Rockwool® acoustic insulation slabs overview

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Noise can affect health and wellbeing in many ways. This includes quickening hearing loss to disrupted sleep and reduced productivity levels. Sound insulation such as ROCKWOOL® can protect those living and working in buildings against noise exposure. ROCKWOOL® acoustic insulation slabs will provide you with comfort and privacy due to the reduction of sound transmission and vibration passing through building elements.
In this article we will focus mainly on Rockwoo® l RW range insulation slabs. By reading this article, you will learn what density is and how it affects the soundproofing of a room. You will also find out what are the main differences between RWA45, RW3 and RW5.

ROCKWOOL® acoustic slabs are made from stone wool and manufactured to a higher density than other forms of insulation, unlike thermal insulation which is lower in density and supplied in rolls. When you normally use roll for floors, ROCKWOOL slabs are normally for walls.

The acoustic capabilities of the RW range means the use of the products enhances the acoustic performance of the system in which the material is installed. 
The way Rockwool RW slabs are made, make them ideal for use as a sound absorber, with characteristically high coefficients over a wide frequency range.

When thicker ROCKWOOL is used and paired with a sheet of plasterboard the noise control can be improved further.

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

ROCKWOOL® ACOUSTIC INSULATION SLABS OVERVIEW 

ROCKWOOL® INSULATION DENSITY

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ROCKWOOL® RWA45, RW3, RW4, RW5 and RW6?

ROCKWOOL® RWA45

ROCKWOOL® RW3

ROCKWOOL® RW4

ROCKWOOL® RW5

ROCKWOOL® RW6

Density is the level of compactness of a material, in other words it is the measurement of how tightly a material is packed together. It is defined as the mass per unit volume (kg/m3). Generally speaking, kg/m³ is the weight of the slabs if they were manufactured in a block of one metre cube (1m x 1m x 1m). In order for them to be identified, they are given a density rating which refers to the weight of a metre cube, displayed as kg/m³. The high density of heavyweight materials restricts the size of the sound vibrations inside the material so that the final face of the structure, such as the inside wall of a room, vibrates with less movement than for a light-weight material. You are free to copy and share the text from this blog, as long as you provide proper credit and a link to the original source - https://insulationgo.co.uk/.
Sound shield slab range comes with a choice of density and this is how compacted the slab is. The ROCKWOOL RW range includes RWA45, RW3, RW4, RW5 and RW6.
The RW product range differs by density, thickness, and thermal conductivity. The higher the density the better the acoustic quality, the best acoustic product in the range is the RW6 slab. The lesser the density the better thermal quality due to the slabs slowing the air flow travelling through the walls. The lower the density the better the thermal quality, the best thermal product in the range is RWA45. While the lower density is best when it comes to thermal quality, the high density of the RW5 will make the slabs a better sound absorber and will have better acoustic qualities.

 
ROCKWOOL DENSITY
 
ROCKWOOL RW range has a variety of densities throughout the products of 45kg/m3 (RWA45), 60kg/m3 (RW3), 80kg/m3 (RW4), 100kg/m3 (RW5), 140kg/m3 (RW6).

The most versatile and popular slab is the RWA45. Rockwool RWA45 is named after its density properties in that it has a density of 45kg per cubic meter. RWA45 has the lowest density and ranges between 25mm and 120mm with a thermal conductivity of 0.035W/mK. In fact, it is best when it comes to thermal quality. 45kg/m³ density slabs are ideal for use in residential buildings such as home offices, studies, bedrooms, bathrooms, media and gaming rooms. The solution is suitable for application in walls, floors and lofts to control home acoustics. Its equivalent product is Knauf RS45.
 
