Fire Protection and Metal Wall Insulation

By Heidi J. Ellsworth. 

In looking at the safety of any building, the walls are a defining point of protection.   

According to ROCKWOOL, a manufacturer of stone wool insulation, “Effective metal stud wall insulation can minimize the risk of fire spreading.  This is especially important when a metal stud wall is installed adjacent to a designated escape route.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association Fire Loss in the United States During 2021, local fire departments responded to an estimated 1.35 million fires in the United States. These fires caused 3,800 civilian fire deaths and 14,700 reported civilian fire injuries.  The property damage caused by these fires was estimated at $15.9 billion.  On average, a fire department responded to a fire somewhere in the U.S. every 23 seconds in 2021. 

These statistics show that the threat of fire should always be top of mind for home and building owners.  Unwanted fires can have many additional consequences including property damage, business interruption, environmental pollution and of course, the worst, bodily damage.  Specifying materials that are fire resilient overall is critical.

Stone wool insulation has become one of the top options for fire safety in the built environment.  It is created by spinning molten rock and minerals with steel slag to create a cotton-candy-like wool product.  Pressed into rolls and sheets, stone wool creates an incredibly effective insulation with outstanding fire-resistant properties.

Again, according to ROCKWOOL, their insulation is fire resilient by nature with no added chemical flame retardants.  Capable of withstanding temperatures of over 1,000-degrees Celsius, it works to contain fire and prevent its spread. At the same time, it does not contribute to the emission of significant quantities of toxic smoke.  The natural basalt rock and recycled slag composition of stone wool exhibits a number of unique and valuable characteristics, including its ability to resist fire. 

In looking at the importance of wall insulation and how it can feed a fire, ROCKWOOL insulation stands out since it will not burn or release toxic gases or smoke when exposed to high heat.  It helps delay the spread of fire and may provide the precious extra seconds occupants need to escape.  ROCKWOOL insulation products are often used in dedicated fire protection systems for buildings and industrial equipment.

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Heidi J. Ellsworth is the president of RoofersCoffeeShop.