Additional test coverage
While the primary purpose of products included in this manual is fire stopping, Rockwool are aware of the demands placed on materials in the building envelope. Further testing has been conducted to ensure that these products are able to satisfy other criteria:
Acoustic
Rockwool have conducted a series of tests on Ablative Coated Batt and Acoustic Intumescent Mastic as acoustic insulation within masonry walls. As the type, size and combination of penetrating services are too numerous to evaluate, tests used an indicative number to provide guidance on the acoustic performance of these products.
The report is available for download, and is intended as a guide. Use of Rockwool Ablative Coated Batt in an acoustic installation should be designed and installed in conjunction with a trained Acoustician.
Air & Smoke Leakage
The air tightness of a building is an influential design factor for reducing energy consumption. The compliance guidelines for Technical Guidance Documents Part L (2008) state that the “Reasonable” maximum limit for design air permeability is 10m³/h/m² at 50Pa pressure. Differential Ablative Coated Batts and Acoustic Intumescent Sealant have been tested by Chiltern Dynamics for air/smoke leakage in accordance with EN 1634-3.
At the stipulated 50Pa pressure differential, the air leakage through a Coated Batt system proved the maximum leakage to be 0.41m³/h/m² - less than 1/20 of the “reasonable limit”. The test reports are available to download.
It is important to note that this test was conducted solely on an Ablative Coated Batt system, and the effect of any penetrating service or surrounding construction should be considered when assessing air-leakage. This information should be of use to designers when evaluating air leakage for the entire building envelope.
Use the links on the right to download and view the documents in full.
