A new classification system for insulation products, launched by the UK Timber Frame Association (UKTFA) and backed by the Health & Safety Executive, has identified Stone Wool as the only insulation product to achieve its highest 'Type 3' rating.

The system uses independent test results included as part of the UKTFA guidance 'Design Guide to Separating Distances During Construction' which has been created to help building designers to mitigate the potential for fire spread between buildings during the building phase of timber frame projects.

A new classification system for insulation products, launched by the UK Timber Frame Association (UKTFA) and backed by the Health & Safety Executive, has identified Stone Wool as the only insulation product to achieve its highest 'Type 3' rating. The system uses independent test results included as part of the UKTFA guidance ‘Design Guide to Separating Distances During Construction’ which has been created to help building designers to mitigate the potential for fire spread between buildings during the building phase of timber frame projects.


The new classification regime, which should be used to compliment the main UKTFA guidance, ranks insulation products by ‘Type’, based on the UKTFA’s review:

Type 1 - Melts under heat and has combustible gases

Type 2 - Shrinks under heat and may have combustible gases

Type 3 - Maintains volume and does not combust

• MIMA is the Mineral Wool Manufacturers Association and represents: Knauf Insulation Ltd, ROCKWOOL Ltd, Saint-Gobain Isover UK, Superglass Insulation Ltd and URSA UK Ltd. Products manufactured by companies that are not members of MIMA are not accepted for use by the UKTFA until they appear on the list.

Thomas Heldgaard, managing director at ROCKWOOL UK commented: "As the leading Stone Wool manufacturer, we have always known that ROCKWOOL's insulation solutions offer ‘best-in-class’ fire protection for building projects. We welcome this new guidance from the UKTFA as an important way for the timber frame industry to design projects with fire safety in mind. We are delighted that Stone Wool is the only insulation to achieve a 'Type 3' rating and look forward to working with the timber frame industry to produce technically innovative, sustainable and firesafe buildings for years to come."

To help guide designers through the new guidance ROCKWOOL has produced a simple Technical Briefing available here: www.rockwool.co.uk/timberframe.

AIM Stocks and Distributes Rockwool Insulation Nationwide. You can visit our website for more information (including Data Sheets and Installation Guides) and great value prices: Rockwool Insulation

www.insulationandlagging.co.uk