Industrial Pipe Insulation: 3 Best Materials for Your…

Industrial pipe insulation is crucial for the optimal performance and long-term viability of any piping system. It serves multiple purposes, including energy conservation, and maintaining fluid temperature, frost protection, and reducing noise. This article will provide the details needed to help make an informed decision.

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The Importance of Pipe Insulation

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Energy Conservation

Industrial pipe insulation helps to minimize heat loss or gain, which results in significant energy savings. By maintaining an optimal temperature, it reduces the energy required to heat or cool the fluid inside the pipe.

Protection Against Extreme Temperatures

Commercial water pipe insulation helps maintain fluid temperatures, to protect pipes from the damage caused by freezing in cold environments or overheating in high-temperature conditions.

Noise Reduction

Insulation can also reduce noise produced by the fluid movement through pipes, for a quieter working environment.

Key Industrial Pipe Insulation Materials

Mineral Wool

Mineral wool pipe insulation is a highly effective insulating material often used in industrial and commercial settings. Made of spun mineral fibers, it provides excellent thermal performance, by reducing heat loss or gain in piping systems to enhance energy efficiency.

In addition, it&#;s resistant to high temperatures and fire, which makes it an excellent choice for applications involving hot processes or for fire safety purposes.

Mineral wool insulation also boasts excellent sound absorption properties, which can help in reducing noise transmission in piping systems. It is resistant to water, rot, and mold, which increases its longevity and durability in a variety of environments.

Given its unique combination of attributes, mineral wool pipe insulation is an indispensable tool in the maintenance of effective, safe, and efficient piping systems.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass pipe insulation is a widely utilized material, known for its superior insulating properties. Made from fine strands of glass that are woven together into a heat-resistant blanket, fiberglass insulation is an efficient solution for reducing heat transfer in piping systems for energy efficiency.

In addition to its thermal advantages, fiberglass pipe insulation is lightweight, resilient, and cost-effective, which makes it a popular choice across residential, commercial, and industrial applications.

Its moisture resistance also helps prevent pipe corrosion and reduces the risk of mold growth. Despite its many benefits, care should be taken during the installation process due to the potential for skin irritation from the tiny glass shards. With proper handling and installation, fiberglass pipe insulation remains a critical tool for optimizing the performance of a vast array of piping systems.

Polyisocyanurate (PIR)

Polyisocyanurate, often referred to as PIR, is a type of thermoset plastic commonly used in pipe insulation for its excellent thermal performance. PIR pipe insulation is renowned for its high resistance to heat flow, which translates to improved energy efficiency in heating and cooling systems.

Its structure provides superior dimensional stability and compressive strength, which makes it suitable for various demanding industrial applications.

PIR insulation exhibits a high degree of resistance to fire, which makes it a safe choice in environments where fire safety is a priority. Despite its relatively higher cost compared to other insulation materials, the long-term energy savings and enhanced safety characteristics make polyisocyanurate a worthwhile investment for insulating piping systems.

Selecting the Right Insulation

Choosing the right insulation depends on various factors, including:

The temperature range the system operates within

• The pipe material
• The surrounding environment
• Regulatory requirements
• The need for fire resistance&#;

Buckaroos&#; Insulated Pipe Solutions

Buckaroos, Inc. offers a diverse array of industrial pipe insulation tools and materials:

Cool Dry Insulated Pipe Supports

The CoolDry&#; Insulated Saddle made by Buckaroos is a highly-rated saddle system for commercial piping systems that can handle temperatures up to 250°F. It uses a strong phenolic foam pipe Insulation, with a 3.75 PCF rating for piping under 10&#; iron pipe size and 5 PCF rating for larger pipes between 11&#; and 30&#; iron pipe size.

Cool Dry Sliding Pipe Supports

The CoolDry&#; Insulated Sliding Saddles have a sliding saddle feature that allows a certain amount of linear movement at the hanger location, while still keeping the insulation intact. This support system for pipe insulation can handle temperatures from -290°F to +250°F, and removes the need for roller type supports.

Cool Dry Heavy Duty Pipe Supports

If your piping system undergoes frequent expansion and contraction, the CoolDry&#; Heavy Duty Saddle is a great choice. It works well for refrigerated water and cold piping systems, and can be used with roller hangers, trapeze systems, and strut systems. It can also be used outdoors, as long as it&#;s protected from bad weather. Additionally, it meets MSS SP-58, Type 40 shield requirements.

E Insulated Pipe Supports

The Tru-Balance&#; Model E is a top-quality pre-insulated saddle system for commercial piping systems with temperatures up to 300º F. It comes with rigid polyisocyanurate insulation, which is 3 PCF for sizes up to 12&#; IPS and 4 PCF for sizes 13&#; and larger. Additionally, the E features a vapor-retardant facing that doesn&#;t promote mold or fungus growth.

Pipe Insulation in the Industrial Realm

Proper insulation is essential for the efficient operation of industrial piping systems. It not only saves energy, but also extends the lifespan of the system, to reduce maintenance costs, and increase safety.

Let the Experts at Buckaroos Guide You in Making Smart Pipe Insulation Choices

If you&#;re looking for the best insulation solutions for your industrial piping systems, look no further than Buckaroos, Inc.. Our team of experts will guide you in selecting the best insulated piping supports for your project. We offer an array of products, including tools, saddles,and blocks and dowels.

Contact us today to learn more!

