinkage. The fragility of the fibers causes the wool to shrink over time. As a result, cracks or open areas may form in the insulation layer;
• Short service life. Compared to other heat insulators, glass wool has a shorter service life;
• The need for protective clothing. To install fiberglass insulation, special clothing and a respirator are required.

Glass wool or basalt wool?

As you know, truth is learned through comparison. Let's take the closest competitor of glass wool - stone (basalt) wool.

We check the stone wool slab for strength, to do this we take it in two places and shake it:

We see the result literally right away:

If we continue the test, the result will be even more disastrous:

After that, I took the slab by the other end, and it completely tore in half:

Now let's check this material for shape memory: is it capable of restoring its original volume after compression? To do this, I stepped on the slab:

Let's look at the result:

Now we will shake the glass wool:

After shaking, nothing came off, the sheet remained intact. Now let’s try to fold, or rather crumple, this sheet several times:

Let's see what happened to the slab after we crumpled it:

In previous experience, we had branded fiberglass wool and basalt insulation little-known cheap manufacturer. Let's change the conditions.

Shaking a sheet of cheap fiberglass:

As you can see, the result resembles previous experience, but exactly the opposite. Now let's shake the URSA stone wool slab:

Let's crumple up a sheet of basalt insulation:

The sheet remains intact, I can even poke my finger into it quite hard - the material is not pierced or damaged by my blows:

Let's check basalt for shape memory:

Let's see what happened as a result of compression:

Obviously, the quality of materials greatly depends on the manufacturers. But then a reasonable question arises: what is the difference between glass wool and stone wool, if we take products from the same manufacturer? Stone wool is not so harmful, it does not shrink and has a long service life.

Fire resistance

To complete the picture, let’s check whether the glass wool burns. A piece of stone wool will again serve as a control sample, since this type of mineral wool is considered the best. So, we put two pieces of insulation:

Let's take it gas burner and start burning both pieces:

Then we try to set fire to the fiberglass wool:

As a result, we see the following picture:

Let's put the materials to a more severe test. Let's direct the fire blowtorch at one point and try to burn through the slab.

I’ll say right away that both samples gradually gave way and holes formed in them, which indicates that mineral wool insulation is destroyed when heated above a given limit.

I clearly showed that, despite the fire resistance of mineral fiber insulation, it is impossible to exceed the temperature that the instructions define as the maximum permissible. Otherwise the material is destroyed.

Conclusion

I spoke in detail about the properties and characteristics of glass wool. Conducted experiments that demonstrated which is better - glass wool or stone wool. More information in the video in this article, watch and leave comments.

For thermal insulation of various residential and production premises There are two popular types of thermal insulation materials: mineral wool.

If you are going to insulate your house, then it is important to know what the difference is between them, what they are used for, what features and advantages they have. About the arguments in favor of choice the best insulation and will be discussed in this article.

Glass wool

Insulating a house with glass wool - effective method protect yourself from drafts and reduce the cost of heating the room. Glass wool is a fibrous insulation material that looks like cotton wool. The main property of glass wool is a high degree of thermal insulation.

The insulation consists of parallel glass fibers made from glass production waste or from the same substances as glass (sand, soda, borax, limestone). Fiberglass is very strong, soft and elastic, and has many air voids between the fibers, which makes it an ideal soundproofing material.

Minvata

Bonding of the fibrous structure of mineral wool occurs during the production process using synthetic binders Minvata is great insulating material, used to insulate both hot and cold surfaces.

Mineral wool also consists of directed fibers, but it is made from slags of ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, silicate materials or rock melt.

Depending on the type of raw material from which mineral wool is made, it can be stone or slag.

Comparison of insulation materials

Sound insulation of glass wool ceiling The materials differ in the size of the fibers: glass wool has fibers with a thickness of 3-15 microns, and mineral wool has fibers 2-10 microns thick. The length of glass wool fibers is 2-4 times greater, which provides fiberglass products with greater elasticity and strength.

Glass wool provides better sound insulation, due to the attenuation of sound waves in the fibers. However, glass wool shrinks over time long term operation. In this indicator, mineral wool wins, which does not change size at all.

Mineral wool is slightly less flammable, but under normal conditions this does not matter, since the temperature limits are very high: 450 for glass wool and 600-700 for mineral wool. The thermal conductivity coefficient of both materials is almost identical.

An important aspect when choosing insulation is the price range. Mineral wool at this point is much more expensive, since the materials for its production have more high cost and the products are many times larger, which requires additional transportation costs.

Important material characteristics

Glass wool is non-flammable and withstands impacts well high temperatures, does not smolder, and does not emit harmful substances. Thermal insulation made of glass wool is non-hygroscopic (does not absorb water vapor), has high chemical resistance and a long service life.

Mineral wool is not subject to combustion, rodents do not eat it. Mineral wool in granular form is often used to backfill hollow walls.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of glass wool are as follows:

The disadvantages of working with glass wool include:

• high fragility of the fibers, which provokes the likelihood of small glass fibers getting into the eyes, respiratory tract and skin, which provokes irritation of the mucous membranes and itching of the skin;
• low thermal stability, up to 450 degrees (at higher temperatures the material begins to collapse).

