In commercial building design, weight and strength were traditionally viewed as one-and-the-same, especially when it came to choosing continuous insulation. A denser, heavier material was viewed as the optimal choice for heavy claddings like masonry, while specifiers sought out lighter options for new cladding materials like plastics and laminates. This mindset created some myths in the marketplace—myths that it’s time to debunk.
As a new decade gets underway, it’s time to clear up misconceptions and illuminate the possibilities and performance that arise when we separate strength from compressive weight. The weight of a mineral wool is not an accurate indicator of its compressive strength.