Available thicknesses: 25 ǀ 30 ǀ 40 ǀ 50 ǀ 60 ǀ 75 ǀ 100 ǀ 120
Thermal Conductivity: 0.035W/mK
Density: 45kg/m3
Application: Internal partitions ǀ Timber and metal studs ǀ Between timber rafters ǀ Floor joists ǀ Ground floors ǀ Separating floors ǀ Acoustic partitions

Acoustic RW3 ROCKWOOL slab has a mid range density of 60kg/m3 and it is noticeably stiffer than RWA45. It is available in 8 standard thicknesses 25mm, 30mm, 40mm, 50mm, 60mm, 75mm, 90mm and 100mm with a thermal conductivity of 0.034 W/mK.

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In fact, it is recommended to use 60kg/m³ slabs as they offer the best sound insulation for the money spent. ROCKWOOL RW3 equivalent product is Knauf RS60.
 
Available thicknesses: 25 ǀ 30 ǀ 40 ǀ 50 ǀ 60 ǀ 75 ǀ 90 ǀ 100 
Thermal Conductivity: 0.034W/mK
Density: 60kg/m3

Application: Offices ǀ Studio ǀ Internal partitions ǀ Timber and metal studs ǀ Between timber rafters ǀ Floor joists 

 

RW4 offers a density of 80kg/m3.

It comes only in 3 thicknesses between 50mm and 100mm with a thermal conductivity of 0.034W/mK.

This type of slab is recommended for most domestic soundproofing applications that require airborne sound insulation for walls and ceilings.
 
Available thicknesses: 50 ǀ 75 ǀ 100 
Thermal Conductivity: 0.034W/mK
Density: 80kg/m3
 
Application: Offices ǀ Studio ǀ Schools ǀ Cinema 

 

 

Sound shield ROCKWOOL RW5  has a density of 100kg/m3. High density of the RW5 will make the slabs a better sound absorber and will have better acoustic qualities. It comes in 6 thicknesses between 25mm and 150mm. It is recommended to use 100kg/m³ slabs in places such as hospitals, auditoriums, stadium acoustics, commercial spaces and doctor offices.  Its equivalent product is Knauf RS100. Rockwool RWA5 or Knauf RS100 are great examples of high density acoustic slabs made especially for commercial and industrial spaces.
 
Available thicknesses: 25 ǀ 30 ǀ 50 ǀ 75 ǀ 100 ǀ 150 
Thermal Conductivity: 0.034W/mK
Density: 100kg/m3
Application: Doctor offices ǀ Hospitals ǀ Auditoriums ǀ Classroom ǀ Lecture room ǀ Home theatres ǀ Studios ǀ Internal partitions ǀ Timber and metal studs ǀ Between timber rafters ǀ Floor joists ǀ Ground floors ǀ Separating floors ǀ Acoustic partitions
 
 

ROCKWOOL RW6 is the best acoustic product in the range having a density of 140kg/m3. The RW6 is available in 3 standard thicknesses 50mm, 75mm and 100mm with a thermal conductivity of 0.035W/mK.
 
Available thicknesses: 50 ǀ 75 ǀ 100 
Thermal Conductivity: 0.035W/mK
Density: 140kg/m3

Application: Doctor offices ǀ Hospitals ǀ Auditoriums ǀ Classroom ǀ Lecture room ǀ Home theatres 

 

 The easiest way to understand which one to choose would be to assume the higher the density, the better the overall level of soundproofing. It is recommended to use 60kg/m³ as this offers the best sound insulation for the money spent.

If you are sound insulating a stud wall, the depth of ROCKWOOL acoustic insulation you choose will be determined by the depth of the stud frame. Always use a thickness that is no deeper than the depth of the frame. Please note, ROCKWOOL acoustic slabs have very little compression and will not squeeze between sheets of plasterboard. Generally speaking,  thickness of 50mm is used  for stud wall applications, 100mm between the joists for the floor. If you can go thicker, the additional thickness of the insulation will offer better levels of sound insulation. 

 

Related articles:

Best loft roll insulation

Best home insulation boards

Detailed Rockwool Dual Density

 

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I agree with Wayners comment. Soundproofing really is all or nothing.


Before starting this job, you really should research the science of how sound travels through walls. This will help you make better decisions when building your sound blocking wall. Actually, sound reducing is a much better term to use.


