NIA's Insulation Standard Practices
The National Insulation Association (NIA) and the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) have partnered to develop standard practices in areas related to mechanical insulation in the commercial and industrial markets. March 2024 Press Release
AMPP's Standard Practices (SP) define the requirements and recommendations for the selection, design, installation, or operation of a material or system and provide detailed descriptions of requirements for the quality of a product or process that can be incorporated into a procurement document.
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.
Upcoming Meeting: November 4, 2025 AMPP/NIA Joint Standards Committee 27 (SC 27), Mechanical Insulation Meeting
The joint NIA/AMPP SC 27 Mechanical Insulation joint NIA/AMPP Standards Committee, SC 27, will meet virtually on November 4, 2025. To participate, please contact Kristin V. DiDomenico, kdidomenico@insulation.org.
An agenda will be posted soon!
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 Standard Practice Development Process
The suggested development of these Insulation Standard Practices will start with NIA and include an initial outline and draft, subject to an arduous review process through the NIA's Standards Committee and its Working Groups.* Once complete and approved by NIA's Technical Information Committee and Board of Directors, 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
Temperature ranges will be used to organize the development of primary standards practices (degrees Fahrenheit):
- Cryogenic: -50 and below
- Low Temp: -49-75
- Intermediate: 76-450
- High Temp: 451-1500
To maintain clarity and usability, the intent is to keep the primary standard practices concise and focused on the full scope of actions required within each temperature range. These documents will serve as high-level guides. In parallel, “sub-standards” will be developed that provide detailed technical guidance on specific tasks within the primary standards.
Participation Opportunities
For questions about joining NIA’s Standard Committee and Working Groups, please contact Jeff DeGraaf.
You do not need to be a member of AMPP to join the joint AMPP/NIA Standards Committee 27 (SC 27). To join, please email standards@ampp.org. Include your name, title, company, phone, email, company type, and your intent to join the SC 27 committee.
Questions?
For more information about NIA’s Insulation Standards, please contact Kristin DiDomenico, NIA's Vice President and Managing Director 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.