NIA's Insulation Standards
The National Insulation Association (NIA) and the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) have partnered to facilitate the development of standards in areas related to mechanical insulation in the commercial and industrial markets.
This includes thermal, acoustical, and personnel safety requirements in mechanical piping and equipment in hot and cold applications; heating, venting, and air conditioning (HVAC) applications; refrigeration and other low-temperature piping and equipment applications; and metal building insulation. NIA is an authority in the mechanical insulation sector and AMPP aims to foster a unified approach to industry standards and elevate corrosion control standards.
AMPP/NIA Joint Standards Committee 27 (SC 27), Mechanical Insulation
As a result of this partnership, a joint NIA/AMPP Standards Committee (SC), SC 27, Mechanical Insulation, has been established to:
Develop and maintain standards, guides, and reports related to mechanical insulation for industrial, commercial, marine, or consumer application. This includes mechanical insulation systems encompassing thermal, acoustical, and personnel safety requirements in mechanical piping and equipment for hot and cold applications; heating, venting, and air conditioning (HVAC) applications, refrigeration and other low-temperature piping and equipment applications, and metal building insulation.
The following topics are not in the scope of this committee: corrosion under insulation, fireproofing other than thermal insulation used as fire protection, insulative coatings, fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) in protective and structural applications, cathodic protection of insulated assets, pipeline protection, linings, and immersion service and subsea insulation.
The committee will be hosted within AMPP’s standards program. AMPP Standards Committees (SCs) allow committee members to share subject matter expertise, expand and enhance their relationships with industry professionals, and make a lasting impact on industry. AMPP SCs are responsible for the generation, publishing, and maintenance of all AMPP products that require a consensus-driven process.
SC 27 Leadership
Jeff DeGraaf, NIA Consultant, SC 27 Chair, jdegraaf@insulation.org
Scott Sinclair, Johns Manville, SC 27 Vice Chair, Scott.Sinclair@jm.com
Michael Pardo, S&B Engineers and Constructors, SC 27 Secretary, mjpardo@sbec.com
Insulation Standards Development Process
The suggested development of these Insulation Standards will start with NIA and include an initial draft, subject to an arduous review process through the NIA's Standards Committee and its Working Groups.* Once complete, NIA will submit the draft standard to AMPP SC 27 for its review process. Suggested projects for SC 27 to consider can also originate from AMPP members or other industry stakeholders. At the end of that process, the draft of the AMPP Insulation Standard will be approved by the AMPP’s Standards Program Committee (SPC).
*Initial drafts of Insulation Standards are in development by NIA’s Standard Committee, which consist of NIA members from the contracting, fabrication, and manufacturing segments, and will be subject to consensus approval by multiple groups, and ultimately a Standards Review Committee consisting of members of the NIA Technical Information Committee and subject to approval by NIA’s Board of Directors.
Current Standards in Development
Two initial standards are currently in development and designated by SC 27 as:
- SP21594: Installation Procedures – Flashing Sealant (Flashing) of Protrusions in Mechanical Insulation Systems
- SP21595: Installation Procedures – Insulation Joint Sealant for Rigid Mechanical Insulation Systems
The following standards are being considered for the next round of drafts (not in order):
- Definition of acceptable tight joint width (above- and below-ambient systems);
- Longitudinal joint location by insulation layer;
- Caulking procedures and selection criteria;
- Repair and replacement procedures (above- and below-ambient system by product type);
- Development of mechanical insulation “function codes”;
- Vapor stops (dams) installation procedures; and
- Flexible – fiber glass duct wrap (installation).
Participation Opportunities
For questions about joining NIA’s Standard Committee and Working Groups, please contact Jeff DeGraaf.
To join the AMPP Standards Committee 27 (SC 27), click here for instructions.
Questions?
For more information about NIA’s Insulation Standards, please contact Kristin DiDomenico, Vice President, NIA at kdidomenico@insulation.org.
For information about participating in the AMPP Standards Committee 27 (SC 27) or for assistance setting up an account in the AMPP portal, please contact customersupport@ampp.org.