Insulating material made from fibers of glass

This article is about the thermal insulation material composed of glass fibers bonded loosely in a way to trap air. For the plastic composite of glass fiber and polymer plastic used as structural reinforcement, see fiberglass . For the glass fiber itself, also sometimes called fiberglass, see glass fiber

Glass wool is an insulating material made from glass fiber arranged using a binder into a texture similar to wool. The process traps many small pockets of air between the glass, and these small air pockets result in high thermal insulation properties. Glass wool is produced in rolls or in slabs, with different thermal and mechanical properties. It may also be produced as a material that can be sprayed or applied in place, on the surface to be insulated. The modern method for producing glass wool was invented by Games Slayter while he was working at the Owens-Illinois Glass Co. (Toledo, Ohio). He first applied for a patent for a new process to make glass wool in .[1]

Principles of function

Gases possess poor thermal conduction properties compared to liquids and solids[2][3] and thus make good insulation material if they can be trapped in materials so that much of the heat that flows through the material is forced to flow through the gas.[4] In order to further augment the effectiveness of a gas (such as air) it may be disrupted into small cells which cannot effectively transfer heat by natural convection. Natural convection involves a larger bulk flow of gas driven by buoyancy and temperature differences, and it does not work well in small gas cells where there is little density difference to drive it, and the high surface area to volume ratios of the small cells retards bulk gas flow inside them by means of viscous drag.

In order to accomplish the formation of small gas cells in man-made thermal insulation, glass and polymer materials can be used to trap air in a foam-like structure. The same principle used in glass wool is used in other man-made insulators such as rock wool, Styrofoam, wet suit neoprene foam fabrics, and fabrics such as Gore-Tex and polar fleece. The air-trapping property is also the insulation principle used in nature in down feathers and insulating hair such as natural wool.

Manufacturing process

Natural sand and recycled glass are mixed and heated to 1,450 °C (2,640 °F), to produce glass. The fiberglass is usually produced by a method similar to making cotton candy. Molten glass is forced through a rapidly spinning metal cup, called a 'spinner'. The centrifugal force pulls the glass through small holes in the spinner. The newly created fibers cool on contact with the air.[5] Cohesion and mechanical strength are obtained by the presence of a binder that &#;cements&#; the fibers together. A drop of binder is placed at each fiber intersection. The fiber mat is then heated to around 200 °C (392 °F) to polymerize the resin and is calendered to give it strength and stability. Finally, the wool mat is cut and packed in rolls or panels, palletized, and stored for use.

Uses

Glass wool is a thermal insulation material consisting of intertwined and flexible glass fibers, which causes it to "package" air, resulting in a low density that can be varied through compression and binder content (as noted above, these air cells are the actual insulator). Glass wool can be a loose-fill material, blown into attics, or together with an active binder, sprayed on the underside of structures, sheets, and panels that can be used to insulate flat surfaces such as cavity wall insulation, ceiling tiles, curtain walls, and ducting. It is also used to insulate piping and for soundproofing.

Fiberglass batts and blankets

Batts are precut, whereas blankets are available in continuous rolls. Compressing the material reduces its effectiveness. Cutting it to accommodate electrical boxes and other obstructions allows air a free path to cross through the wall cavity. One can install batts in two layers across an unfinished attic floor, perpendicular to each other, for increased effectiveness at preventing heat bridging. Blankets can cover joists and studs as well as the space between them. Batts can be challenging and unpleasant to hang under floors between joists; straps, or staple cloth or wire mesh across joists, can hold it up.

Gaps between batts (bypasses) can become sites of air infiltration or condensation (both of which reduce the effectiveness of the insulation) and require strict attention during the installation. By the same token careful weatherization and installation of vapour barriers is required to ensure that the batts perform optimally. Air infiltration can be also reduced by adding a layer of cellulose loose-fill on top of the material.

Health problems

Fiberglass will irritate the eyes, skin, and the respiratory system. Potential symptoms include irritation of eyes, skin, nose, and throat, dyspnea (breathing difficulty), sore throat, hoarseness and cough.[6] Fiberglass used for insulating appliances appears to produce human disease that is similar to asbestosis.[7] Scientific evidence demonstrates that fiberglass is safe to manufacture, install and use when recommended work practices are followed to reduce temporary mechanical irritation.[8] Unfortunately these work practices are not always followed, and fiberglass is often left exposed in basements that later become occupied. Fiberglass insulation should never be left exposed in an occupied area, according to the American Lung Association.

In June , the United States' National Toxicology Program (NTP) removed from its Report on Carcinogens all biosoluble glass wool used in home and building insulation and for non-insulation products.[9] Similarly, California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment ("OEHHA"), in November , published a modification to its Proposition 65 listing to include only "Glass wool fibers (inhalable and biopersistent)."[10] The United States' NTP and California's OEHHA action means that a cancer warning label for biosoluble fiber glass home and building insulation is no longer required under Federal or California law. All fiberglass wools commonly used for thermal and acoustical insulation were reclassified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in October as Not Classifiable as to carcinogenicity to humans (Group 3).[11]

Fiberglass itself is resistant to mold. If mold is found in or on fiberglass it is more likely that the binder is the source of the mold, since binders are often organic and more hygroscopic than the glass wool. In tests, glass wool was found to be highly resistant to the growth of mold. Only exceptional circumstances resulted in mold growth: very high relative humidity, 96% and above, or saturated glass wool, although saturated wool glass will only have moderate growth.[12][13]

See also

References