While the main role of insulation on piping systems is maintaining temperature stability, effective thermal insulation comes with a number of knock-on effects and secondary benefits. Reducing energy costs is imperative in commercial and industrial environments, and saving energy through insulation can help you achieve this. Plus, thermal insulation can provide essential safety protection for your workers and help you meet crucial industry regulatory standards.
With expert installation and system design from a partner like Advanced Insulation and Fabrications, you’ll reap the rewards of energy efficiency, safety, and regulatory compliance.
Here, we’ll explore the role of thermal insulation for piping, and explain how the right solution with the right installation and maintenance can help businesses and industry build on their efficiencies and successes. From safety to saving energy, we’ll break down the benefits.
Summary:
- Thermal insulation is essential for energy saving, safety, and smooth running of systems. Commercial and industrial enterprises stand to benefit in a number of ways, from cost-saving to workplace safety.
- Ammonia Pipework risks can be mitigated through effective insulation, provided it’s installed by an experienced professional.
- Chilled Water Pipe Insulation, when installed and designed by experts can not only increase efficiencies in your system but also prolong the life of your pipework.
- Working with a quality insulation partner can safeguard against liabilities and ensure you’ve got the correct solution that fits within your budget and builds efficiencies.
Why Thermal Insulation is Essential for Chilled Water, Ammonia, and Steam Systems
As mentioned, the primary purpose of thermal insulation in piping systems is to prevent heat loss or gain. And while there are other benefits that we’ll explore later in this guide, this temperature maintenance is absolutely essential to the smooth running of chilled water, ammonia, and steam systems.
Efficiency
Here’s how it works: thermal insulation prevents heat changes – both loss and gain. For systems where cooling is the objective – like chilled water and ammonia systems – appropriate thermal insulation saves you energy by preventing heat gain. In steam systems, it saves you energy (and cash) by minimising heat loss. Insulation helps maintain the precision temperatures your system requires so that your systems can function as intended and at the peak of its efficiency.
Safety
From minimising the risk of burns to the risk of fires, proper insulation is a workplace safety feature that you should never do without. For substances like ammonia where leaks can be hazardous to human health, cause corrosion, or even result in a fire hazard, thermal insulation is absolutely essential. Without properly planned, installed, and maintained thermal insulation, you run the risk of violating industry safety standards and causing serious injury to workers. The best way to manage this risk is to invest in quality thermal insulation services at the start of your project.
Chilled Water Pipe Insulation
Chilled Water Pipes require appropriate insulation to prevent heat gain and optimise performance. It also needs appropriate insulation to safeguard against condensation and consequent system degradation, saving costs in the long term by extending the life of your pipework.
Polyethylene closed cell insulation and pre-insulated pipework using polyurethane injection are two common solutions that you’ll find used to insulate chilled water pipework. Polyurethane injection is commonly chosen for its best-in-class thermal protection, moisture resistance, and its cost-effectiveness.
It’s created by combining polyol resin and an isocyanate hardened, forming a rigid foam that expands to create a durable, airtight seal. This shields against temperature fluctuations in commercial and industrial applications, helping to preserve energy and cut costs. Pre-insulated pipe work, another common chilled water pipework insulation solution, comes prefabricated with a layer of polyurethane foam between the inner pipe and the jacket pipe. The pre-insulated pipe is also designed to be water and corrosion-resistant, so moisture absorption isn’t a concern and your pipework can enjoy extended longevity. You can read more about how pre-insulated pipework is used across industries here.
To ensure you’re maximising efficiency and meeting all compliance requirements for your chilled water insulation job, it’s usually best to contract an expert to carry out the design and installation phase. During the design process, they can also advise on what materials specifications are best and plan around any challenges that your system or project presents. They can do all of this while managing your budget and expectations – something you can’t expect from an amateur practitioner.
Ammonia Pipework Insulation
Ammonia pipework insulation comes with its own unique challenges. Ammonia can be dangerous and pose risks to human health from burns and inhalation. On top of this, it can be highly flammable, and if leaks go undetected, you can be faced with an extremely dangerous situation very quickly. Further to this, ammonia isn’t just corrosive to human skin: it’s corrosive to metals like zinc, copper, and brass. This is why covers for ammonia insulation tend to avoid these materials, and often feature sheet metal cladding with foam injections for added protection. Due to the risks and complexities of ammonia pipework insulation, it’s always best to hire a professional with commercial and industrial experience to install this kind of insulation system. It’s also essential to ensure you’ve got a long-term maintenance partner for your insulation, to help minimise and mitigate future safety risks.
Polyurethane injection, and pre-insulated pipework are two common solutions that you’ll find used to insulate chilled water pipework. Polyurethane injection is commonly chosen for its best-in-class thermal protection, moisture resistance, and its cost-effectiveness.
Prolonging the Life of Insulation in Challenging Environments
Prolonging the life of your pipework – regardless of how challenging your environment may be – starts with insulation. Because of this, part of maintaining that pipework also includes maintaining the insulation. This maintenance begins with your installers adding things like exterior covers and well-positioned seals to your insulation, but it also needs to include regular checks. You’ll need to check your insulation for visible signs of wear and tear and maintain it through regular cleaning. It pays to find an insulation partner who can also assist with this part of the process, especially one who is experienced in tough industrial and commercial environments.
Why Work With Professional Insulation Installers?
From problem-solving prowess to inbuilt efficiencies, professional insulation installers are key to creating an insulation system that works. Quality insulation installers mitigate problems, rather than simply solving them, saving you on maintenance and repairs down the line. They are also able to build complex systems – something that’s demanded by the complexities of most commercial and industrial projects.
At Advanced Insulation and Fabrications, we offer complete solutions – not just products and not just insulation. From design to ongoing protection for your system, we can cover each and every base with precision. With over 20 years of experience behind us, and our focus on complex industrial and commercial enterprises, we are equipped with both the knowledge and experience to install, maintain, and safeguard against workplace risk. Our experience means we can respond to issues faster and anticipate issues better, with many of our partners maintaining long-term relationships with us to ensure that they are getting the best insulation solutions across all their sites and projects. We’re also capable of serving multiple locations for large companies, thanks to our nationwide footprint. That’s why we’re trusted across Australia to provide comprehensive, cost-effective solutions to even the largest insulation challenges.
Preserving energy and maintaining high levels of safety in your commercial or industrial premises are top priorities for every enterprise. That’s why quality, well-installed, well-considered insulation systems need to be prioritised.
From ammonia to cold water piping, working with an insulation expert who understands the safety and efficiency complexities isn’t just helpful, it’s essential. To get a complete solution for your thermal insulation needs, contact us today and get a quote – we’ll be in touch within 24 hours!