Understanding Pipe Insulation – Industrial pipe insulation provides a barrier between the contents of a pipe and the outside environment, which is especially essential in buildings where iron, copper, CPVC, PVC, and stainless steel pipe temperatures can range from 0° F to 1,000° F. (-18 °C to 538°C). Industrial pipe insulation plays a crucial role in a building’s efficiency, safety, durability and indoor environmental quality (IEQ).
Ensuring the long-term integrity of the insulation and pipe requires several essential steps before and after applying the insulation:
Understanding Pipe Insulation
The 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC C403.12.3) requires insulation for piping associated with a heating or cooling system that carries a fluid with an operating temperature of 105°F or more, or 60°F or less. In addition, you must protect the weather-exposed insulated pipe from sunlight, moisture and wind, which can damage and reduce the effectiveness of the insulation.
Guidance On Pipe Insulation For Home Heating Systems 2023
Fortunately, it provides all the products you need to protect piping against corrosion, heat loss, moisture and weather damage: Corrosion Control Gel RG-2400, PolyPhen® Phenolic Insulation, DuPont™ Styrofoam™ XPS PIB Billets, Insulrap 30 NG, Alumaguard® Lite , ZEROPERM ® film, VaporGuard™ Butyl Tape, and InsulShield™ Outerwrap™.
Using a brush, PVC chemical gloves, or a roller, apply a thick layer of RG-2400 to clean, rust- and debris-free pipe until you can no longer see the metal. For large pipes or vessels, you can directly apply the RG-2400. For large pipes, we also recommend installing our mesh fabric before applying the insulation and vapor barrier.
Has a series of products to stop CUI that will meet the specific needs of your industry:
PolyPhen® Phenolic insulation, installed over the RG-2400, will effectively stop the flow of heat and steam to and from the pipe. Computerized cutting technology from specialty manufacturers significantly improves the value of an insulation system by ensuring consistent tightness for PolyPhen® Phenolic Insulation applications.
Kingdder 6 Pcs Pipe Insulation Foam Tube Self Adhesive Pipe Insulation Wrap Freezing Aluminum Foil Pipe Insulated Foam Protection 15mm T
Environmentally safe, flame-resistant, closed cell PolyPhen® offers a range of rigid foam, insulation densities designed for commercial and industrial applications such as piping, vessels, tanks and pipeline. With thermal conductivities ranging from 0.17 – 0.24 Btu in/(hr ft2), you can apply PolyPhen® closed cell insulation to insulate surfaces operating in the temperature range from -290° F to +250° F (-180° C to +). 120°C). The insulation thickness varies depending on the pipe temperature.
Phenolic materials result from a reaction when solids, phenolic resin and surfactant are mixed to create a network of bubbles cured into closed cell foam, improving its thermal and moisture resistance compared to open cell foam.
Apply a vapor layer: Insulrap 30 NG, Alumaguard, or ZEROPERM® films over the insulation to control moisture infiltration. For smaller jobs, use VaporGuard™ Butyl Tape.
In conjunction with our RG-2400 on insulated pipes, it is recommended to apply our zero-permanency rated flexible coatings and vapor barrier products: Insulrap™, Alumaguard®, and ZEROPERM® films. Vapor barriers over insulated piping, especially cold systems or high humidity conditions such as the Gulf Coast region, help delay the passage of moisture vapor from the atmosphere to the insulation, ensuring the integrity and function of the mechanical piping system.
The Perfect Fit: How To Choose The Right Size Pipe Insulation
Refrigeration, cryogenic and chemical processing applications typically use our original self-healing vapor barrier membrane, Insulrap™ 30 NG. Low-permanence, Insulrap™ 30 NG consists of a hard polymer film covered with a layer of rubberized asphalt specially formulated specifically for this application.
You can use Insulrap™ 30 NG in burial applications if covered with a mechanical jacket. However, refer to the data sheets for Insulrap™ 50 NG or Insulrap™ NG 125 “No Torch” for direct burial applications.
Insulrap™ 30 NG has several features that help save labor and material costs compared to mastic/fab/mast liners:
The weather-resistant, energy-saving and flexible Alumaguard® coating of zero permanent permanent stops moisture, air and steam intrusions into the insulation on external pipeline, refrigeration and chilled water pipe, tanks, vessels and equipment.
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Alumaguard® self-heals small punctures, resists ultraviolet (UV) rays, expands and contracts with the underlying substrates, and provides superior emissivity and sound-attenuation (STC 18) properties. Bright white Alumaguard® Cool Wrap™ meets CA Title 24, CRRC and ENERGY STAR requirements.
You can easily apply, peel and stick Alumaguard® to rigid insulation on outdoor piping and duct systems or clean and dry bare metal ducts.
