Process information
| Key Data Set Information | |
| Location | DE |
| Reference year | 2012 |
| Name |
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| Use advice for data set | Scope: The Life Cycle Assessment is based on the life cycle of unfaced and uncoated synthetic resin-bonded stone wool produced by ROCKWOOL. The LCA results of the facings are listed in the Annex. The stone wool is produced in the plants in Gladbeck, Neuburg and Flechtingen in which production data was recorded for 2008 and complemented by generic data for the facings in 2015. The Life Cycle Assessment therefore represents all of the stone wool produced by ROCKWOOL. This document is a translation from German into English. It is based on the original declaration EPD-DRW-20120111-IBC2-DE. System boundary: Type of EPD: cradle to grave, with options The Life Cycle Assessment takes into account the life cycle phases of stone wool production (Modules A1–A3), disposal of the packaging arising during installation (Module A5) and the subsequent-use phase (Modules C2 and C4). Credits based on thermal utilization of the packaging are allocated to Module D. Credits arising from landfilling (Module C4) are also allocated to Module D. The following individual processes were included in the product stage A1–A3 of production: Provision processes concerning preliminary products and energy Transporting the raw materials and preliminary materials to the plant Production process in the plant including energy inputs, disposal of residual materials arising and emissions Production of packagingThe packaging material volumes taken into account involve annual consumption / annual purchase volumes which also cover pallet returns. Emissions and burdens attributable to disposal of packaging are allocated to Module A5. The disposal of stone wool at the end of life takes into account the transport by truck to a landfill site (C2) as well as final landfilling (C4) with utilisation of landfill gas for generating electricity. The scope of examination for the facings covers the same modules that are already declared for the unfaced products. As no additional packaging is taken into account for the facing, no environmental burdens or credits result in the modules A5 and D for the facings. |
| Technical purpose of product or process | All areas of application in accordance with /DIN 4108-10/ for walls, ceilings and roofs with the requirements specified there for heat and sound insulation and mechanical properties. Building equipment (insulation of heating and hot-water pipes). Technical insulation (insulation of pipelines, district heating pipelines, boilers and apparatuses). Industrial processing (air-conditioning ducts, fire doors, prefabricated house elements and chimney systems). Fire safety elements (fireproofing for wiring and elements for steel structures). |
| Classification number | 2.1.03 |
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| General comment on data set | Definition of mineral wool (stone wool and glass wool) in accordance with the /EU Guideline 97/69/EC/ and the German hazardous substances legislation (/ChemVerbotsV/ and /GefStoffV/): Man-made mineral fibres comprising vitreous (silicate) fibres with random orientation with a content of oxides of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and barium greater than 18% by weight. Stone wool insulation materials are fibre insulation materials. The essential components are stone wool thermal insulation fibres, monofilament synthetic mineral fibres of non-crystalline structure extracted from a silicate melt. The mean fibre diameter is 3-6 μm. The fibres can be up to several centimetres in length. The unfaced and uncoated synthetic resin-bonded stone wool insulation materials described in this declaration are produced in the form of slabs, mats or rolls in the low bulk density range (up to 60 kg/m³). The products are supplied in thicknesses of 20 to 350 mm, e.g. as pressure-resistant slabs, non-crush double-layered slabs or highly compressible felts and rolls. ROCKWOOL products are produced in the three plants in Gladbeck, Neuburg and Flechtingen. Averages were formed on the basis of the production volumes at the plants. The unfaced and uncoated stone wool products do not display any differences in terms of the production process or production technology. For certain applications, the insulation materials are provided with a functional facing on one or both sides. |
| Copyright | Yes |
| Owner of data set | |
| Data set LCA report, background info | |
| Quantitative reference | |
| Reference flow(s) | |
| Time representativeness | |
| Data set valid until | 2017 |
| Technological representativeness | |
| Technology description including background system | Stone wool insulation materials are fibre insulation materials. The essential components are stone wool thermal insulation fibres, monofilament synthetic mineral fibres of non-crystalline structure extracted from a silicate melt. The mean fibre diameter is 3-6 μm. The fibres can be up to several centimetres in length. The unfaced and uncoated synthetic resin-bonded stone wool insulation materials described in this declaration are produced in the form of slabs, mats or rolls in the low bulk density range (up to 60 kg/m³). The products are supplied in thicknesses of 20 to 350 mm, e.g. as pressure-resistant slabs, non-crush double-layered slabs or highly compressible felts and rolls. Both diabase or basalt and concrete blocks are melted using coke in a cupola furnace at approx. 1,400-1,500°C and spun into fibres in a roller spinning process. Fluxing agents (mineral oils) and binder (urea-modified phenol formaldehyde resin) are then immediately sprayed on in an aqueous solutions. The binder serves to ensure bonding and dimensional stability while the fluxing agent minimises dust and ensure water repellence. The bonding agent also contained in the aqueous solution supports adhesion of the binder to the fibres. The raw wool is deposited on conveyer belts in negative-pressure collecting chambers. The uncured material is then continuously discharged and fed into hardening furnaces in which air at 200-300°C is sucked through the wool mass, leading the binders to cross-link to form thermosets. This process can be followed by applying facings or the mat is quilted with a wire mesh. However, these processes are not addressed in this declaration. Finally, the product is shaped by sawing. The waste air volume arising during production is mechanically filtered and largely afterburned thermally. The heat content is used for pre-heating the blast air by heat exchangers. The dust separated is re-used as a raw material. Process water is cleaned internally and largely returned into the process. The LCA results cover the life cycle stages of the production of the preliminary products including raw material extraction and processing operations of secondary materials serving as input (e.g. recycling process), their transports to the plant as well as the production itself including the supply of all auxiliaries and consumables and energy as well as the whole waste treatment or landfilling of residual waste during the production stage. The modules A1, A2 and A3 are shown as an aggregated module A1-A3. In addition, the modules A5 (Assembly), C2 (Transport), C4 (Disposal) and D (Benefits) are declared. Technical data: Declared value of thermal conductivity λD as per /DIN EN 13162/: 0.032 to 0.048 [W/m∙K] Design value of thermal conductivity λ as per general construction approval: 0.032 to 0.048 [W/m∙K] Water vapour diffusion resistance value according to /EN 12086/ µ = 1 Water vapour diffusion equivalent air layer thickness = μ x component thickness in [m] (this would be 1 for a thickness of 1 m) Bulk density as per /DIN 1602/: ≤60 kg/m³ Compressive stress as per /EN 826/: 0.5 to 5 kPa Sound absorption coefficients αS depending on the frequency as per /DIN EN ISO 354/ are listed in the data sheets for the corresponding products, e.g. RAF noise absorption panel (30 mm panel with 200 mm air space): Declared unit: This declaration refers to the life cycle of 1 m³ of stone wool insulation material produced by Deutsche ROCKWOOL Mineralwoll GmbH & Co. OHG. ROCKWOOL products are manufactured in three plants, with averages being formed on the basis of the production volumes. The plants do not display any differences in technology in the production of stone wool. The bulk density of the declared stone wool products ranges from 27 to 60 kg/m³. The averaging results in an average bulk density of 41 kg/m³ for stone wool insulation materials in the low bulk density range for which the following LCA results are shown. These results can be applied to other bulk densities by means of linear scaling. |
| Flow diagram(s) or picture(s) | |
Modelling and validation
Administrative information
Environmental indicators