Air flow resistivity, absorption and density for isolation products in Norway

[tlindaas]

Products with density and air flow resistivity data:

Terminology: Air Flow Resistivity (in Norwegian: strømningsmotstand) is given in kPa*s/m2.

– Air flow resistivity is the same as gas flow resistivity (GFR).
– Pa*s/m2 is the same as Rayls (5000 Rayls is 5000 Pa*s/m2 , or 5 kPa*s/m2).

I use the terms "air flow resistivity" and "kPa*s/m2" because this is the terminology used in the technical documentation I have read, which is attached to this post.

The products are sorted according to their air flow resistivity value, lowest numbers first.


Hunton Flex (wood fiber product)
Density: 50 kg/m3, Air flow resistivity: Equal to, or more than 5 kPa*s/m2
Hunton Flex
Hunton Flex Produktark

Glava Plate 40
Density: 13.9 kg/m3, Air flow resistivity: 8.31 kPa*s/m2
Plate 40

Rockwool Flexi A Plate,
Density: 30 kg/m3, Air flow resistivity: 9 kPa*s/m2
Flexi A-plate

Rockwool Marine Batts 32
Density: 30 kg/m3, Air flow resistivity: 9 kPa*s/m2
Marine Batts 32

Rockwool Stålstenderplate
Density: 30 kg/m3, Air flow resistivity: 9 kPa*s/m2
Stålstenderplate

(Note: For Rockwool Flexi A, Marine Batts 32 and Stålstenderplate, there are two tests, in test 1 density is measured to 28.6, air flow resistivity to 8.26, in test 2, density is measured to 31.1, air flow resistivity to 10.2. See attached PDFs. The test specimen is named A-plate in test 1 and RW Flex A148 in test 2, I have confirmed with Rockwool that this type of insulation product is marketed as both Flexi A-plate, Marine Batts 32 and Stålstenderplate.)

Glava Plate A 37
Density: 17.5 kg/m3, Air flow resistivity: 10.5 kPa*s/m2
Plate A 37

Rockwool Rockfon Industrial
Density: 70 kg/m3, Air flow resistivity: 21.4 kPa*s/m2
Rockfon Industrial
Rockfon Industrial absorption

Rockwool Lydplate:
Density: 59.4 kg/m3, Air flow resistance: 27.6 kPa*s/m2
Rockwool Lydplate


Note: In the measurement and publication standard EN 13162 it is required for the manufacturers to publish the lowest measurement of sound absorption and air flow resistivity:

4.3.11 Sound absorption
"[…] No result of ap and aw shall be lower than the declared level."

4.3.12 Air flow resistivity
"[…] The value of air flow resistivity shall be declared in levels with steps of 1 kPa·s/m3. No test result shall be lower than the declared value."

Link: EN 13162

(Note: Air flow resistivity is declared in kPa·s/m2, not kPa·s/m3. This has to be a typing error in the standard.)

The manufactureres have several measurements of a product's air flow resistivity, and publish the lowest number. I've talked to both Isover and Rockwool tech support but no one seems to know how wide this range of measurements typically is. However, the two Glava measurements (of the same product) was 8.26 and 10.2, so there's a hint at least.


Products with sound absorption values:

Frequency ---------------------------------- : 100 125 160 200 250 315 400 500 630 800 1000 1250 1600 2000 2500 3150 4000 5000
Rockwool Marine Batts 45 - 50mm ----------------- : 0.12 0.11 0.27 0.33 0.47 0.630 0.73 0.77 0.77 0.770 0.850 0.860 0.860 0.8700 0.880 0.850 0.8700 0.900
Rockwool Marine Slab 60 - 50mm ------------------ : 0.12 0.09 0.25 0.41 0.54 0.730 0.83 0.86 0.85 0.890 0.910 0.930 0.920 0.9400 0.930 0.890 0.8900 0.930
Rockwool Marine Slab 60 - 50mm ( different test ) : 0.09 0.10 0.30 0.47 0.69 0.970 0.81 0.94 0.86 0.950 0.920 0.930 0.900 0.8800 0.900 0.870 0.9100 0.870
Rockwool Marine Slab 80 - 50mm ------------------ : 0.14 0.15 0.31 0.47 0.60 0.820 0.88 0.89 0.90 0.890 0.920 0.950 0.920 0.9100 0.930 0.920 0.9300 0.960
Rockwool Marine Slab 80 - 100mm ----------------- : 0.46 0.54 0.75 0.68 0.74 0.840 0.88 0.93 0.91 0.900 0.950 0.960 0.950 0.9600 0.950 0.950 0.9500 0.990
Rockwool Marine Slab 140 - 50mm ----------------- : 0.17 0.26 0.42 0.58 0.63 0.780 0.80 0.82 0.86 0.820 0.860 0.910 0.870 0.8800 0.920 0.910 0.9300 0.960
Rockwool Marine Slab 150 - 50mm ----------------- : 0.14 0.17 0.44 0.59 0.69 0.870 0.77 0.77 0.81 0.720 0.730 0.700 0.720 0.7300 0.760 0.760 0.7900 0.810
Rockwool Marine Slab 200 - 30mm ----------------- : 0.07 0.07 0.18 0.28 0.44 0.610 0.77 0.76 0.79 0.790 0.790 0.820 0.810 0.8500 0.850 0.880 0.8800 0.910
Rockwool Marine Slab 200 - 50mm ----------------- : 0.14 0.17 0.44 0.59 0.69 0.870 0.77 0.77 0.81 0.720 0.730 0.700 0.720 0.7300 0.760 0.760 0.7900 0.810
Rockwool Marine Slab 200 - 60mm ----------------- : 0.26 0.41 0.65 0.60 0.59 0.660 0.69 0.71 0.74 0.760 0.780 0.830 0.830 0.8500 0.860 0.880 0.9000 0.940
Rockwool Marine Firebatts 100 - 40mm ------------ : 0.13 0.14 0.23 0.29 0.43 0.710 0.85 0.84 0.87 0.850 0.900 0.930 0.900 0.9100 0.890 0.910 0.9000 0.900
Rockwool Marine Firebatts 120 - 75mm ------------ : ----- 0.35 ----- ---- 0.40 ------- ---- 0.55 ----- ----- --0.60-- ----- ----- --0.80-- ------ ----- --0.90-- -----
Rockwool Marine Firebatts 130 - 30mm ------------ : 0.06 0.04 0.12 0.26 0.41 0.580 0.72 0.80 0.82 0.730 0.760 0.730 0.710 0.7300 0.740 0.770 0.7900 0.830
Rockwool Marine Firebatts 130 - 50mm ------------ : 0.17 0.11 0.33 0.58 0.69 0.920 0.84 0.89 0.83 0.810 0.760 0.780 0.740 0.7500 0.800 0.760 0.8300 0.840
Rockwool Marine Firebatts 130 - 60mm ------------ : 0.20 0.31 0.51 0.59 0.69 0.810 0.86 0.85 0.84 0.840 0.880 0.880 0.880 0.8700 0.880 0.900 0.9200 0.930
Rockwool Marine Firebatts 150 - 100mm ----------- : 0.47 0.53 0.67 0.61 0.68 0.780 0.80 0.84 0.85 0.870 0.920 0.930 0.910 0.9200 0.910 0.900 0.9100 0.930
Rockwool Marine Wired Mat 80 - 50mm ------------ : 0.12 0.18 0.35 0.60 0.81 1.010 1.01 0.88 0.90 0.920 0.900 0.850 0.930 0.8200 0.870 0.860 0.8500 0.950
Rockwool Marine Wired Mat 80 - 50mm inc alu foil : 0.23 0.30 0.74 0.56 0.64 0.780 0.84 0.82 0.84 0.800 0.790 0.800 0.800 0.7200 0.700 0.660 0.5700 0.540
Rockwool Marine Wired Mat 80 - 100mm ---------- : 0.42 0.51 0.86 0.87 0.90 1.010 0.97 0.97 0.90 0.950 0.900 0.920 0.960 0.8800 0.850 0.910 0.8800 0.960
Rockwool Marine Wired Mat 80 -100mm inc alu foil: 0.69 0.63 0.69 0.68 0.78 0.860 0.80 0.87 0.85 0.880 0.860 0.820 0.850 0.7900 0.740 0.630 0.5800 0.510
Rockwool Marine Wired Mat 90 - 45mm ----------- : 0.15 0.17 0.37 0.52 0.63 0.820 0.87 0.88 0.89 0.890 0.910 0.950 0.920 0.9000 0.900 0.890 0.8700 0.900
Rockwool Marine Wired Mat 90 - 90mm ----------- : 0.50 0.53 0.74 0.68 0.73 0.860 0.88 0.90 0.93 0.890 0.930 0.990 0.930 0.9300 0.940 0.910 0.8800 0.900