In short, sound is affected by the following factors:


MASS:

A lot of people assume light and fluffy materials like insulation is the best thing to reduce sound. Yes, they do to a certain extent (which I will explain later). But heavy dense materials will have the most dramatic effect when it comes to sound reducing. I would recommend you buy 15mm acoustic grade plasterboard for your wall. This type of plasterboard is much denser and heavier than standard plasterboard, and will help a lot to reduce sound travelling through your wall. You can even double up your plasterboard, so you got a thickness of 30mm! In general, mass is great for helping reduce all frequencies, especially the lower bass ones.

SOUND INSULATION:

It is a really good idea to use acoustic grade insulation inside your wall. Do you know the difference between acoustic insulation and normal insulation? Well, acoustic insulation is simply denser, and therefore more effective at reducing sound. Acoustic insulation will have a muffling effect, helping to muffle mid-range and higher frequencies. Imagine sound is a ball travelling through the air, then it hits a rubber sheet. The rubber sheet in this case would be the acoustic insulation, which helps to absorb the sound energy.

DISTANCE:

Distance helps to reduce sound. Sound waves lose energy over distance. But it seems like you cannot distance the source of the sound in this case.

AIR TIGHTNESS:

If there are gaps between your plasterboard which are not sealed, then sound can leak through those gaps. So, I recommend the gaps between your insulation slabs are sealed with acoustic grade expanding foam. And every joint on your plasterboard is sealed with acoustic caulk.


There are other methods you can incorporate to further reduce your sound, like resilient bars. But in all honestly, they have to be installed 100% currently for those to have an effect. I think you would be better off concentrating all your efforts on increasing the MASS of your wall, and selecting suitable insulation. All depends how loud the sound is you are trying to reduce!

If you would like to learn more about soundproofing, I actually wrote an article about

Anyways, I hope this helped.

Jon

Hi Scott,I agree with Wayners comment. Soundproofing really is all or nothing.Before starting this job, you really should research the science of how sound travels through walls. This will help you make better decisions when building your sound blocking wall. Actually, sound reducing is a much better term to use.In short, sound is affected by the following factors:A lot of people assume light and fluffy materials like insulation is the best thing to reduce sound. Yes, they do to a certain extent (which I will explain later). But heavy dense materials will have the most dramatic effect when it comes to sound reducing. I would recommend you buy 15mm acoustic grade plasterboard for your wall. This type of plasterboard is much denser and heavier than standard plasterboard, and will help a lot to reduce sound travelling through your wall. You can even double up your plasterboard, so you got a thickness of 30mm! In general, mass is great for helping reduce all frequencies, especially the lower bass ones.It is a really good idea to use acoustic grade insulation inside your wall. Do you know the difference between acoustic insulation and normal insulation? Well, acoustic insulation is simply denser, and therefore more effective at reducing sound. Acoustic insulation will have a muffling effect, helping to muffle mid-range and higher frequencies. Imagine sound is a ball travelling through the air, then it hits a rubber sheet. The rubber sheet in this case would be the acoustic insulation, which helps to absorb the sound energy.Distance helps to reduce sound. Sound waves lose energy over distance. But it seems like you cannot distance the source of the sound in this case.If there are gaps between your plasterboard which are not sealed, then sound can leak through those gaps. So, I recommend the gaps between your insulation slabs are sealed with acoustic grade expanding foam. And every joint on your plasterboard is sealed with acoustic caulk.There are other methods you can incorporate to further reduce your sound, like resilient bars. But in all honestly, they have to be installed 100% currently for those to have an effect. I think you would be better off concentrating all your efforts on increasing the MASS of your wall, and selecting suitable insulation. All depends how loud the sound is you are trying to reduce!If you would like to learn more about soundproofing, I actually wrote an article about soundproofing a garage . I also plan on putting a video on their showing how much the acoustic rockwool and plasterboard reduced the sound.Anyways, I hope this helped.Jon

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