Main Insulation Types and Metals for Cladding
Main insulation types
- Mattress – a flexible low binder fibrous insulation for use on all surfaces. A wire mesh fixed to one or both sides by through stitching maintains the mattress shape. Because of the low binder content the material is able to withstand higher temperature without binder breakdown.
- Pipe section – insulation preformed to fit in two halves round cylindrical surfaces of various diameters.
- Pipe section covered – as for the pipe section except that the outer surface is fitted with a cover by the manufacturer, for example, canvas or foil.
- Segments – cylindrical insulation for fitting round large cylindrical surfaces in more than two parts. Confined to the closed cell insulants.
- Slab – all the closed cell flat insulation and expanded/extruded insulants fall into this category and may be applied to all surfaces provided they are suitably shaped.
- Rope – usually of fibrous material for spirally wrapping around small pipes.
- Spray fibre – used for insulating irregular shapes such as turbines and also for fireproofing.
- Spray foam – usually polyurethane or polyisocyanurate. The main applications are for large regular surfaces such as roofs or tanks and for cavity filling.
- Tape – usually of fibre and used for spiral wrapping on pipe work where conditions so demand.
- Thermaflex/Armorflex – foamed synthetic elastomer used for thermal insulation for cold and warm drinking water pipes and for heating system pipes.
Main metals for cladding
Stainless steel, Galvanised sheeting, Aluminium sheeting, Chromodeck, IBR sheeting for vessels or other specialized formulations.