{"id":176379,"date":"2026-10-27T20:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-27T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/v-chjom-raznica-mezhdu-steklovolokonnoj-mineralnoj-vatoj-i-kamennoj-vatoj\/"},"modified":"2026-10-27T20:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T17:00:00","slug":"what-is-the-difference-between-fiberglass-mineral-wool-and-rock-wool","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/v-chjom-raznica-mezhdu-steklovolokonnoj-mineralnoj-vatoj-i-kamennoj-vatoj\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the difference between fiberglass mineral wool and rock wool?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Glass fiber mineral wool differs from mineral wool primarily in its raw materials: glass fiber is made from quartz sand and cullet, while mineral wool is made from molten rocks such as basalt or gabbro.<\/strong> As a result, fiberglass is lighter, more flexible, and often has a lower thermal conductivity coefficient (lambda), while mineral wool is heavier, harder, and more resistant to very high temperatures. Both materials are non-flammable and provide good thermal insulation; the choice depends primarily on the installation location.<\/p>\n<p> To sum it up<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li> <strong>Raw materials:<\/strong> glass \u2013 quartz sand and cullet; rocks \u2013 basalt, gabbro, dolomite, limestone.<\/li>\n<li> <strong>Weight and elasticity:<\/strong> Glass is lighter and can be easily compressed (rolled), while rock is denser and can withstand loads better.<\/li>\n<li> <strong>Temperature:<\/strong> Stone fibres can withstand temperatures up to approximately 1000\u00b0C, glass fibres approximately 600\u2013700\u00b0C; typical products of both types are class A1.<\/li>\n<li> <strong>Application:<\/strong> Glass is mainly used in attics and frame walls, stone - on facades, flat roofs, and in places exposed to pressure or high temperatures.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2> What are glass wool and mineral wool made of?<\/h2>\n<p> <strong>Mineral wool<\/strong> \u2014 is the general name for fibrous insulation materials produced by melting and removing fibers from mineral raw materials. The fibers are bonded with a binder and formed into mats, slabs, or granules, which are applied using a blow-in method.<\/p>\n<p> <strong>Glass wool<\/strong> (commonly referred to simply as fiberglass) is made from <strong>quartz sand and recycled glass waste<\/strong> . <strong>Stone wool<\/strong> (or mineral wool) is made from <strong>basalt, gabbro, dolomite or limestone<\/strong> , often with the addition of recycled briquettes. Rocks melt at a higher temperature than raw glass, and the resulting rock fibers are more heat-resistant.<\/p>\n<h2> Thermal insulation \u2013 which wool has the best thermal conductivity (lambda)?<\/h2>\n<p> <strong>Thermal conductivity coefficient \u03bb (lambda)<\/strong> shows how well a material insulates heat\u2014the lower the value, the better. Typical mineral wool types have a lambda in the range of approximately 0.039\u20130.044 W\/(m K). The best glass products have a value of approximately <strong>0.030 W\/(m K)<\/strong> , and the best mineral wools are approximately <strong>0.034 W\/(m K)<\/strong> .<\/p>\n<p> Conclusion: at the same thickness, the best glass wool will provide slightly better thermal insulation than the best mineral wool, but in the mid-price range, the difference is small. Always compare specific products by their stated thermal conductivity coefficient (lambda), not by the type of wool itself.<\/p>\n<h2> Weight, elasticity, fire resistance and acoustics<\/h2>\n<h3> Density and elasticity<\/h3>\n<p> Glass wool <strong>easy<\/strong> \u2013 The density of attic materials starts at approximately 13 kg\/m\u00b3, while mineral wool starts at approximately 35 kg\/m\u00b3. Glass wool compresses well, so it is sold in rolls; after unpacking, it regains its thickness and tightly fills the space between the rafters. Mineral wool is more rigid and can withstand loads better, so it is used to produce rigid panels, such as fa\u00e7ade and roofing materials.<\/p>\n<h3> Fire resistance<\/h3>\n<p> Both types of materials <strong>non-flammable<\/strong> \u2013 typical materials without cladding have a fire resistance class <strong>A1<\/strong> . The difference lies in the strength of the fibers: mineral wool maintains its structure up to approximately 1000\u00b0C, while glass wool only maintains its structure up to approximately 600\u2013700\u00b0C. Therefore, mineral wool is commonly used for fireproofing insulation, fireplaces, and industrial installations. In both cases, the binder begins to decompose at a much lower temperature (approximately 250\u00b0C).<\/p>\n<h3> Acoustics and water vapor<\/h3>\n<p> Both types of wool absorb sound well due to their fibrous structure; higher-density stone products are more often used as acoustic panels. Both also have high <strong>vapor permeability<\/strong> (diffusion resistance \u03bc is about 1.3\u20131.4, close to air), which allows the wall to \u00abbreathe\u00bb, but requires protection from moisture \u2013 wet wool loses its thermal insulation properties.<\/p>\n<h2> Comparison table of glass wool and mineral wool.<\/h2>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th> Characteristic<\/th>\n<th> Glass wool<\/th>\n<th> Stone wool<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<\/tbody>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td> <strong>Raw materials<\/strong><\/td>\n<td> Quartz sand, broken glass<\/td>\n<td> Basalt, gabbro, dolomite, limestone<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td> <strong>Optimal lambda value (approximately)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td> approximately 0.030 W\/(m K)<\/td>\n<td> approximately 0.034 W\/(m K)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td> <strong>Density<\/strong><\/td>\n<td> Low, from about 13 kg\/m\u00b3<\/td>\n<td> Higher value, approximately 35 kg\/m\u00b3.