Advantages and disadvantages of mineral wool.

Glass wool is insulation made from molten silica or broken glass. If she good quality, then has light shade, but if phenol-formaldehyde resins or other dubious binders are added to it, it turns light gray. Glass wool insulation is affordable, but at the same time it differs from other types in its elasticity and greater strength - it does not break or crumble during installation. This is due to the fact that its fibers are four times longer than those of basalt mineral wool.

It is characterized by chemical resistance, shape stability, and sound insulation. Does not absorb moisture and does not emit harmful substances when exposed to high temperatures. Available in rolls and in the form of mats. The length of the glass fibers is about 5 cm, which is why this type of thermal insulation combines lightness, softness and elasticity, which makes it possible to reduce the volume of matter by 5 times.

The description of glass wool insulation states that after being released from the packaging it returns to its previous shape. And if the products are of high quality, this is true.

The parameters depend on the brand and type. Glass wool can have a thickness from 40 to 200 mm, width - 600 or 1200, length - from 1,200 to 14,000. Density - from 18 to 75 kg/m3. Thermal conductivity is in the range of 0.034-0.040 W/m·K. Fiberglass melts and smokes, but does not ignite in a fire. Not suitable for thermal insulation chimneys, it is better to use basalt analogues for them.

Advantages and disadvantages of glass wool insulation

Glass wool is an excellent insulation material for a number of reasons, it:

• It is elastic, so it is advisable to use it for uneven surfaces, for example, pipes, ventilation shafts.
• Chemically inert.
• It does not shrink when heated and cooled, therefore it is suitable for water supply systems.
• According to reviews, roof insulation with mineral wool adds up to 5 °C in living rooms and creates additional comfort, protecting from external noise.
• It is not susceptible to mold and does not attract rodents.
• Durable, does not cake, does not wear out for more than 50 years.
• Helps maintain optimal temperature regime at any time of the year without additional energy costs.

A significant disadvantage is the brittle fibers of glass wool, which have the property of penetrating into the skin, clothing, and the lungs, swirling in the air along with dust. IN Lately Many counterfeits containing harmful substances are produced, but they can be distinguished by their shade and characteristic smell.

Top brands

When choosing fiberglass insulation, keep in mind that proven brands like Izover, Knauf or slightly less well-known ones - Tisma, Ursa, correspond technical requirements and dial required thickness in 24 hours. Chinese ones practically do not solve the problems of landscaping and sound insulation; moreover, they contain untested binders that can be potentially hazardous to health.

1. Knauf glass wool comes from Germany. It has increased elasticity and density up to 60 kg/m3, so it can be used for partitions, ventilated facades, pitched roofs, frame insulation and wooden houses, under siding. It does not have a strong odor and is not very irritating to the skin.

The line includes rolls designed for insulating pipes, floors between joists, and floor slabs. The price of Knauf light yellow glass wool slabs starts from 980 rubles. It should not be confused with basalt rolls from the same manufacturer - they are more expensive and have a brownish-gray tint.

2. Special attention French products Isover deserve. Soft insulation made of glass wool is intended for those places where bearing load on the design is excluded. It can also be used in sandwiches as an internal insulating lining, since its density is only 16 kg/m3.

3. You can buy Izover fiberglass insulation from 620 rubles. It is safe, does not prick, does not cause irritation, due to the fact that its fibers are not so brittle and do not form dust. In addition, the assortment includes rolls with protective coating in the form of foil.

How to insulate with your own hands

Installation is carried out in 4 stages:

• frame installation;
• cutting sheets;
• laying sections between stiffeners;
• securing and sewing the insulating pad.

The main thing is to choose products in accordance with their purpose: softer ones should be taken for horizontal surfaces and pipes, and hard ones should be used for pitched roofs and verticals. Thin material suitable for interior decoration, wide – for external protection, attic spaces.

Safety precautions

Considering the harm of glass wool, it is necessary to take precautions during work - be sure to wear a protective suit or overall with gloves and a respirator. If, nevertheless, fragments get on the skin, you need to try to remove them, wash them off, without combing the affected areas, so as not to drive the fibers deeper.

Having finished insulating the house with glass wool, you need to take a cool shower without detergents and sponges, after shaking off the dust from your hair. Clothes after disposable will have to be disposed of - it will not be washed off from the fragments. If glass dust gets into your eyes or mucous membranes, you should immediately consult a doctor.

However, it has been noted that the better the quality of the product, the less harmful it is and the easier it is to install.

What buyers say - reviews

“I recently installed siding and laid Knauf under it as insulation. I would like to note that glass wool for external wall insulation creates a very reliable protection. In general, this method is the most justified, since it is environmentally friendly and does not create a feeling of suffocation. And if you insulate the walls from the inside, they will freeze excessively from the outside without having time to warm up, and accordingly they will collapse faster.”

Anatoly Korolev, Samara.

“I have long taken note that mineral wool is actively used in insulation systems. And since the house was inherited, I decided to renovate it for myself. First of all, I re-laid and insulated the roof. You can now create a living space in the attic - it has become so much warmer. I'm planning on next year and cover the outside with the same material.”

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