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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteSandwich wall panels are engineered assemblies, not interchangeable slabs. Their two facings, insulated core, joints, fixings and supports work together, so thermal, fire and acoustic results belong to a defined panel system and test configuration. A core label or headline rating alone cannot predict the performance of an installed wall.
To choose correctly, compare panels at the same thickness and declared conditions, then verify the current test or classification document for the exact orientation, joint, support arrangement and acoustic objective. The practical distinction is simple: U-value describes heat flow, reaction-to-fire class describes how a product behaves in fire, fire resistance describes how long an assembly meets criteria such as integrity and insulation, and Rw describes airborne sound transmission rather than room reverberation.
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What a sandwich wall panel actually is
A sandwich wall panel combines an exterior facing, an insulated core and an interior facing into one factory-made element. Steel facings provide weather protection and structural restraint; the core supplies most of the thermal resistance and can contribute to fire and acoustic performance. Profiles, fasteners, seals, interlocking joints, penetrations and supporting rails complete the wall. Changing any of those parts can change the result shown in a test report.
That is why two panels with the same nominal thickness or the same core family may not perform alike. Thermal bridges at fasteners and supports, air leakage at joints, panel orientation, span and the way the assembly is restrained all influence the installed wall. Treat every published value as belonging to a stated product range and configuration.
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How panels provide thermal insulation
Core conductivity is a material indicator, not the wall U-value
Thermal conductivity, written as λ (lambda), describes heat flow through a core material under specified test conditions. A lower λ generally indicates greater resistance for a given thickness, but λ does not include facings, joints, fasteners, edge details or installation workmanship. The 2022 ROCKWOOL sandwich wall panel technical guide lists these guide values:
| Core material | Guide thermal conductivity | How to use the figure |
|---|---|---|
| PUR | λ ≥ 0.023 W/m·K | Manufacturer guide value; not a universal value for every PUR product. |
| PIR | λ ≥ 0.018 W/m·K | Manufacturer guide value; compare with the panel maker’s declared value and conditions. |
| Mineral wool | λ ≥ 0.039 W/m·K | Manufacturer guide value; density, orientation and construction affect the finished panel. |
Use these numbers to understand relative core characteristics, not to calculate an installed wall without the product declaration. A panel’s declared U-value (W/m²K) is the more useful comparison for heat loss because it should represent the complete panel construction under stated conditions. Confirm whether the declaration includes joint effects, dimensional tolerances, ageing corrections and the calculation standard used in your jurisdiction.
Thickness changes the declared U-value
A 2024 Paneltech brochure gives a concrete example for its PW PIR-S range. The listed U-values fall as thickness increases:
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →| Panel thickness | Declared U-value | Other values listed for the range |
|---|---|---|
| 40 mm | 0.58 W/m²K | Rw 26 dB; reaction-to-fire class B-s1,d0 |
| 60 mm | 0.37 W/m²K | |
| 80 mm | 0.27 W/m²K | |
| 100 mm | 0.22 W/m²K | |
| 120 mm | 0.18 W/m²K |
Those figures describe the brochure’s PW PIR-S products, not every PIR panel. Before comparing them with another manufacturer, check that thickness, face metals, joint design, calculation method and declared conditions match. A lower U-value may require a thicker panel, deeper reveals, longer fixings or revised flashings; those coordination effects belong in the design review rather than being treated as a free upgrade.
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Mineral-wool boards are system components
ROCKWOOL Conrock is described as a stone-wool board designed for sandwich wall panel systems. The manufacturer identifies thermal performance together with fire and sound-dampening properties. The board is therefore a relevant core component, but its presence does not establish the U-value or fire duration of a completed wall. Use the panel manufacturer’s declaration for the assembled product and the tested construction.
