Rockwool demonstrates full recyclability

Rockwool has demonstrated its ability to deliver true sustainability in a joint trial with Eurobond, Corus and Sims Recycling Solutions.

00% recyclability is the prized goal of all committed building materials manufacturers, and Rockwool has demonstrated its ability to deliver true sustainability in a joint trial with Eurobond, Corus and Sims Recycling Solutions.

By developing a recycling process for composite panels, the need for eventual disposal of the panels to landfill could be eliminated.

Although the materials are inert, pressure on landfill space is high, so the new process would provide an important environmental saving.

800m2 of Eurobond's composite panels were taken from a wall demolished during the extension of a bottling hall for Magners Irish Cider, in Clonmel, Co Tipperary.

The 2m by 2m panels comprised sheet steel facings with a Rockwool core, which were fed through the Sims plant in Newport.

This successfully and economically separated the stonewool insulation and the steel, which were shipped to Rockwool and Corus respectively for recycling and re-use.

"Rockwool is 100% recyclable, so inclusion of the recycled panel material is easy".

"It could be making its way back to Ireland as composite panel core, within weeks," commented Peter Batchelor of Rockwool.

The use of Rockwool cored composite panels in applications such as bottling halls brings many advantages.

Not only does the stonewool insulation minimise heat loss for better energy efficiency, Rockwool is fireproof and provides high acoustic attenuation, which is vital in a noisy environment.

Combined with its high sustainability credentials, Rockwool offers specifiers a four in one solution for all of their insulation requirements Rockwool stonewool is manufactured using igneous volcanic rock, an abundantly-available resource which in its lifetime can save 100s of times the greenhouse gases generated during its production.

Rockwool's products incorporate 20-30% of recycled content by mass, which includes by-products from other industries and post consumer waste.

"Sims has shown it has the technology and machinery in place to recycle stonewool cored composite panels separating the stonewool and steel," added Paul Wake General Manager of Sims Recycling Solutions.

"We have been happy to work with Eurobond and its partners Corus and Rockwool to develop a recycling route that virtually eliminates the need for landfill and allows the reuse of the steel and Rockwool".

"I think it is a great example of four companies in the UK working together to come up with an initiative to help the environment".

Rockwool insulation has the highest CEN Fire Certification A1 rating, meaning it is non-combustible.

The wide ranging October 2006 Regulatory Reform Order, and April 2007 Building Regulations Part B changes, have placed increasing pressure on specifiers and installers of fire protection measures, as well as building developers and owners.

All these stakeholders have a legal responsibility for fire protection products in building design and ensuring high degrees of protection for building users and fire service personnel.

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