An R&D facility designed for precision
In 2025, ROCKWOOL Group, the world leader in stone wool solutions, inaugurated a new state-of-the-art acoustic development laboratory at its headquarters in Hedehusene, Denmark.
For ROCKWOOL and its operating companies, the new laboratory strengthens in-house testing capabilities across multiple application areas and enables a more efficient product testing pipeline, accelerated prototyping, and improved research quality.
The 550-square-metre facility enables precise testing and demonstrations that highlight the noise control performance of stone wool – the versatile and high-performing natural material at the core of all ROCKWOOL businesses. For Rockfon specifically, it supports the development and validation of interior solutions such as acoustic ceiling tiles and ceiling baffles where a stone wool core plays the key role in acoustic performance.
Engineered for flexibility and accuracy
From the early planning stages, the aim was to build a one-of-a-kind in-house R&D laboratory, capable of conducting both internal tests for product development and accredited third-party assessments for certified documentation. To both meet and exceed international testing standards, the new facility would need purpose-built environments, the highest-tech equipment, and well-trained experts who can carry out the work to the highest levels of competence and reliability.
That level of ambition brought complexity. From tender and design logistics to acoustic engineering and civil works, dozens of technical decisions shaped every phase of the project. The project involved close collaboration with leading Danish partners, including NIRAS for laboratory design, LANGVAD Aps ARKITEKTER for architecture, and Hoffmann as general contractor.
One of the most technically demanding phases was the construction of vibration-isolated test rooms. From prefabricated concrete floors to room-to-room damping systems, each element was engineered to meet strict acoustic tolerances.
ROCKWOOL constructed the new laboratory using its own portfolio of high-performance products. From the exterior Rockpanel façades to interior partitions and Rockfon ceiling systems, the lab itself showcases the role stone wool products play in creating world-class sound environments.
Inside, the lab features:
- Reverberation chamber for sound absorption measurement
- High-precision equipment and data acquisition systems
- Floating test rooms mounted on vibration dampers
- Dedicated setups for airborne and structure-borne sound testing
- Modular linings, partitions, sandwich panel mounts, and more
· Modular linings, partitions, sandwich panel mounts, and more
Designed as a modular space with interchangeable wall, ceiling, and floor elements, the laboratory can be adapted to a wide range of test scenarios. This allows simulations that closely reflect real-world use conditions.
Simulating real-world conditions
Tests can now be tailored to simulate conditions such as degradation, reuse, and performance at end-of-life stages. This supports informed decision-making and helps customers design for performance and circularity with greater confidence.
Acoustic performance is one of the many strengths of stone wool. Whether it’s preventing flanking transmission in timber-frame homes or achieving sound absorption in offshore ceilings, measurable and repeatable sound performance plays a vital role in many ROCKWOOL products and all Rockfon stone wool solutions.
The tests that can be carried out in the lab include:
- Sound insulation: Airborne sound testing for walls, façades, ceilings, and doors, and structure-borne sound testing for floors, slabs, and pipe systems
- Sound absorption: Ceilings, linings, and offshore ceiling solutions
- Flanking transmission: Structural junctions, facade connections, and panelled systems
"The new ROCKWOOL acoustic laboratory offers a highly controlled environment that significantly accelerates the prototyping process while providing deeper insight into the acoustic performance of new materials and systems," explains Rasmus Gottrup Barfod, Section Manager Fire and Acoustic Laboratories at ROCKWOOL. "By conducting tests under consistent and repeatable conditions, we can generate data-driven results."
Advancing research and testing capabilities
The modular facility sits next to ROCKWOOL’s chemistry and physical materials laboratories and close to the fire laboratory, creating strong logistical and research synergies. It allows ROCKWOOL to better serve customers and shape the next generation of high-performance building solutions, including Rockfon acoustic systems.
In addition to faster testing and development cycles, the lab can help the Group offer more technical documentation, whitepapers, and performance summaries that customers can use to strengthen the credibility of their own systems and services.
For Rockfon, the laboratory strengthens the ability to validate performance and deliver innovative acoustic solutions with confidence. In bringing additional advanced testing capabilities in-house, Rockfon reinforces its commitment to long-term performance across a wide portfolio of interior solutions.