Fire performance: reaction is not resistance
Reaction-to-fire classification
A reaction-to-fire class describes how a product contributes to fire in the classification test, including ignitability, flame spread, heat release and smoke or droplets. Euroclass A2-s1,d0, for example, indicates limited contribution to fire with specified smoke and flaming-droplet performance under EN 13501-1 classification. It is a product classification, not a statement that a wall will remain intact for a particular number of minutes.
Fire resistance of the assembly
Fire resistance is a time-based performance of an element or assembly against criteria such as integrity (E), insulation (I) and, where applicable, load-bearing capacity (R). An EI60 wall has demonstrated integrity and insulation for 60 minutes in the stated test configuration. A reaction class such as A2-s1,d0 cannot be converted into an EI rating.
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Euroclad reports that its Rockspan Extra system has Euroclass A2-s1,d0 under BS EN 13501-1:2018. The same product information gives potential fire resistance from 60 minutes to four hours, depending on thickness and orientation, and states that the result depends on the assembly. Treat those durations as product-system claims: obtain the certificate and confirm that your wall height, span, joints, supports, penetrations and direction of exposure fall within its scope. Product page: Euroclad Rockspan Extra insulated wall panels.
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ROCKWOOL states that Conrock can help achieve one-, two- and three-hour fire ratings in sandwich wall panel assemblies. That is a system-support claim for tested designs; a loose insulation board does not carry a wall rating by itself.
Why joints, supports and orientation control the result
The Building Research Establishment briefing Fire performance of sandwich panel systems explains that results vary with manufacturer, panel-joint design and the method and spacing or number of supports. For compartment walls, the proposed height and width must be covered by suitable tests. The briefing discusses 90–240 minute applications as tending to restrict choices to tested, high-density rock-fibre mineral-wool systems with suitable jointing and support. Verify current local regulations and the latest classification documents before relying on that technical context.
Fire-verification procedure
- Define the required criteria (for example, EI60 or EI120), exposure direction and whether the wall is load-bearing.
- Obtain the manufacturer’s current fire-test report and classification certificate, not only a brochure summary.
- Match panel thickness, core density, facings, joint profile, fastener pattern, support spacing and wall dimensions to the tested specimen.
- Check how doors, windows, service penetrations, corners, base details and roof connections are treated; an untested penetration can invalidate an otherwise suitable wall.
- Have the fire engineer or building-control authority confirm that the evidence is acceptable for the project’s jurisdiction and occupancy.
Sound control: transmission loss versus absorption
Rw measures airborne transmission through a wall
The weighted sound reduction index, Rw, expresses laboratory airborne sound insulation in decibels. Higher Rw generally means less sound transmitted through the tested panel, but the field result can be lower because of flanking through floors, roofs, columns, doors, junctions and service openings. Rw also does not show performance at every frequency; plant noise, speech and music may require spectrum terms or octave-band data.
Paneltech lists Rw 26 dB for its PW PIR-S range, alongside the U-values and reaction class shown above. ArcelorMittal Building Solutions lists Rw 35 dB for a 100 mm Supertop W panel on its Supertop W wall sandwich panel page. These are product-specific results, not generic values for all PIR or mineral-wool panels.
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Absorption controls reverberation inside a room
Sound absorption is a different objective. A perforated or micro-perforated internal facing can reduce reflected energy and reverberation within the room; it does not automatically provide the same increase in sound transmission loss through the wall. Isocindu describes Isofire Wall Fono as using a micro-perforated internal metal sheet to address sound absorption and insulation. Ask for the absorption coefficient or equivalent data, the test frequency range and the mounting condition when room acoustics are important.
For a noisy workshop beside offices, you may need both a high transmission rating and controlled reverberation. A wall with a good Rw but a hard, reflective interior can leave the room loud; a perforated liner that improves absorption may not be sufficient where the dominant path is through a lightweight door or an unsealed junction.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A practical comparison framework
Place candidate systems side by side using the same evidence fields. If a value is not stated, record “not stated” and request it rather than inferring it from a similar product.