Rockwool Marine Wired Mat 105 - 30mm ---------- : 0.06 0.04 0.14 0.34 0.43 0.730 0.76 0.78 0.82 0.860 0.820 0.830 0.840 0.8100 0.780 0.830 0.8300 0.920
Rockwool Marine Wired Mat 105 - 75mm ---------- : 0.43 0.49 0.71 0.65 0.73 0.840 0.84 0.87 0.86 0.880 0.900 0.920 0.900 0.9000 0.920 0.8800 0.870 0.900
Rockwool Marine Wired Mat 105 - 100mm -------- : 0.56 0.55 0.54 0.54 0.70 0.810 0.81 0.87 0.87 0.880 0.930 0.960 0.930 0.9300 0.920 0.9000 0.920 0.910
Rockwool Lamellmatte 541 - 15mm - inc alu foil - : 0.06 0.02 0.08 0.16 0.29 0.420 0.67 0.84 0.69 0.430 0.320 0.190 0.150 0.1500 0.180 0.2300 0.290 0.310
Rockwool Lamellmatte 541 - 50mm - inc alu foil - : 0.22 0.25 0.64 0.79 0.79 0.610 0.38 0.31 0.34 0.380 0.490 0.550 0.520 0.4700 0.450 0.5100 0.610 0.700
Rockwool Lamellmatte 541 - 100mm - inc alu foil : 0.55 0.49 0.67 0.61 0.56 0.540 0.44 0.60 0.67 0.570 0.510 0.530 0.530 0.4300 0.370 0.3500 0.330 0.280
Rockwool Nettingmatte 80 - 50mm - -------------- : 0.12 0.18 0.35 0.60 0.81 1.010 1.01 0.88 0.90 0.920 0.900 0.850 0.930 0.8200 0.870 0.8600 0.850 0.950
Rockwool Nettingmatte 80 - 100mm --------------- : 0.42 0.51 0.86 0.87 0.90 1.010 0.97 0.97 0.90 0.950 0.900 0.920 0.960 0.8800 0.850 0.9100 0.880 0.960
Rockwool Nettingmatte 105 - 30mm --------------- : 0.06 0.04 0.14 0.34 0.43 0.730 0.76 0.78 0.82 0.860 0.820 0.830 0.840 0.8100 0.780 0.8300 0.830 0.920
Rockwool Nettingmatte 105 - 50mm --------------- : 0.19 0.25 0.67 0.61 0.70 0.780 0.84 0.89 0.83 0.850 0.840 0.830 0.830 0.7400 0.730 0.6500 0.560 0.510
Rockwool Nettingmatte 105 - 100mm ------------- : 0.51 0.56 0.79 0.79 0.83 0.950 0.97 0.93 0.90 0.930 0.960 0.930 0.950 0.8800 0.860 0.8900 0.900 0.900
Rockwool Rockfon Industrial - 50mm -------------- : ----- 0.20 ----- ---- 0.70 ------- ---- 1.00 ----- ----- -1.00-- ----- ------ --1.00-- ------ -------- 1.00- -----
Rockwool Rockfon Industrial - 100mm ------------- : ----- 0.65 ----- ---- 0.85 ------- ---- 1.00 ----- ----- -1.00-- ----- ------ --0.95-- ------ -------- 0.95- -----
Rockwool ProRox WM70 - 50mm - (new 2012) --- : 0.17 0.29 0.46 0.57 0.80 0.890 1.01 1.10 1.08 1.060 1.090 1.050 1.060 1.0900 1.070 1.0500 1.080 1.050
Rockwool ProRox WM80 - 50mm - (new 2012) --- : 0.16 0.38 0.59 0.66 0.85 0.890 1.04 1.05 1.00 1.040 1.070 1.010 1.030 1.0600 1.060 1.0700 1.050 1.040
Rockwool ProRox WM100 - 50mm - (new 2012) -- : 0.16 0.37 0.60 0.64 0.86 0.910 1.01 1.07 1.03 1.020 1.050 1.000 1.010 1.0800 1.070 1.0900 1.070 1.050
Rockwool ProRox WM70 - 100mm - (new 2012) -- : 0.70 0.94 0.96 0.81 0.94 0.980 1.02 1.07 1.01 1.000 1.020 1.050 1.050 1.0800 1.070 1.0900 1.070 1.060
Rockwool ProRox WM80 - 100mm - (new 2012) -- : 0.77 0.90 0.88 0.77 0.89 0.920 0.95 1.00 0.97 1.000 1.050 1.030 1.050 1.0600 1.070 1.0500 1.040 1.050
Rockwool ProRox WM100 - 100mm - (new 2012) - : 0.90 0.92 0.85 0.74 0.84 0.910 0.94 1.02 0.95 1.010 1.040 1.050 1.030 1.0700 1.100 1.0600 1.070 1.070
Glava lydfelleplate 2000 - 25mm ------------------ : ------ 0.05 ----- ---- 0.30 ------- ----- 0.65 ----- ----- -1.00-- ----- ------ --1.00-- ------ -------- 0.95- -----
Glava lydfelleplate 2000 - 50mm ------------------ : ------ 0.15 ----- ---- 0.70 ------- ----- 1.00 ----- ----- -1.00-- ----- ------ --0.95- ------ --------- 0.90- -----
Glava lydfelleplate 2000 - 100mm ----------------- : ------ 0.70 ----- ---- 1.00 ------- ----- 1.00 ----- ----- -1.00-- ----- ------ --1.00-- ------ -------- 0.95- -----

