Rockwool Marine Acoustic foil system
The area of the Engine Room, Cargo Pump Room and the like has previously been a difficult area to comply with when issues as fire protection, noise reduction, resistance to oil / oil mist and mechanical strength had to be made into one solution. Today, Rockwool can offer the perfect solution.
The Rockwool Marine Acoustic foil system supplies an excellent protection for fire, resistance to contamination in the wool and a mechanical strong finish. The IMO-rules and national legislation is today quite clear on fire protection and the need of restricting oil contamination. And the focus on the health issues concerning noise is rapidly increasing. Several National Marine Authorities are having strict mandatory rules on noise levels. The present IMO/ILO guidelines concerning noise levels are likely to be amended in near future.
Traditional solutions of insulation with either an alu-foil finish or steel plate finish, are very good for the fire protection and oil contamination protection, but these surface materials unfortunately reduce the otherwise excellent noise reduction properties. By using the Rockwool Marine Acoustic foil system, also the noise reduction properties of the Rockwool material will stay at its full capacity.
Rockwool Marine Acoustic foil is a very strong and durable thin foil, which is resistant to oil, water and most other substances expected to be found in the environment of the Engine Room.
The foil (covering mineral wool insulation and finished by a perforated steel plate) has been tested for surface flammability, according to IMO Res MSC.61(67), annex 1 part 5 and IMO res 653(16), by the Danish Institute of Fire Technology. The result is in full compliance with SOLAS. The sound absorption properties have been tested.
Below is described a typical solution which can be made. In order to obtain these results, it is imperative to install the solution in the correct way.
The main issue is that the Rockwool Marine Acoustic foil must not be glued nor fitted tight directly onto the Rockwool material. It is essential that the foil is fitted loosely, with a small distance from the insulation. This is either done by wrapping it around the slabs or by sticking it to the welding pins used to secure the wool.
The foil is to be overlapped by 100 mm. The foil is very strong, but in some cases it can be recommended to add a small piece of tape for reinforcement where the foil is penetrated in connection with the installation.
The Rockwool Marine Acoustic foil can be combined in any of the Approved Fire Protection solutions or with normal thermal insulation.
The solution has been tested as a system including the perforated steel plate. Please notice that Rockwool Marine & Offshore is not supplying the steel plate.
In areas where a visual nice surface is required it is recommended to use Rockwool products with glass cloth facings.
This is again perfect for the combination solutions. It could be where thermal insulation is required in as example a stores room, and this directly mounted Rockwool will then also act as a good absorbent and provide reduction to adjacent rooms.
The glass cloth will change the absorption coefficient, depending on the type of glass cloth. Thin open woven types will only minimal reduce the absorption. Thick tight woven types will reduce the absorption by 30-50 %, compared to the pure Rockwool. When the aim is to utilise the absorption, the glass cloth must not be painted. It will therefore allways be a decision between the right mix of mechanical strength and absorption.
