External Wall Insulation

External Wall Applications ETICS Cladded Facade

Comfortboard, external insulation, install, construction, exterior, home, wall

External walls, together with the roof, form the envelope of any building, protecting everyone and everything inside.

They also cover the largest surface area, making them a prime area for preventing heat loss. The main place where heat is lost is by escaping through poorly insulated walls.

With ROCKWOOL external wall insulation, living spaces can be made warm, energy efficient and compliant with modern building standards – as well as gaining additional benefits in terms of acoustics, indoor comfort and fire safety.

Discover the importance of insulation for exterior walls, and the positive impacts it can bring.

Find Inspiration, guides and reports

Why do we need external wall insulation?

Outside walls are where heat loss or heat penetration most commonly occurs in the majority of buildings.

External wall insulation can significantly moderate this – improving the building’s energy efficiency, as well as cutting CO₂ emissions and reducing fuel or cooling costs.

External walls come in different shapes and forms. These range from cavity walls to rendered systems and façade cladding, for domestic, commercial and industrial buildings. Each type of external wall has its own advantages and disadvantages. They appeal to the building owner in one way or another, by assuring good energy performance that meets local requirements.

Key benefits:

Less heat loss
Lower energy bills
Protected building structure
Lower temperature fluctuations
Fewer damp issues

Relevant resources

Calculator and savings

Exterior wall insulation can be applied in a variety of building solutions, like External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems (ETICS), cavity wall, timber frame, ventilated façade or metal cladding. The products themselves also come in different forms, from slabs to lamellas to granulate.

The exact costs and savings will depend on the size of the area being insulated and how much insulation is required. You can – of course – also decide to go above and beyond what is required by minimum regulations.

ROCKWOOL can also provide technical support in different ways, using online digital tools or calculations from our technical experts.

Energy renovation can also raise the value of a building, if they’re rated based on their energy performance¹.

Learn about energy efficiency

external wall, insultation, light-dry method, rockwool

Why choose ROCKWOOL solutions?

Our insulation harnesses the power of stone, enabling us to create a versatile set of external wall solutions.

Drawing on the ‘seven strengths of stone’, benefits include²:

Fire resilience
Temperature maintenance
Noise reduction properties
Robustness
Sustainability
Water properties
Adaptability for building design

ROCKWOOL external wall insulation is central to developing energy-efficient walls, and meets modern code requirements by providing continuous insulation for residential, commercial and industrial buildings.

Fire resistance also adds an extra layer of safety. ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation can withstand heat above 1000°C³ – ideal during construction or renovation of high-rise buildings. Water resilience also meets the increased need for flood defences in many properties.

Find ROCKWOOL products

ROCKWOOL boasts excellent thermal performance both in winter and summer. Stone wool slabs can add significant mass to the building envelope, ensuring summer comfort by keeping the heat outside. The fibres in the tightly butted slabs knit together, significantly reducing heat loss that’s caused by gaps between slabs.

Erica Bazzini

Global Product Manager, ROCKWOOL Group

Case studies

The problem

Wilmcote House flats, an iconic Portsmouth landmark in the UK, had become blighted by mould, damp and condensation.

Many people living in its three connected blocks – across 100 maisonettes and 11 ground-floor flats – were in fuel poverty, and residents were not typically heating their homes to the comfort temperature of 18°C set by the World Health Organisation (WHO)⁴.

The solution

Renovation aimed to ease fuel poverty by making the buildings naturally warmer and less susceptible to damp – with a target to reduce heating demand by 90 percent.

Meanwhile, a deep retrofit was launched to extend the lifetime of Wilmcote House by another 30 years.

The results

ROCKWOOL helped to reduce draughts, condensation and mould. Thermal performance and air tightness were improved thanks to the fitting of a 300/400mm zone fixed to external steel frames, which were newly assembled.

Find more case studies

It’s about future-proofing the property and moving away from the sticking plaster approach.
Due to the fabric improvements, we’re now more confident that the residents don’t need as much heating in their properties. In fact, we’re looking to take out some of the existing storage heaters so that there is a maximum of two per property — one in the lounge and one in the downstairs hall.

