Transforming IMU Campus with High-Performance Acoustic Insulation

Summary

IMU, a premier private learning institution located in one of Malaysia’s Technology Parks, is undergoing a substantial upgrade to meet the dynamic educational needs of its students. When completed, this four-storey campus will feature state-of-the-art facilities, including lecture halls, meeting rooms, social spaces, a library, conference rooms, and offices. The goal of this project is to enhance the learning environment by significantly improving the acoustic performance and energy efficiency of the campus buildings. Central to this upgrade was the specification of the Knauf partition wall system with Knauf Insulation glasswool as the mineral wool infill, providing a comprehensive solution for superior sound absorption, thermal comfort, and non-combustibility, essential for an optimal educational setting.

For institutions like IMU, where energy costs are substantial, implementing energy-efficient solutions is essential for achieving high performance. The transition from conventional glasswool products to Knauf Insulation glasswool was aimed at delivering superior standard of sound absorption and thermal efficiency, while reducing energy consumption, leading to considerable cost savings and promoting a more sustainable campus environment.

What was the challenge?

The IMU Campus Refurbishment project sought to upgrade the acoustic performance of its campus buildings while maintaining energy efficiency and reducing installation complexity. A critical challenge was to complete the refurbishment within a tight timeframe and budget while achieving high Sound Transmission Class (STC) ratings to ensure an optimal learning environment for up to 1,000 students. Addressing the issues with conventional glass mineral wool insulation, such as excessive dust, itchiness during installation, and the cumbersome process of pin fixing and securing, was essential.

What was the solution?

Knauf Insulation Glasswool was selected for its superior performance and ease of installation. Unlike conventional products, Knauf Insulation Glasswool is uniquely designed without the need for additional fixing and significantly simplifying the installation process. Its advanced compression packaging allows up to ten times more insulation per pack, reducing transportation and handling requirements. The product's softness, low dust, and easy cutting enhance efficiency. The unfaced roll product, with 600mm width, fits seamlessly into metal frame cavities, minimizing extra cutting and adapting well to wall heights from 3.9 to 5.5 meters. This makes installation faster and more efficient, even with noggings for high walls.

Why Knauf Insulation?

The IMU Campus Refurbishment project specified the Knauf partition wall system, incorporating Knauf Insulation as the glasswool infill, achieving wall system performance with STC ratings of 35 – 48 dB. This comprehensive ‘one company solution’ includes Knauf Sheetrock Standardcore, Knauf Sheetrock Impactstop with Rondo metal framing, and Knauf Insulation Partition Roll, 16kg/m³ density, 50mm thickness, and 600 x 15000mm.

Knauf Insulation Glasswool delivers outstanding acoustic performance and thermal efficiency, essential for the comfort of educational environments with high indoor occupancy. It optimizes energy use for air-conditioning, enhancing overall comfort while contributing to significant energy savings.

Made from up to 80% recycled glass and featuring ECOSE® Technology—a sustainable, plant-based binder free of added formaldehyde—Knauf Insulation Glasswool meets the highest standards for health and environmental safety. Certified as “Red List Free” by DECLARE, Eurofins Indoor Air Quality with Gold standard, and achieving Global GreenTag™ Level A certification, it underscores Knauf Insulation’s commitment to sustainability, transparency, and performance.