ᐅ Basalt wool under the parquet flooring – how should I handle it?
Created on: 30 Oct 2021 11:09
B
Black||Dear Forum,
Thank you in advance for your feedback!
About eight years ago, we completely renovated a beautiful house (built in 1962) in a small town. The house was a real stroke of luck; already during the first viewing, we were impressed by the solid structure, the location, the huge plot, and the gorgeous old oak parquet flooring installed throughout the entire house (including the kitchen). The renovation went well, and since we are local, we had plenty of advisors from our circle of friends and family supporting us.
From the start, I was aware of potential hazardous materials, which is understandable given the year of construction. Of course, the usual suspects were found (e.g., fiber cement panels on the flat roof), which were properly removed by specialized companies. However, one thing I overlooked, though it has never really left my mind — otherwise, I wouldn’t be posting here now.
The parquet flooring is installed on sleeper joists, and beneath these joists is basalt wool insulation. I know this because I still have the 1962 invoice, where basalt wool is explicitly mentioned. When my flooring installer replaced some damaged boards, he looked at me skeptical and said, “That’s just Rockwool, what’s the problem?” We wanted to keep the floors, so the insulation remains exactly where it has been for 60 years. Naturally, the floor is by no means airtight. During the winter months, gaps open due to heating, so certainly some dust must be escaping — that much is clear.
I find it difficult to assess the actual risk. I am aware of the issues related to mineral wool fibers (KMF), but I’m unsure whether this justifies removal and disposal after the fact. Addressing the problem would mean removing 140 square meters (1507 square feet) of parquet under safe conditions while living here with family and children — a thought that is quite unsettling.
I would appreciate an experienced flooring installer’s assessment, as I assume this is routine for them. Any evaluation would help us move closer to a solution.
Thank you, and have a great weekend.
Thank you in advance for your feedback!
About eight years ago, we completely renovated a beautiful house (built in 1962) in a small town. The house was a real stroke of luck; already during the first viewing, we were impressed by the solid structure, the location, the huge plot, and the gorgeous old oak parquet flooring installed throughout the entire house (including the kitchen). The renovation went well, and since we are local, we had plenty of advisors from our circle of friends and family supporting us.
From the start, I was aware of potential hazardous materials, which is understandable given the year of construction. Of course, the usual suspects were found (e.g., fiber cement panels on the flat roof), which were properly removed by specialized companies. However, one thing I overlooked, though it has never really left my mind — otherwise, I wouldn’t be posting here now.
The parquet flooring is installed on sleeper joists, and beneath these joists is basalt wool insulation. I know this because I still have the 1962 invoice, where basalt wool is explicitly mentioned. When my flooring installer replaced some damaged boards, he looked at me skeptical and said, “That’s just Rockwool, what’s the problem?” We wanted to keep the floors, so the insulation remains exactly where it has been for 60 years. Naturally, the floor is by no means airtight. During the winter months, gaps open due to heating, so certainly some dust must be escaping — that much is clear.
I find it difficult to assess the actual risk. I am aware of the issues related to mineral wool fibers (KMF), but I’m unsure whether this justifies removal and disposal after the fact. Addressing the problem would mean removing 140 square meters (1507 square feet) of parquet under safe conditions while living here with family and children — a thought that is quite unsettling.
I would appreciate an experienced flooring installer’s assessment, as I assume this is routine for them. Any evaluation would help us move closer to a solution.
Thank you, and have a great weekend.
B
Benutzer20030 Oct 2021 11:34What type of basalt wool (standard stone wool) is it? Made of continuous fibers? Chemically treated?
Regarding the property: stone wool is considered safe for health. You can only rule out man-made mineral fibers (MMMF) after an analysis. Modern stone wool does not contain them.
Finally, the question is what health issues have occurred in the past eight years or if there were any with the previous owners?
Regarding the property: stone wool is considered safe for health. You can only rule out man-made mineral fibers (MMMF) after an analysis. Modern stone wool does not contain them.
Finally, the question is what health issues have occurred in the past eight years or if there were any with the previous owners?
Black|| schrieb:That’s what pretty much everyone (rightly) says.
I spoke with my parquet installer back then when he was replacing some planks – he just looked at me completely incredulous: It’s rock wool, so what’s the problem supposed to be?
Hello and thank you very much for your feedback,
I don’t have any detailed information about the insulation material itself, only the old invoice from 1962 indicating basalt wool. I have seen the material, and it really is “basalt gray.” I’m afraid all these old insulation materials are classified as mineral wool fibers (MWF), since there are no exceptions if the material was produced before 2000.
I spoke by phone with the largest manufacturer, Rockwool. They are very knowledgeable about the issue. They confirmed that, at least in the vast majority of cases, stone wool did not contain asbestos—since both materials have basically the same properties (non-combustible, insulating).
I don’t know if the material was treated with any chemicals. After 60 years of use, I would be less concerned about chemical off-gassing. My real concern is the fiber exposure.
No, we have no health issues here, neither with the children nor with us. I’m probably more risk-averse; the tradespeople, including those in my family, always looked at me a bit strangely when I offered them FFP3 masks (which were still unusual back then—I was probably the only one at the start of the pandemic who still had any because of the renovation). The children of the previous owners are also all still healthy in their seventies, which is at least a positive sign 🙂
Kind regards
I don’t have any detailed information about the insulation material itself, only the old invoice from 1962 indicating basalt wool. I have seen the material, and it really is “basalt gray.” I’m afraid all these old insulation materials are classified as mineral wool fibers (MWF), since there are no exceptions if the material was produced before 2000.
I spoke by phone with the largest manufacturer, Rockwool. They are very knowledgeable about the issue. They confirmed that, at least in the vast majority of cases, stone wool did not contain asbestos—since both materials have basically the same properties (non-combustible, insulating).
I don’t know if the material was treated with any chemicals. After 60 years of use, I would be less concerned about chemical off-gassing. My real concern is the fiber exposure.
No, we have no health issues here, neither with the children nor with us. I’m probably more risk-averse; the tradespeople, including those in my family, always looked at me a bit strangely when I offered them FFP3 masks (which were still unusual back then—I was probably the only one at the start of the pandemic who still had any because of the renovation). The children of the previous owners are also all still healthy in their seventies, which is at least a positive sign 🙂
Kind regards
B
Benutzer20030 Oct 2021 12:53Today, the prevailing opinion and practical approach to such "legacy issues" is: if properly installed, just leave them undisturbed. Fibers do not simply detach on their own.
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