Steve Groves

Head of Building Maintenance at Portsmouth City Council

Applications

Insulation

Dry Lining Insulation

Dry lining insulation enhances the thermal performance of external walls and saves energy.

Insulation

Separating Party Wall Insulation

ROCKWOOL party wall insulation harnesses the power of natural stone to reduce heat and sound passing through separating walls..

Insulation

ETICS

Apply multilayer insulation ETICS solutions to the external walls of a new or existing building.

Stone wool insulation for Insulated Sandwich Panels

Sandwich Panel Insulation

We partner with sandwich panel original equipment manufacturers to supply custom designed stone wool insulation products. Discover the benefit of ROCKWOOL OEM solutions today.

Insulation

Cladded Façade Insulation

ROCKWOOL insulation for cladded façade systems can boost energy efficiency, fire resilience and acoustic performance. Find out more today.

Insulation

Cavity Wall Insulation

Cavity wall insulation can prevent heat loss, reduce energy use and cut heating costs.

Insulation

Timber Frame Insulation

Timber frame insulation provides strong acoustic, fire resistant and thermal properties.

Insulation

Metal Wall Insulation

Metal wall insulation improves building performance and operating costs for constructions with metal wall systems.

The pioneering way to build nearly zero-energy homes

Rockzero system

Introducing our latest innovation, Rockzero: a pioneering new wall system that integrates the natural benefits of stone wool insulation with the structural support of the home. It’s revolutionising the way homes are built.

Installing

With the various solutions available for external wall insulation, there are many different installation requirements. For cavity walls you can install granulate, partial and full fill slabs, while for timber frame you need products with flexible edges.

High-density slabs or lamellas are necessary for ETICS and ventilated facades, with prefabricated sandwich panels or slabs with cut-outs best for metal walls. More detailed instructions can be obtained from your local ROCKWOOL organisation.

Some overall tips:

Measure your walls – measure the size of your external walls first to ensure you have enough installation material.
Choose the right product – assess the shape, size and material of your external wall to help decide on the best insulation product and installation method to use.
Consider the building use – choose the best external wall insulation whether it’s for a commercial, residential or industrial property.

Inspiration and guides for professionals

Get 16 Renovation Cases

This case study bundle includes:

29 pages of our best 2018-19 projects
Acoustic renovation in both public buildings and private
Bringing new life into old buildings with facade panels
Improving fire safety and wellbeing in high-rises and historical buildings
Reducing noise and flooding with innovative stone wool solutions

Sustainability and energy efficiency

ROCKWOOL products are developed with sustainability at their heart.

One of our key aims is to help in the construction and development of energy-efficient buildings around the world – promoting comfort, safety, noise reduction and reduced emissions.

ROCKWOOL insulation can also contribute to credits for sustainable building rating schemes, BREEAM and many more local ones.⁵

External walls, ETICS, MUH, multi unit, building, apartments

A vital application for any energy-efficient building, including a passive house, ROCKWOOL external wall insulation helps lead to a more sustainable future.

We make continuous strides to ensure our operations remain as sustainable as possible, and stone wool can be recycled without degrading its quality. We also use the latest innovative, emissions control technology to ensure our environmental impact is minimised.

ROCKWOOL products are also assessed and certified via Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).

8 facts about the circularity of stone wool

Downloads and resources

Thought Leadership

Benefits of home improvement

During home renovation, upgrading what’s inside your walls can make the biggest difference of all.

Thought Leadership

Energy home improvement

Upgrading insulation creates a better living environment and saves money.

By Vincci Morales

Energy Efficiency

Wellbeing

Quality of life

5 questions you should ask when buying a new house

Discover crucial tips for buying a newly built house.

Sound/Acoustics

Wellbeing

Acoustics: what you need to hear

Students all over the world are having trouble hearing their teachers, but there is a solution.

By Jan Simonsen

Renovation

Energy Efficiency

Seven efficient tips on how to keep your house warm in winter

Humans spend around 90 percent of their time indoors, so it’s in your best interest to safeguard your own home and ensure that warm air circulates throughout.

Financial support

Sustainability schemes and refunds may be available for external wall insulation through tax reductions or incentive schemes. Contact our local offices for more information.

Find your local ROCKWOOL office