Changing Conceptions About Insulation System Maintenance<\/b><\/p>\n
Insulation must first be properly designed and installed Making the Rounds<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n A A compromised joint can enable Any hole, compromising dent, or instance of corrosion should Situational By Foot Traffic<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n An Solutions here could range from high compressive strength Elsewhere in the system, vertical runs that do not share the Ultraviolet (UV) Another Right Thought, An On a chilled water line, something as small as a few staple Proper Maintenance This challenges traditional prevalent thought of mechanical Today’s insulation awareness brings a Another sustainability aspect is the healthfulness of the With commercial and industrial insulation, energy and cost The Simply put, an insulation system that hasn’t been well While it may sound like common sense, \u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Changing Conceptions About Insulation System Maintenance Insulation must first be properly designed and installed by a professional or the consequences can be costly. Even then, insulation is often seen as an “install-and-forget” item in both commercial and industrial facilities. However, that apathy could become expensive if a lack of maintenance results in an energy-inefficient process,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":[72],"featured_media":0,"template":"","categories":[298,24,23,26,301,21,297],"class_list":["post-6925","articles","type-articles","status-publish","hentry","category-installation","category-contracting","category-condensation-control","category-corrosion","category-design","category-business-managment","category-basic-understanding","author-scott-miller"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nby a professional or the consequences can be costly. Even then, insulation is
\noften seen as an “install-and-forget” item in both commercial and industrial
\nfacilities. However, that apathy could become expensive if a lack of
\nmaintenance results in an energy-inefficient process, the need for new
\nmechanical components, or a safety hazard. By monitoring the integrity of an
\ninsulation system, facility managers and engineers help ensure desired system
\nperformance, reduced energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions, and a safe
\nenvironment for personnel.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n
\nsimple yet under utilized measure that goes a long way toward preserving
\ninsulation system health is a regular inspection schedule. It is critically
\nimportant that insulated systems are inspected. Beyond visual inspections,
\ninfrared technology can be used to spot compromised locations along an
\ninsulated system. Dents or other significant impressions along the surface of
\nan insulated line?from foot traffic, dropped tools, or some other
\nfactor?threaten the integrity of the insulation, especially at crucial
\ncircumferential and longitudinal joints.<\/span><\/p>\n
\ncondensation or allow penetration of outside contaminants like chlorides. The
\nresult is corrosion and safety risk due to contents under pressure. Any ingress
\nof fresh or salt water fosters corrosive conditions, which requires thinking
\nabout process safety.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nbe remediated immediately. Damaged or wet insulation reduces the thermal
\nefficiency of the insulation system.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nAwareness<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n
\nunderstanding factors contributing to the health of the insulation system, you
\ncan prevent damage to the system, extend its durability, and create value. This
\nis also where visual inspections come into play. System design factors should
\nreflect a focus on areas that may be exposed to more physical abuse, such as
\nthe aforementioned dents or other damage resulting from foot traffic.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nengineering process should designate these areas of high traffic or physical
\nabuse as suitable locations for installing a more reinforced insulation
\nassembly. Higher compression insulation\/jacket solutions should be used for
\nareas visibly affected by or exposed to traffic, such as horizontal runs that
\nare walked on as workers access a process line.<\/span><\/p>\n
\ninsulation materials such as calcium silicate and perlite to molded,
\nheavy-density products that have abuse-resistant jackets. Protective structures
\ncan be erected over high-traffic locations to allow for access without standing
\nor walking on mechanical insulation systems.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nsame prospect for potential physical abuse can be engineered with the
\nappropriate insulation application. <\/span><\/p>\n
\nLight Damage <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n
\nfactor that can speed degradation of insulation is UV light. This is further
\nreason to inspect lines that have direct exposure to UV light. Even with
\nintegrated UV resistance, any organically derived material will degrade under
\nthe effects of direct UV ray exposure. Most people consider this for exterior
\napplications but forget about interior applications that can be exposed to
\nwindows and UV light. If you are using one of the few products affected by UV
\nlight, make sure that it is protected by coating or a jacket, and is regularly
\nexamined and maintained. <\/span><\/p>\n
\nWrong Habit <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n
\nunfortunate scenario we have seen or heard about too many times is
\nunnecessarily stapling a self-sealing lap, even with today’s most advanced
\ninsulation jacketing systems. While the intention may be to ensure integrity,
\nthe opposite effect is created.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nholes can compromise the insulation vapor retarder and result in moisture
\npropagation, potential corrosion, and mold growth. <\/span><\/p>\n
\nMaintenance Creates Sustainability Benefits <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n
\nawareness is creating more opportunities to bring in sustainability at the
\nmechanical process level. With the trend toward viewing the building as a whole
\nsystem with respect to efficiency and economic opportunity, the drive for
\nenergy savings means more awareness of the correct level of performance for
\nmechanical insulation.<\/span><\/p>\n
\ninsulation as an install-and-forget building component. The NIA has estimated
\nthat maintenance of industrial facility insulation could generate $3.7 billion
\nin energy savings annually. Research from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
\nIndustrial Technologies Program also found that mechanical insulation
\nimprovements resulted in an approximate 9- to 12-month payback period for
\nplants of varying sizes when it came to process heating and steam systems. The
\nDOE estimates that between 10 and 30 percent of all mechanical insulation is
\nmissing or damaged. Mechanical insulation provides great opportunities in both
\nthe commercial and industrial sectors for energy and financial savings. <\/span><\/p>\n
\nclear opportunity with energy resources. Nearly a third of the energy consumed
\nin the United States is used for industry, compared to 40 percent for buildings
\nand 28 percent for transportation. While energy policy is often focused on
\ntransportation, real energy savings gains can be made in the industrial and
\nbuilding sectors.<\/span><\/p>\n
\ninsulation products themselves. As more specifiers and property owners gain
\ninterest in indoor air quality, products that are formaldehyde-free or
\ncertified by Greenguard play a role in enhancing sustainability. If a
\nlow-emitting environmental strategy is in place for a building, one should
\nconsider the insulation in the mechanical area that is the heart of the
\nstructure’s ventilation system.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nsavings are enjoying more consideration beyond the simple enablement of system
\nprocesses. In under-performing or compromised insulation scenarios, evolving to
\nan optimized insulation system will significantly reduce energy costs.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nBottom Line<\/span><\/b><\/a><\/p>\n
\nmaintained isn’t working properly. It does not give the performance you believe
\nit to be delivering. If it’s an industrial process, you might be adding
\nsignificantly more “fuel to the fire” to transfer required energy from point A
\nto point B. The same problem exists in a commercial building when, for example,
\nmoving conditioned air from the basement to the 50th floor. Poorly or
\nunmaintained insulation is a waste of money and energy.<\/span><\/p>\n
\ninsulation system maintenance requires a conscious effort. A lack of inspection
\nand maintenance increases the potential for problems, either with performance
\nor corrosion. Mitigating corrosion risk should be a constant thought.
\nEverything from process delivery to physical safety correlates to ongoing,
\noptimized insulation performance.<\/span><\/p>\n