An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
\nwhen it comes to a properly designed, installed, and maintained pipe insulation
\nsystem. Mechanical insulation failures occur for a variety of reasons,
\nincluding improper design for the application conditions, faulty materials,
\npoor installation techniques, or damage to the insulation. Many of these
\nfailures can be prevented through careful preparation and planning.<\/p>\n
Appropriate design, quality
\nmaterials, and proper installation can drastically reduce the possibility of a
\ncompromised insulation system. Damage should be minimal or nonexistent with the
\nproper selection of materials. A proper design anticipates the stresses and
\nabuse an insulation system will face and specifies an appropriate insulation
\nand jacket. There are a variety of insulation and jacketing choices, but often
\nthe lowest cost product is selected rather than the one that best meets the job
\ncriteria, which may result in system failure down the road.<\/p>\n
All insulation systems require
\na degree of maintenance, and some materials may require considerably more than
\nothers. Insulation systems should always be properly maintained; but, if
\nresources for maintenance will be minimal, then that should be factored into
\nthe material selection and insulation system design. Proper installation of the
\ninsulation system, including planning for the other parts of the construction
\nprocess and the scheduling of other trades, will result in a system that is
\nless vulnerable to damage. Frequently, buildings are not enclosed before
\ninsulation is installed, and the insulation may be exposed to the environment.
\nSimilarly, other aspects of building construction may affect insulation. Thus,
\nengineers and general contractors should consider types of insulation or
\njacketing that can withstand the environment stressors such as higher humidity.
\nAppropriate storage is another important consideration, as materials can become
\nwet or damaged if left exposed at the job site. Again, careful planning and the
\nanticipation of potential issues are key to reducing damage to the insulation.<\/p>\n
The consequences of a damaged
\ninsulation system vary greatly based on whether it is a hot or cold (below
\nambient) system. Damage to a hot system will result in energy loss and possibly
\npipe corrosion, depending on the conditions. Damage will likely be fairly
\nlocalized and manageable if repaired in a timely fashion. Damage to a cold
\nsystem can, and often does, result in a catastrophic failure of the whole
\nsystem, especially if it is not repaired immediately. Damage to a cold system
\nwill usually result in moisture penetration, which can cause a number of
\nissues, including:<\/p>\n
<\/UL><\/p>\n
If damage to the insulation system is not repaired immediately, the <\/UL><\/p>\n While the frequency of problems is probably equal for hot and cold Unfortunately, when failures do occur, it is typical for those involved When looking at materials, All contractors should work An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to a properly designed, installed, and maintained pipe insulation system. Mechanical insulation failures occur for a variety of reasons, including improper design for the application conditions, faulty materials, poor installation techniques, or damage to the insulation. Many of these failures can be<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":[184],"featured_media":0,"template":"","categories":[298,24,23,26,301,29],"class_list":["post-6897","articles","type-articles","status-publish","hentry","category-installation","category-contracting","category-condensation-control","category-corrosion","category-design","category-environmental-control","author-steve-fisher"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nfailure will spread as moisture penetrates to other areas of the insulation.
\nPotential solutions for limiting the extent of an insulation failure on a cold
\nsystem include the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\npermeability, closed cell insulation materials that resist moisture
\nabsorption\/wicking. <\/p>\n
\nand jacketing materials that are mold resistant. If a problem with mold growth
\nis anticipated, materials which meet certain performance requirements such as
\nASTM C1338—08 Standard Test Method for Determining Fungi Resistance of
\nInsulation Materials and Facings or others can be helpful in this area.<\/p>\n
\nthe type of application—e.g., indoor, outdoor, or buried applications. ASTM
\nstandards can be an excellent resource. For example, ASTM C 1423 addresses
\ncriteria for choosing jacketing materials for application over thermal
\ninsulation covering piping, ducts, and equipment. ASTM C 1136 lists several
\njacket options for indoor applications. Furthermore, a specification for
\noutdoor applications is in the works at ASTM Subcommittee C16.40: Insulation
\nSystem under the Laminate Protective Jacket and Tape for Use on Thermal
\nInsulation task group. These examples are by no means all inclusive; vapor
\nretarder jacket selection based on the specifics of a given application will
\nyield the best results. <\/span><\/p>\n
\nperformance criteria for the specific job, and make sure they are properly
\ninstalled—which includes ensuring that workers are trained in how to protect
\nthe integrity of the system during installation. Foot traffic and other
\nphysical abuse can damage many insulation systems and should be considered when
\nselecting materials. It is also important to consider whether the environment
\nis conditioned, as well as the humidity level of the space, as different
\noptions will perform better under different conditions. <\/span><\/p>\n
\nvapor stops on cold systems to isolate insulation sections and limit the
\nfailure caused by a damaged section. <\/p>\n
\nseams, joints, and termination points are secure and moisture tight on the
\nvapor retarder and\/or the insulation. Do not leave any seams or termination
\npoints unsecured or any insulation exposed when leaving a job location at the
\nend of the day. Only install in a day what can also be covered by vapor
\nretarder and jacketing that same day.<\/p>\n
\nmoving on to another section, specifically checking for any open seams,
\ndiscontinuities in the vapor retarder, or problems areas. Immediately repair
\nany areas that need attention.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nouter protective jacket (e.g. aluminum outdoors or PVC indoors) if needed to
\nprotect the insulation system and the vapor retarder from physical abuse.<\/p>\n
\nsystems, the failures most often publicized are those on cold systems—e.g.
\nchilled water—due to their severity. For example, cold systems where the
\nambient space is unconditioned can have a particular concern for the issue of
\nsurface mold, which can result in major problems sometimes culminating in
\nlawsuits and replacement of entire insulation systems. Project types where this
\ncould occur include condominiums, office buildings, dormitories, hotels, sports
\narenas, or convention centers. Lawsuits occurring from system failures can
\nbecome very difficult situations where blame is exchanged between multiple
\nparties—the designer blames the installer, while the installer blames the
\ndesigner, manufacturer, or other trades that may have damaged the insulation
\nwhile they were on the job. Regardless of who is at fault, the failure may have
\nbeen prevented if proper materials were selected in the design stage, better
\ninstallation scheduling and techniques were used, and proper maintenance was
\nfollowed.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nto look for a guilty party rather than consider how the problem may have been
\nprevented. Proper preparation is often all it takes to prevent insulation
\ndamage that can cause a system failure. It is time to approach hot and cold
\nsystems differently by specifying materials that are designed for below ambient
\nconditions on cold systems. This is particularly critical when the insulated
\npipe is located in an unconditioned space. <\/span><\/p>\n
\ndesigners must examine the physical properties of the material—specifically,
\nthe properties of the material as installed. The design should consider the
\nbuilding envelope, building use, maintenance that will be available after the
\njob is completed, as well as the desired energy savings when the building is
\nactually operating. Insulation should be viewed as a way to lower operating
\ncosts and save energy, rather than just a building expense. <\/p>\n
\ntogether, allowing each trade to do its job while keeping in mind how their
\nactions will affect the entire project. The insulation contractor should use
\nthe best installation techniques available—those that not only save time, but
\nalso ensure performance and reliability. If they do follow these protocols,
\nthey should be able to produce cold insulation systems that operate effectively
\nand without errors.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"