Looking for a Heraklith Alternative? Wood Wool Acoustic Panels Compared

If you specify acoustic ceilings or walls in Europe, Heraklith (now part of Knauf Insulation) is one of the first wood wool board names that comes up, alongside Troldtekt. It is a long-established, well-documented product. But it is not the only wood wool cement board (WWCB) on the market, and for many projects an equivalent alternative delivers the same acoustic and fire performance at better value. This guide explains what WWCB really is, what to check before switching, and where Sonablock fits.

What is wood wool cement board (WWCB)?

WWCB is made from long-strand wood wool (usually spruce) bound with a mineral binder. Heraklith offers both magnesite-bound and cement-bound variants; Sonablock, Troldtekt and CEWOOD are Portland-cement bound. The mineral binder makes the board dimensionally stable, moisture-tolerant and free of VOC off-gassing, while the open fibrous surface absorbs sound at mid and high frequencies. It is the material behind most wood wool acoustic ceilings you see in schools, sports halls and offices.

What actually matters when choosing a WWCB supplier

Architects rarely ask who is cheapest, but whether they can specify it without risk. The real comparison points are:

• Fire rating. Look for a documented classification to EN 13501-1. Standard Sonablock is certified Class B-s1,d0 (low smoke, no flaming droplets), suitable for escape routes and public buildings. Where a project mandates non-combustible, the Sonablock FireSafe series is classified A2-s1,d0 in accordance with EN 13168:2012+A1:2015, available across all formats and thicknesses. FireSafe is not listed online yet, so request it through the contact form.
• Acoustic data, quoted on a stated build-up. An absorption coefficient means little without the construction it was measured on. Sonablock reaches αw 0.60 to 0.65, Absorption Class C, tested to EN ISO 354 by RISE Research Institutes of Sweden (report O100282), as a bare panel with a 200 mm air gap. As with all WWCB, absorption rises substantially with mineral wool in the cavity, and published data across the category shows Class A build-ups achieved that way. A headline "up to 1.00" from any manufacturer refers to a composite build-up, not a bare board.
• Certifications. CE marking, an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) and PEFC/FSC chain of custody are what get a product through specification. Sonablock holds CE, EPD (EPD-IES-0031288) and PEFC (BMCERT-PEFC-COC-00175).
• Sizes and finishes. Check available thicknesses, panel sizes and colours. Sonablock comes in 15 mm and 25 mm (35 mm on request), in sizes up to 2400 × 600 mm, three fibre textures and five colours, plus custom RAL/NCS and printed panels.
• Binder type. Cement-bound boards like Sonablock are robust and moisture-tolerant. If a Heraklith specification calls out a specific binder or edge detail, match it during design.
• Supply and lead time. Many WWCB brands run on quote-request only. A distributor with transparent prices and stock production shortens the process.

How Sonablock compares

Sonablock is a WWCB made in Latvia by Stiga RM on one of Europe's most modern production lines, with AI-assisted quality control on every board. On the points above it is directly comparable to the established brands: same material class, documented fire and acoustic performance, an A2 classified option for strict fire requirements, and a full certification set. The practical differences are commercial: Wall Panels Pro shows transparent per-panel prices online, offers a project calculator to size an order yourself, and ships across the EU on pallets, with container freight worldwide on request. For standard sizes there is no industrial quote barrier.

Switching an existing Heraklith specification

Because WWCB products use the same installation methods (adhesive plus mechanical fixings, optional air gap and mineral wool for low-frequency absorption), substitution is usually straightforward at design stage. Match thickness, fire class and the acoustic build-up to the original specification, confirm the colour, and request samples before ordering. For larger projects we supply the documentation pack (CE, EPD, fire and acoustic certificates) that specifiers need.

Next steps

Use the Sonablock project calculator to estimate panels and pallets for your surface, explore the Sonablock range, or contact us for samples, the full documentation pack, FireSafe A2 enquiries, or project and export pricing. We deliver across Europe and arrange FCL/LCL container freight worldwide.