Glass Wool – Lightweight and Versatile

What it’s made of: Recycled glass melted at high temperatures and spun into fine fibers, bonded to form blankets, boards, or rolls.

• Composition: Silica and recycled glass
• Texture: Light, compressible, easy to handle
• Appearance: Yellow and fibrous
• Temperature Range: Up to 230 °C

Where it works best:

Glass wool is ideal where thermal insulation and acoustic comfort are top priorities. Its lightweight and resilient structure makes it perfectly suited for:

• Drywall partitions
• Suspended ceilings
• HVAC ducts
• Residential and commercial roofing

Because of its fine fibers, glass wool resists vibration and settlement over time, ensuring consistent performance throughout the building’s lifecycle.

Stone Wool – Strong and Fire-Resistant

What it’s made of: Natural volcanic rocks like basalt and dolomite, melted and spun into dense fibers, compressed into rolls or slabs.

• Composition: Basalt and Dolomite
• Texture: Dense and rigid
• Appearance: Brown and fibrous
• Temperature Range: Up to 750 °C

Where it works best:

Stone wool’s strength lies in its fire resistance and durability. Its higher density makes it the right choice for demanding applications such as:

• Façades and external walls
• Fire-stop barriers
• Industrial furnaces
• Process plants and high-temperature installations

Thanks to its rigidity, stone wool can withstand mechanical loads and thermal stress without losing shape, ensuring long-lasting safety and performance.

Glass Wool vs. Stone Wool – A Quick Comparison

Parameter	Glass Wool	Stone Wool
Fiber Quality	Fine, resilient; withstands vibration	Coarser, denser
Thermal Insulation	Excellent (0.030–0.041 W/m.K)	Very good (0.035–0.040 W/m.K)
Acoustic Absorption	Superior, especially in partitions	High, but slightly less in partitions
Fire Resistance	Non-combustible; up to 230 °C	Non-combustible; withstands 750 °C
Density	12–96 Kg/m³	40–120+ Kg/m³
Health & Safety	Biosoluble, EUCEB certified	Biosoluble, EUCEB certified
Sustainability	~60% recycled content	Made from natural volcanic rocks
Handling	Lightweight, flexible, easy to cut	Heavier, rigid, requires careful handling

Durability and Long-Term Reliability

Beyond immediate performance, durability defines the true value of insulation:

• Glass Wool maintains its resilience and shape even after years of vibration or thermal cycling, making it reliable for HVAC systems and partitions with minimal maintenance.
• Stone Wool is inherently robust and dimensionally stable, performing exceptionally in fire-rated and high-stress applications such as façades and industrial systems.

Both solutions comply with international fire safety and insulation standards, ensuring buildings remain safe, efficient, and sustainable.

Choosing the Right Insulation

There’s no “one-size-fits-all” answer. Glass Wool excels in applications where comfort, flexibility, and lightweight installation matter most. Stone Wool is the choice when fire safety, mechanical strength, and high-temperature resistance are critical.

At Saint-Gobain Insulation, we bring the strength of both solutions, backed by global expertise and local manufacturing, to help you build better, safer, and more sustainable spaces.

If you are looking to learn more or have a query about insulation solutions, feel free to reach out to us at sgindia.insulation@saint-gobain.com”.