Thermal insulation of water pipes
When choosing insulation, it is important to remember that it should serve us for many years. For this to happen, it must be properly protected against both mechanical damage and the influence of the environment in which it will operate.
Insulation plays a very important role in our home, as well as in the workplace, although most often we are not even aware of its existence. In practice, various types of insulation are used for different systems, e.g., heating, solar, or air conditioning systems. Correctly selected and made of appropriate, high-quality materials, insulation helps maintain heat in the building, thereby reducing heating bills. It also dampens the noise coming from the operating installation, giving us the opportunity to enjoy moments spent in undisturbed silence. Unfortunately, insulation lagging without proper protection loses its properties over time, which can involve a very troublesome necessity of replacing it. Of course, some lagging manufacturers ensure the highest quality of their products, making them less susceptible to the harmful effects of external factors.
Temperature and solar radiation
Many factors can influence the quality of insulation, often closely related to its purpose and location. For installations where at least a part is located outside the building, UV radiation can be the main degrading factor. A solar thermal installation, which is exposed to the destructive effects of sunlight, can serve as an example here. Continuous exposure to the harmful effects of radiation can cause not only a significant deterioration of the lagging's insulating properties but, in extreme cases, also lead to its destruction. Additionally, in the case of pipes with a high medium temperature, such as in solar or heating systems, the lagging may crumble under the influence of heat. Therefore, when choosing insulation suitable for this type of application, it is worth paying attention to its protection against such factors, e.g., insulation made of EPDM rubber, which has increased resistance to UV radiation. This material is also characterized by high temperature tolerance and is adapted for continuous operation at temperatures up to 150ºC. This guarantees that the lagging will not melt or crumble even in the case of a high medium temperature. The situation is similar for factory pre-insulated pipes. Their outer surface is covered with a special sheath made of polyolefin-copolymer foil, which significantly reduces the impact of UV radiation on the insulation.
Mechanical damage
Another serious threat to insulation is mechanical damage. This applies to system laggings that run outside buildings, in ducts, basements, etc. In short, wherever the pipe is not hidden, e.g., built into a wall, floor, or buried in the ground. In such places, the delicate structure of the lagging can be damaged by birds or rodents. The gaps in the insulation caused in this way, especially in solar, heating, or air conditioning installations, create a loophole through which energy escapes freely, consequently reducing the efficiency of the entire system.
This type of damage usually requires additional protection that is more resistant to mechanical damage than insulating foam. For this purpose, the outer layer of the lagging is covered with protective polymer layers, such as polyolefin or polyolefin-copolymer foil. In this way, the possibility of accidental damage to the delicate structure of the lagging is significantly reduced. In most situations, replacing damaged lagging is not only a huge hassle but also involves high costs.
Chemical factors
In addition to the physical and mechanical damage already mentioned, insulation can be destroyed by aggressive chemical substances. An example of this is the effect of seawater and the salt contained in it, which can cause galvanic corrosion or dissolve less durable materials. However, even in much less extreme cases, both the pipes and the lagging are exposed to this type of damage. If the system is built into walls or poured into a floor, chemically active construction materials can have a destructive effect on the system's insulation, as well as on the pipes hidden in this way. However, properly selected lagging will not yield to such actions, maintaining its insulating properties while simultaneously protecting the pipe.
High-quality insulation is not just about the right parameters. It is equally important that these properties are maintained for a long time after its installation, which is not always as simple as it might seem. Appropriate protection of insulation can not only reduce the harmful effects of external factors on its properties but, in many cases, also prevents its rapid deterioration.