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td> <strong>Elasticity<\/strong><\/td>\n<td> Tall, sold in rolls.<\/td>\n<td> Smaller, usually hard plates<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td> <strong>Temperature resistance of fiber<\/strong><\/td>\n<td> approximately 600\u2013700 \u00b0C<\/td>\n<td> approximately 1000\u00b0C<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td> <strong>Fire Response Class<\/strong><\/td>\n<td> Usually A1<\/td>\n<td> Usually A1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td> <strong>Typical areas of application<\/strong><\/td>\n<td> Attics, ceilings, frame walls<\/td>\n<td> Facades, flat roofs, floors, fire protection.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2> Glass wool or mineral wool \u2013 which to choose?<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li> <strong>For attics and pitched roofs<\/strong> Glass wool is commonly used: it&#039;s lightweight, flexible, fills the space between rafters well, and doesn&#039;t add weight to the structure. Mineral wool is also suitable, but it&#039;s heavier.<\/li>\n<li> <strong>External thermal insulation of walls (ETICS)<\/strong> \u2013 rigid facade panels, usually made of stone, the parameters of which are specified in the thermal insulation system.<\/li>\n<li> <strong>For flat roofs and floors<\/strong> mineral wool with the appropriate compressive strength is used, which in practice most often means rock wool.<\/li>\n<li> <strong>Partitions and frame structures<\/strong> \u2013 made of glass or stone; both will improve sound insulation.<\/li>\n<li> <strong>Fireplaces, mounting holes, fireproof insulation<\/strong> \u2013 mineral wool, often special products with aluminum foil.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> Prices vary by manufacturer, thickness, and thermal conductivity coefficient (lambda), so compare the cost per square meter for the required thermal resistance. For facades and flat roofs, follow the system manufacturer&#039;s recommendations and design documentation\u2014they determine, among other things, the required panel strength and installation method. When installing both types of felt, wear gloves, safety glasses, and a mask, as the fibers can irritate the skin and respiratory tract.<\/p>\n<h2> Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)<\/h2>\n<p> <strong>Which wool is warmer \u2013 glass or stone?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p> The best glass wools have slightly lower thermal conductivity (approximately 0.030 W\/(m K)) than the best mineral wools (approximately 0.034 W\/(m K)). In typical products, the differences are minor, so the stated thermal conductivity of a specific product is crucial.<\/p>\n<p> <strong>Is glass wool fireproof?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p> No. Typical fiberglass products, such as mineral wool, have a fire rating of A1, meaning they are non-combustible. However, fiberglass can withstand lower temperatures (around 600\u2013700\u00b0C) than mineral wool (around 1000\u00b0C).<\/p>\n<p> <strong>What kind of wool should I use for the attic?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p> Glass wool in rolls or mats is most often chosen because it is lightweight and flexible. Mineral wool is also suitable for attics, but it is heavier and less compressible. It is important to ensure the integrity of the thermal insulation and properly install the vapor barrier.<\/p>\n<p> <strong>How to distinguish glass wool from mineral wool?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p> This is most likely determined by the description on the packaging or in the technical data sheet. Visually, glass wool is usually lighter, fluffier, and more elastic, while mineral wool is heavier and denser. Color varies by manufacturer and binder, so it&#039;s not a reliable distinguishing feature.<\/p>\n<h2> See also<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li> What is the difference between wool and yarn?<\/li>\n<li> What is the difference between mineral water and spring water?<\/li>\n<li> What is the difference between tiles and porcelain tiles?<\/li>\n<li> What is the difference between glaze and terracotta?<\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Glass fiber mineral wool differs from mineral wool primarily in its raw materials: glass fiber is made from quartz sand and cullet, while mineral wool<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":176380,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[67,20],"tags":[70],"class_list":["post-176379","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-vopros-otvet","category-fakty","tag-chem-otlichaetsya"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176379","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=176379"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176379\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":176381,"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176379\/revisions\/176381"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/176380"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=176379"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=176379"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=176379"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}