Rockwool Venti Butts: Features of Mineral Wool Boards

Rigid mineral wool slabs, consisting of hydrophobized stone wool Rockwool "Venti Butts" "D" and "N" are used as the main insulation when installing hinged ventilated facades. Our article is devoted to the features of this material.

Slab "Venti Butts" is a product of the Danish company Rockwool, which has been mass-producing thermal insulation building materials since 1937. The high demand for the products of this company in Europe and in Russia is due to the possibility of its use in the installation of the latest thermal insulation systems. This company is engaged in the production of sound insulation "Acoustic Butts" and mineral wool insulation, among which the high-strength Rockwool boards "Venti Butts" constitute a separate subgroup.

These products are distinguished from analogs of other manufacturers by their thickened face layer that does not allow cold air to pass through. The low weight of products of this brand significantly reduces labor costs during their installation and transportation.

The basis of Rockwool products are fibers obtained by melting basalt. The binding components are phenol-formaldehyde resins and impurities with hydrophobic properties, which serve to give the board the necessary strength and rigidity. The specific proportion of such components is about 2%. After melting, they acquire absolute inertness to the environment, which makes Rockwool mineral wool environmentally friendly.

At the same time, due to these additives, a low percentage of moisture absorption by this plate and resistance to all kinds of external influences are achieved. This makes the brand's products the optimal type of external insulation, and due to its waterproofing performance, it can be used in so-called floating floors as a base.

Minvata "Venti Butts" is produced in the form of rigid fragments having 1000 or 1200 mm in length and 600 or 1000 mm in width with a product thickness of 30-150, 200 mm. The most common and demanded are the dimensions of the plate 1000x600x50 mm and 1000x600x100 mm. Protective packaging containing from 1 to 8 sheets of material is made of PVC film. According to reviews, the thickness of the material of the order of 50 mm is quite enough for the organization of high-quality thermal insulation. At the same time, the load on the foundation of the building is minimal.

Rockwool Venti Butts slabs weigh about 2 kg per piece.

Rockwool "Venti Butts" 1000x600x50 mm and other sizes demonstrate a thermal conductivity of 0.035-0.041 W / mx K. This indicator depends on the air temperature. The density is 90–100 kg per cubic meter, and for lightweight "N" grade slabs - 37 kg / m3. The degree of vapor permeability of products is 0.30 mg / m x h x Pa, and the percentage of their water absorption is 1.5.

The high water resistance of mineral wool and its ability to withstand atmospheric influences is explained by its acidity modulus equal to 2. The pull-off force of the slab is 3-4 kPa, and its tensile strength at ten percent deformation has a value of 10 kPa. Rockwool boards belong to NG fire safety class.

As already mentioned, slabs of the Venti Butts brand 1000x600x50 mm and other sizes are heat-insulating elements of ventilated facades.

In such a situation, cheaper mineral wool heaters are covered with a layer of windproof film, but such manipulation is not required for Venti Butts thermal insulation.

The work consists in preparing the base and all the necessary materials, marking the place for fastening the facade, if it is assembled on a special frame and mounting all fasteners. Then the slabs are fixed to the wall with mortar. Installation continues until the entire wall is covered with slabs. After the mortar has set, the insulation is additionally fixed with disc dowels and, if necessary, waterproofing is equipped.

Then the frame of the second level of the facade is assembled, and the facing elements are mounted. If we are talking about creating a single-layer standard facade, then the process is greatly simplified: in this case, the slabs are simply plastered, and cladding is applied over the plaster.

The assembly of the frame can be combined with the ventilation of the facade. This is done if ventilation is considered an additional beneficial factor. In this case, the installation is carried out on a frame made of a metal profile, on the elements of which the plates are attached. The frame structure protrudes 3-5 cm above the slab level, which creates a gap that allows the facade to be ventilated naturally, although this is not as efficient as compared to standard technology.

The products of this brand are presented in four varieties with minor differences between themselves.

• The first type includes rigid elements "Venti Butts", which are insulation for curtain wall systems and belong to the standard version, durable and resistant to external influences.
• The second type of these products are double layer slabshaving a combined structure. Their upper layer has increased rigidity and density, while the lower one is lighter. For this mineral wool, the designation "D" is accepted, and its cost is slightly higher than that of other brands. For ease of installation, the upper outer layer is marked, although it is easily identifiable by touch.

• Insulation Rockwool "Venti Butts Optima" refers to the third type of product. Its properties are very close to Venti Butts, but it is a more versatile option. It can be operated together with a light-transmitting outer cladding. This type of insulation is recommended by specialists for arranging fire boxes near window openings.

• Light slabs Rockwool marked "H" are the fourth type of this type of product. They serve to create an inner layer in curtain wall systems with double-layer thermal insulation. Their difference is low density and low weight, which is almost 3 times lower than that of similar products of other types, which serves as an additional factor in reducing the load on the foundation.

The minimum thickness of Venti Butts N elements is 50 mm, and the thermal conductivity coefficient is 0.036 W / mx K, which is an indicator of their high level of thermal insulation.

Consumer reviews indicate that these products are practically devoid of flaws. A certain disadvantage could be called their very significant cost, but this disadvantage is justified by the high quality of such mineral wool, which is ideal for the installation of hinged ventilated facades.

Consider the advantages of the product.

• Eco-friendly basalt fibers, as well as the synthetic filler that binds them, do not have a harmful effect on human health... Compared to glass wool, stone fibers are much less brittle, so they do not generate dust or irritate the skin.

• Insulated with such plates walls, due to their vapor permeability, can "breathe", which is especially valuable when decorating wooden houses with them. And due to their high safety, the elements of Rockwool Venti Butts withstand the direct impact of the flame for a long time, preventing its propagation, since the basalt fibers begin to melt only when the temperature exceeds 1000 ° C.
• This moisture resistant material, which, moreover, has excellent heat and sound insulating properties, relieves builders from the need to perform moisture insulation in hinged facade systems.

• Another advantage of Venti Butts mineral wool is ease of installation and economyreached on the glue for its fasteners. This rigid material is conveniently cut into strips and fragments of the required size, which allows you to successfully solve the problem of adjusting corners and forming joints. Thanks to this, the material is excellent for thermal insulation of facades with complex architecture.
• Due to its fibrous-porous structure, Rockwool insulation is a fairly permeable material, which prevents the appearance of accumulations of fungus and mold under such a coating, the service life of which, without deteriorating its useful characteristics, reaches 50 years.

Learn how to install Venti Butts Rockwool in the following video.