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| Comparison field | What to record | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Core type and density | PIR, PUR, mineral wool or other; density where declared | Influences conductivity, fire behaviour, stiffness and acoustic response. |
| Panel thickness | Exact nominal thickness and tolerances | Changes U-value, detailing and potentially fire duration. |
| Declared thermal transmittance | U-value in W/m²K with calculation conditions | Allows an installed-wall comparison rather than a core-only comparison. |
| Reaction-to-fire class | Class and governing standard | Describes product contribution to fire, not duration. |
| Fire resistance | R, E and I criteria, minutes, exposure direction and test limits | Shows whether the assembly meets the project’s compartmentation requirement. |
| Joints and supports | Joint profile, fasteners, rail spacing, orientation and permitted dimensions | These details can control the tested outcome. |
| Acoustic metric | Rw, spectrum terms, absorption coefficient or other stated metric | Separates transmission control from reverberation control. |
| Facing treatment | Solid, perforated or micro-perforated internal sheet | Indicates whether room absorption is part of the design. |
| Evidence version | Current test, classification report, declaration and publication date | Prevents an obsolete or differently configured result being used. |
How to specify and install a panel system
- Set the performance brief. State the target U-value, internal and external temperatures, fire criteria and duration, airborne sound target, room absorption needs, humidity, corrosion exposure and design life.
- Select a core and thickness range. Use declared U-values for the complete panel. Keep enough dimensional allowance for flashings, thresholds, roof interfaces and structural movement.
- Request primary documents. Obtain the product declaration, thermal calculation, reaction classification, fire-test report, acoustic report and installation manual for the exact range.
- Check structural compatibility. Confirm support spacing, wind actions, panel span, fastener type, pull-out capacity and tolerances with the structural designer. Do not increase spacing because a panel appears stiff enough; the fire and acoustic evidence may no longer apply.
- Detail airtight and weatherproof joints. Follow the specified sealants, gaskets, laps and fastener washers. Gaps can increase heat loss, permit smoke passage and create acoustic leaks.
- Coordinate penetrations before fabrication. Doors, windows, ducts, cable trays and pipework need tested collars, frames or fire-stopping details where required. Cutting a panel on site can remove the assumptions behind its certificate.
- Control orientation and sequencing. Install panels in the tested direction, maintain the required bearing and keep joint geometry within tolerance. Protect cores and seal exposed edges during construction.
- Record as-built evidence. Photograph joints, supports and penetrations, retain batch and document references, and obtain a sign-off from the responsible fire and acoustic specialists.
Common mistakes and how to correct them
Choosing by core name alone
Problem: A specification says “PIR panel” or “mineral-wool panel” without thickness, U-value or joint details. Correction: Add the exact product range, thickness, declared U-value and installation system, then verify the documents for that configuration.
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Using a reaction class as a fire-duration guarantee
Problem: A2-s1,d0 or B-s1,d0 is treated as equivalent to EI60. Correction: Specify the required R/E/I criteria and obtain a test or classification report covering the complete wall assembly.
Assuming a laboratory Rw will be achieved in the building
Problem: The panel is selected on Rw while doors, roof junctions or service penetrations remain weak links. Correction: Model flanking paths, seal every junction, and request field or system evidence where the project target is critical.
Confusing absorption with isolation
Problem: A perforated liner is expected to stop external noise. Correction: Use absorption data for reverberation and Rw or spectrum data for transmission; specify both when both outcomes matter.
Extending a tested rating beyond its scope
Problem: A 60-minute result is applied to a taller wall, a different support spacing or the reverse fire direction. Correction: Ask the manufacturer or fire engineer for an assessment or test that explicitly covers the proposed limits.
Final decision rule
Choose the panel system whose declared thermal value, reaction class, fire-resistance evidence and acoustic metric all match the project brief in the same documented configuration. Then make the joints, supports, penetrations and internal finish part of the design—not afterthoughts. That system-level check is what turns a promising brochure number into a defensible insulated, fire-performing and acoustically controlled wall.
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