EPiC database - Glasswool insulation

This material is part of the free Environmental Performance in Construction (EPiC) Database. The EPiC Database contains embodied environmental flow coefficients for 250+ construction materials using a comprehensive hybrid life cycle inventory approach.

Glasswool or fibreglass insulation contains micro fibres of glass that trap pockets of air within. This results in a low density and low thermal conductivity (0.04 W/(m·K)), which is ideal for insulation materials.

Glasswool is made by mixing sand and recycled glass and melting them at 1 450°C to obtain glass. This glass is turned into fibres using a process similar to making cotton candy, by forcing it through a mesh and cooling it by contact with air. A binder is added beforehand to ensure cohesion and mechanical strength. The resulting fibre is heated at 200°C to polymerise the resin. The resulting insulation is calendered, before being cut and packed in rolls or panels.

Glasswool insulation is widely used in the construction industry as an insulation material.