Mechanical insulation is not a one-size-fits-all installation. Imagine insulation-like clothing. On a job site, you are required to wear PPE and that could include steel-toed boots and a hard hat. Another job site might require those plus a respirator. Take your work outside in minus 40 degrees and you’re going to need heavy-duty winter clothes to keep yourself safe. What you are doing and where you are doing it will determine what you need to wear to protect yourself. Your mechanical equipment is no different.
What areas or equipment need to be insulated?
This is one of the first questions we will ask during a consultation with you. We will need to know the pipes, tanks and other equipment that require protection. The size, shape, and function of the machinery will be jumping-off points for what type of insulation can be used. Pipe jackets are a great example of the different forms that insulation can take to meet the needs of the consumer. These units are designed to fit snugly around a cylinder and can be used in conjunction with other materials. Manufactured steel tanks, on the other hand, will require a different approach. In these cases, polyurethane foam or a mineral blanket could be used.
What is the service temperature range?
Simply knowing the equipment that needs insulation is not enough to determine the proper insulation material. Next, we need to find out what the service temperature range will be. Industry-standard specifications are:
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- Cryogenic Applications: -50°F and Below
- Refrigeration, ie: chill water and below ambient applications: -49°F to +75°F
- Medium to High-Temperature Applications: +76°F to +1200°F
- Refractory Applications: +1200°F and Above
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Materials designed to be efficient in medium-temperature applications may fail in cryogenic ones, and vice versa. For example, perlite insulation can withstand up to a scorching 1800°F whereas some closed-cell foam insulations can protect pipes at -297°F.
What conditions will your insulation be working under?
The equipment itself isn’t the only element acting on the insulation. Personnel, climate, and exposure to physical or chemical damage will also impact what material would work best. Here are some environmental considerations that the proper insulation can affect:
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- Humidity and condensation reduction.
- Acoustical control.
- Protection against wind or air movement.
- Freezing (additionally, will the system need to be heat traced).
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An efficient and effective design starts with utilizing the correct insulation material. This requires a robust, working knowledge of what materials are on the market today as well as local building codes. For exceptional insulation service and installation to meet the needs of your Calgary-based business, call on the experts at Westcal Insulation today!
