Pipe insulation is one of the most effective energy saving techniques available but it can only save energy when your heating system is in use. Ironically it’s the least well-designed heating systems that operate for longer periods and benefit more from bigger thicknesses of insulation.
Saving energy when the heat is on
Everyone knows that pipe insulation reduces energy loss and saves money but this process only begins when the boiler is switched on. Until the heating system is on there is no energy being lost and, therefore, no energy that can be saved.
The energy saving potential of pipe insulation is directly related to the operating time of the heating system to which the insulation is applied. A heating system that is in operation for 24 hours a day 365 days a year has much more potential for energy saving than a system that is in operation only for a few hours a day through the Winter months.
As mechanical consultants move towards heating systems that use far less energy, in well insulated buildings that are heated for fewer months each year, there is a natural impact on the thickness of insulation that’s recommended for use. No-one wants to install expensive pipe insulation when the potential ongoing energy savings are very small.
Just the right insulation
Because the energy saving potential from insulating pipes can vary so much depending on the number of hours the heating system is in operation each year it makes sense to take into consideration the design of the heating system when selecting the pipe insulation. This is taken into account by BS EN 12828.
Unlike older standards defining thickness recommendations for pipe insulation, BS EN 12828 rewards the designers of more efficient heating systems by recognising that such systems require less pipe insulation than a badly designed system.
FEF (incl. NBR) and PEF insulation is fully compatible with the requirements of BS EN 12828:2012. Available in thicknesses from 9 mm to 50 mm, FEF and PEF insulation can provide a close fit for just about every thickness class defined within BS EN 12828 – often providing significant thickness reductions for modern heating systems.
Source: Kaimann UK · Copyright image: shutterstock