Note: The third and fourth decimal are arbitrary add-ons to insure readability of the table.

The ProRox series is very good. However, it is not on the market in Norway just yet. It will be introduced during 2012, in the "Prosess" category. I was told this is a "European" product - meaning, it is not country-specific. It is for sale in many European countries already. It is interesting to note that it is made for the same duct/ventilation market as OC's 700 series. The noise in these environments are at least some times more bass heavy than usual, maybe the products are designed with this in mind. (I read in a report that dealt with noise issues in small water power plants that the dominating noise in ducts/ventilation is below 250hz, see page 31 in this (Norwegian) PDF: Støy i små vannkraftverk

Rockwool ProRox air flow resistivity: Equal to, or more than 50 kPa*s/m2
(Got this info from Rockwool tech support in Germany).

I got the Rockwool Marine absorption values here (se page 48 to 56): Rockwool Marine & Offshore Acoustic Manual

For the other, see attached measurement PDFs. Note: Lamella Mat = Lamellmatte 541. Wired Mat = Nettingmatte.

Some numbers I don't have publicly available references for, I got them from Rockwool, Isover and Glava by email.

Regarding sound absorption values in general: The European measurement procedures (ISO 354) produces sligthly less impressive data than the American equivalent (ASTM C423), probably in some part due to the dimension difference for the tested material. See these post:
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/7427015-post13.html
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/7428773-post33.html

The ISO 354 standard: ISO 354
The ASTM C 423 standard: ASTM C423



Products with density values:

Glava Lydplate (Isover type glass wool product): 22 kg/m3
Glava Lydplate

Glava Lydfelleplate 2000 (Isover-type glass wool product): Density 35 kg/m3
Glava Lydfelleplate 2000
Glava Lydfelleplate 2000 teknisk godkjenning

Rockwool Lamellmatte 541: Density 30 kg/m3

Rockwool IKI-Batts: Density 60 kg/m3

Rockwool Hardrock Fasadeplate: Dual density; the thick layer is 100 kg/m3, the thin layer is 180 kg/m3.

Density values for Rockwool Marine products: Rockwool Marine and Offshore density values



How to interpret density values:

There is a relationship between density and air flow resistivity, but it is loose, very non-linear. Generally, denser products means higher air flow resistivity, but with the same density, glass wool products will typically have higher air flow resistivity than stone wool products, and there are large variations in the density/flow resistivity correlation within these two main product groups, generated by other factors. A very rough understanding of the relationship between density and air flow resistivity can be derived from density/flow resistivity correlation graphs provided by the manufacturers. I have these numbers from Rockwool, Isover, and from an independent Norwegian construction research institution (Byggforsk):

Air flow resistivity -------------------- : 5 kPa*s/m2 - 10 kPa*s/m2 - 20 kPa*s/m2 - 30 kPa*s/m2 - 40 kPa*s/m2 - 50 kPa*s/m2
Rockwool stone wool products: ------------- : 9-31 kg/m3 ----- 24-49 kg/m3 ----- 36-75 kg/m3 ---- 47-98 kg/m3 ------ 56-120 kg/m3 --- 64 -130 kg/m3
Isover stone wool products: ---------------- : 27-40 kg/m3 --- >50 kg/m3 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unspecified Nordic stone wool products --- : ------------------- 32-37 kg/m3 ----- 38-52 kg/m3 ---- 53-65 kg/m3 ----- 70-80 kg/m3 ----- 80-90 kg/m3
Isover glass wool products: ---------------- : 9-18 kg/m3 ----- 15-30 kg/m3 ----- 27-45 kg/m3 ---------------------------------------------------------------
Unspecified Nordic glass wool products --- : ------------------- 13-27 kg/m3 ----- 33-45 kg/m3 ---- 47-58 kg/m3 ----- 65-75 kg/m3 ----- 75-85 kg/m3

Note: The graphs are hard too read with any accuracy, so don't take the numbers too seriously. But if you are interested in this, there are more information in the graphs than in the numbers displayed here. Be aware that when a manufacturer estimates the performance of competing products, it will be portrayed as "bad" as reasonably possible.


Links to graphs:

Rockwool:
Rockwool flow resistivity/density correlation graph
Rockwool Marine & Offshore Acoustic Manual (page 23)

Isover (see page 9):
Isover flow resistivity/density correlation graph

Byggforsk (older, unspecified Nordic insulation products):
Byggforsk flow resistivity/density correlation graph (page 6)


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If you have some other acoustic data, relevant for Norway, please share.

[avare]

Fantastic!

Andre