Heat and Cold

Both hot and cold insulation has a diverse range of applications that offer an even greater variety of solutions. Cold insulation can be used to ensure that a system, which relies on the cold that it produces or houses retaining a cool temperature, stays cold. Likewise, if a system only performs optimally when it retains heat, hot insulation solutions should be applied. Both require a bespoke solution implemented by way of an in-depth analysis of the project’s requirements and the outcome desired by the customer. We discuss the ins and outs of hot and cold insulation below and will hopefully equip you with the information that you will need to consider for the best outcome for your insulation project! 

About hot insulation 
Piping systems most commonly require either hot or cold insulation solutions. Hot piping systems require insulation for two main reasons. The first is that the pipes can overheat, causing damage or breakage. Insulating these materials can reduce the risk of overheating and subsequently ensure the longevity of the system. The second reason that heat will always try to spread to a colder environment and subsequently, a poorly insulated system will experience heat dissipation, and the resulting effect will be energy inefficiency and a poorer outcome than seen when proper insulation has been applied. 

About cold insulation
Much like hot insulation, cold insulation is most commonly applied to piping systems (though not exclusively) that transport cold materials. Again, much like its hotter counterpart, cold systems suffer from both external temperature effects as well as temperature dissipation as a result of poor insulation. Conversely, cold insulation requires something that hot insulation doesn’t – a water vapor barrier. The reason that cold insulation materials require a water vapor barrier is due to the degradation of the piping materials that can occur in these types of systems. You must ensure that you, or the company that is insulating your systems, have properly assessed what type of material will be best suited to your system’s requirements, as this will play a large part in the lifespan of your system and its efficiency. 

Protecting your piping and its insulation
A fundamental choice to make, once you have installed your insulation, is to determine what way would be best to protect it. This is done by way of exterior jacketing, which is the practice of applying an additional barrier between your system and its insulation and the environment it is in. If there is a high likelihood of damage occurring to the system, given its environment, then choosing jacketing such as thick PVC or metal housing may be best suited. In cases where the system will not be exposed to external damage, a less extensive solution is required, such as standard PVC or silicone. 

Ensuring you choose the right installation team
There is quite a lot that goes into insulating a hot or cold system, from the materials that you use to insulate it to the way that you choose to protect it. Given all that goes into ensuring that you adequately insulate and protect the system, the team that you choose to conduct this should have a vast knowledge of what is required to apply perfect insulation. We at Great Insulation Company have spent years not only applying this knowledge in practice but also investing in our knowledge of the theory of this trade, to ensure that we offer the best outcome for our clients and their projects. Contact us today to find out more about how we can deliver the best results to you!