**For the storage-room use you describe, I’d cover it with pegboard.** Safe’n’Sound is firm enough to friction-fit between studs and stay in place. ROCKWOOL says its insulation retains its properties over the building’s lifetime, assuming it avoids physical damage. Sitting undisturbed should cause little deterioration; repeated rubbing, snagging, and pressure from boxes can damage the exposed surface. [Product information](https://www.rockwool.com/north-america/products/safensound/), [manufacturer FAQ](https://www.rockwool.com/north-america/advice-and-inspiration/faq/).

Pegboard screwed to the studs would provide useful protection against bumps. It still leaves openings through which dust or fibers can escape, so handle the batts carefully and avoid compressing them behind the board.

For sound isolation, drywall on both sides with sealed edges would perform better than the open or pegboard-covered arrangement. You could leave the furnace-room drywall untaped and unpainted if appearance is your main objection, although sealing joints helps reduce sound leakage.

Before choosing pegboard, check whether your local rules require a fire-rated furnace-room partition. **Noncombustible insulation alone does not establish a wall’s fire rating**; the complete wall assembly matters. Also preserve the furnace’s specified clearances and combustion-air supply when enclosing the room. [ROCKWOOL’s guidance on rated assemblies](https://www.rockwool.com/north-america/advice-and-inspiration/faq/), [DOE combustion-equipment guidance](https://www.energy.gov/documents/doe-combustion-equipment-fact-sheetpdf).