Acoustic and thermal insulation solutions for safe, sustainable buildings

The discussion focuses on innovative insulating materials that improve building safety, structural integrity, fire resistance, sustainability, and performance while adhering to green building certifications and acoustic standards.

Could you walk us through the insulation materials that best contribute to the safety and structural integrity of building envelopes?
Insulation materials with excellent fire resistance, durability, and load-bearing capability improve safety and structural integrity. For example, stone wool is well-known for its fire resistance and capacity to sustain temperatures of up to 750 °C, making it an important layer of protection in building envelopes. Glass wool is lightweight, non-combustible according to BS 476 Part 4, and contributes significantly to thermal and acoustic performance (up to 1 NRC), lowering the overall building heat load while enhancing indoor air quality. Both of our insulation products are fire-safe, non-combustible, and class O-rated. (BS 476 Parts 6 & 7)

Please walk us through the best insulation solutions to protect against fire and infestation.
Our mineral wool products meet the strict standards of IS 8183:2024, providing high levels of fire protection with a certified fire rating of up to 4 hours. Glass wool, an essential component of our product line, is an inorganic substance that not only provides outstanding thermal and acoustic insulation but also meets the IS 8183:2024 criteria for antifungal and mould development resistance. This makes it an excellent choice for long-lasting, safe, and healthy interior environments that benefit building safety and occupant well-being.

What sustainable materials are used in your insulation products, and what green building certifications are they compliant with?
Our mineral wool products incorporate sustainable resources such as recycled glass, which accounts for up to 55 percent of the raw material, to reach 80 percent in the future. These items meet green building certifications such as Greenpro, GRIHA, and SGBC, making them ideal for environmentally friendly projects. For example, our mineral wool products meet the ECBC (Energy Conservation Building Code) and NBC (National Building Code) norms, consistent with sustainable construction standards.

What are the different insulation solutions that your company offers?
Climaver is a self-supporting, non-metallic duct system lighter than typical metal ducts and provides superior thermal, acoustic, and fire protection. Acoustic Board is an all-in-one solution for wall acoustics in high-acoustic environments, including theatres, auditoriums, AHU rooms, and data centres. Glass wool pipe sections are pre-formed in HVAC systems for hot and chilled water applications to ensure adequate insulation. Glass wool rolls and panels also provide diverse thermal and acoustic insulation solutions for HVAC systems, walls, ceilings, and roofing in a variety of building types.

For more information, visit: https://www.saint-gobain.com/en

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