ZeroPerm® vapor barrier provides all types of insulation with maximum moisture protection in sub-ambient, sub-freezing, and cryogenic applications on pipes, ducts or vessel systems. ZEROPERM’s 3 sheet composite membrane consists of a white 0.5 mil polyester film, 1.0 mil aluminum foil, and one 0.5 mil transparent polyester film. The foil creates zero permeability, while the polyester layers protect the foil and provide the white finish, durability and tear resistance. A manufacturer typically installs ZEROPERM in the factory; however, you can also install it in the field.
For smaller jobs, VaporGuard™ Butyl Tape (a non-curing elastomer) stops moisture infiltration down the pipe and into sub-freeze insulation systems at end and insulation joints. It provides superior cold temperature flexibility down to -20º F. In addition, easy-to-use VaporGuard™ Tape has a removable release paper backing to speed application.
Tubolit Self Seal 1 1/2 In. Ips X 1/2 In. Polyethylene Foam Pipe Insulation 96 Lineal Feet/carton Dgs11012
InsulShield™ Outerwrap by Insulrap™ protects vapor barriers in direct burial applications in harsh rocky areas. Made from recycled fabric geotextile, InsulShield™ absorbs soil stress, provides an additional 400 psi of puncture protection and moves moisture from the surface of the insulation to the outside of the outer casing.
The design of InsulShield™ allows for placement over insulation and waterproofing membrane systems prior to backfill operations, protecting the membrane from before and during construction. InsulShield™ enables the engineer to substitute clean, rock-free fill for the more expensive sand fill.
Products are a superior solution to create a barrier between the contents of a pipe and the external environment, stop pipe corrosion, heat loss, condensation and external damage – essential to protect the integrity of the pipe, the performance of insulation and the energy efficiency, safety, durability of a building . , and IEQ. There are two construction practices related to plumbing and insulation that are helpful for inspectors to know when conducting home inspections:
Placing water pipes in external walls should be avoided. If pipes are located in exterior walls, in addition to insulating the pipe, the homeowner must ensure that as much cavity insulation as possible is installed between the pipe and the outer surface of the wall. In cold climates, having pipes in unconditioned attics should be avoided. The picture above is of uninsulated water supply pipes in an unconditioned basement.
Please Help Try To Identify This Old Pipe Insulation And Tape
Insulated water pipes can save energy by minimizing heat loss through the piping. Insulating pipes will reduce the risk of condensation forming on the pipes, which can lead to mold and moisture damage. Pipe insulation can protect the pipes from freezing and cracking in the winter, which can cause considerable damage to the walls of the home and result in significant home repair bills for the homeowner. Studies by the Building America program of the Department of Energy (DOE) have shown that distribution heat loss in uninsulated hot water pipes can vary from 16% to 23%, depending on the climate. Adding 3/4-inch pipe insulation can decrease overall hot water energy use by 4% to 5% annually.
The best practice is to avoid having water pipes located in exterior walls or through unheated attics. It is preferable to have plumbing lines lined up with interior walls. If pipes are located in external walls, the pipes must be insulated. To further protect the pipes from heat loss, the wall cavity containing the pipes should be air-sealed by caulking or foaming all joints between the back wall of the cavity and the framing, and sealing any holes through the framing for the piping. In addition, cavity insulation must be installed behind the pipes, between the pipes and the outer wall.
If the house has a hydro (steam or hot water) heating system, heat loss can be reduced up to 90% by insulating the steam distribution and return pipes, which provides a quick return on investment.
Pipe insulation is available in several forms: tubular pipe sleeves; spiral insulating wrap; and fiberglass batts that can be taped around the pipes. If installed correctly, all three can be effective.
How Does Pipe Insulation Works? And What Are Its Types
Tubular tubing sleeves are made from flexible closed-cell polyethylene or neoprene foam and come pre-cut with a longitudinal seam for easy installation. Some pipe covers come with adhesive strips already attached to either side of the slot. Homeowners can simply peel off the plastic coverings and compress them. There are different diameters of sleeves available to accommodate the various sizes of pipes, so it is important to measure the pipes before purchasing the sleeves and match the outside diameter of the pipe with the inside diameter of the pipe sleeve to ensure a good fit.
Spiral insulation wrap can be made of fiberglass, foil or polyethylene foam. The homeowner can simply unwrap the material and wrap it around the hot and cold water pipes. Pipes can also be wrapped with fiberglass insulation. The fiberglass can come with a vapor barrier facing on one side, or the plastic can be purchased and wrapped around the pipes after the fiberglass insulation is installed. Gloves, goggles, and a dust mask must be worn when installing fiberglass insulation.
Above: Pipe pipe insulation sleeves come with a pre-cut seam, making them easy to wrap around the pipes and seal.
Above: Wrap batt insulation around the pipe loosely enough not to compress