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Why Fiberglass Insulation?

Made from natural products (sand and recycled glass), fiberglass is an insulating material that is generally in the form of a more or less flexible mattress where the air is trapped immovably by entangled fibers.

Fiberglass insulation, like Rock Wool, provides excellent thermal and acoustic performance combined with optimal fire performance.

What is fiberglass?

The fiberglass insulator is formed as a result of melting in an oven at 1450º natural sand, additives and recycled glass. In the cooling process, fibers that are joined together are generated, so that the free space with trapped air increases the resistance to heat transmission.

Fiberglass is used for the thermal insulation and sound insulation of residential buildings or non-residential buildings. Its characteristics also allow it to be used as an absorbent for acoustic correction or in fire protection.

Fiberglass performance

Variable thermal performance for efficient insulation

The lambda (or thermal conductivity) of fiberglass ranges from 0.030W / (mk) to 0.040W / (mk). Thus, for the same thickness of monolayer fiberglass, the   current thermal resistances can be different:

·      in 100 mm: from R = 2.50 m2 K / W to R = 3.30m2K / W

·      in 240 mm: up to R = 6.85m2.K / W for a lambda wool of 0.035W / (mK)

·      in 300 mm: up to R = 7.50m2K / W for a lambda wool of 0.040W / (mK).

Whether in United states (equipment rate at 75% of United states homes) or in the world, fiberglass is the most used insulation material. Thanks to their excellent thermal performance, fiberglass products make it possible to efficiently achieve the thermal insulation of roofs, walls , floors and partitions. By fighting against the cold in the winter and the heat in the summer, they participate in the thermal comfort of the inhabitants. Their acoustic absorption capacity linked to their elastic structure also allows them to fight against noise pollution in the home.

Reaction to fire of fiberglass

The fire reaction performance of fiberglass insulation products is classified at the European level by the Euroclass classification (7 classes rated from A1 to F). This classification is determined by the surfacing of the fiberglass:

·      non-surfaced fiberglass (bare, without vapor barrier): classification A1 (incombustible product) - because of the nature of its components (sand, recycled glass), fiberglass is incombustible.

·      fiberglass with glass-fiber or aluminum surfacing: classification A2s1d0 (non-combustible product)

·      fiberglass coated with kraft paper: F classification (unclassified or untested product).

·      Fiberglass and behavior against the humidity of the air

By its constituents, fiberglass is a material that does not absorb moisture and is thus classified non-hydrophilic when it is used in the building.

What to deal with a wet fiberglass?

If a fiberglass has been accidentally humidified by climatic conditions for example, it is not necessary to intervene by various manipulations. By simply letting it dry naturally, it will retain its properties as a thermal and acoustic insulation by recovering its thickness.

The mechanical behavior of fiberglass

Each medium to isolate has its own constraints. Whether it is an insulation of attics, walls, floors, metal frame or wood frame, the choice of fiberglass is important. In terms of mechanical behavior, it will be necessary to choose a fiberglass adapted to the intended application.

For example, an application between rafters or wall application requires good mechanical strength of fiberglass. It will be necessary here to choose a semi-rigid fiberglass to prevent settlement over time (rigidity criterion evaluated by Acermi certification. In insulation of the attic, we can choose more flexible material.

Fiberglass characteristics

Raw material of fiberglass and manufacture:

Fiberglass is created from sand and recycled glass or cullet. These raw materials are weighed and mixed, thus forming the glass composition. Then comes the fusing in the oven and the fiberization that allows to entangle the fibers and create the fiberglass mattress.

Conditioning  of fiberglass:

The fiberglass mattresses are packaged in the form of rolls, panels and flakes. The choice of one or the other of the packaging is done according to the intended application, the conditions of insulation (accessibility, configuration of the house) as well as according to the objectives of insulation performances.

Soundproofing :

The porous and elastic structure of the fiberglass makes it an excellent absorber of airborne noise and impact noises. Acoustic correction from one room to another is thus ensured.

Fiberglass incombustible by nature:

The reaction to fire is passive and efficient since mineral wools are made from non-combustible materials by nature. They do not feed the fire and do not spread the flames in case of fire.

Lifetime:

The service life of fiberglass is more dependent on external conditions than on the fibers that make it up. Implementation according to the rules of the art and well-chosen according to the intended application, the fiberglass does not get stuck and keeps its thickness for preserved insulation performances. It has a lifespan of several decades and conventionally identical to that of the building.

The main advantages of fiberglass are the following:

·      It is an excellent thermal insulator.

·      It is fireproof, with what is a fire protection.

·      It is water repellent, which repels water.

·      It is permeable. Allows the passage of water vapor.

·      It does not require maintenance.

·      It is durable. It retains its benefits during the life of the house.

·      It is ecological. It helps reduce CO2 emissions

The life cycle of fiberglass:

Life cycle analysis (LCA) of an insulating product (extraction of raw materials, manufacturing processes, transport, implementation, end-of-life) makes it possible to measure their environmental impact. At equivalent performance, we can compare the life cycle:

vegetable wool that consumes 82.3 MJ for its entire cycle,

and fiberglass that consumes only 35.6 MJ.

Over 50 years, a fiberglass 200 mm R = 5 avoids the emission of 255 kg equivalent C0² per m².

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