Varieties of mineral wool insulation for pipes, methods of thermal insulation of elements of plumbing systems, choice of material, technology of work. Thermal insulation of pipes with mineral wool is an excellent option for thermal insulation of elements of plumbing systems of any type, size and length. The material protects communications for various purposes from temperature extremes, mechanical damage and exposure to chemicals. Convenient shape and low cost allows you to choose an insulator for a wide range of jobs. We will talk about the technology of pipeline insulation with this fibrous product in our article.
Features of thermal insulation of pipes with mineral wool
Uninsulated heating systems give up to 50 W at a coolant temperature of 60 degrees, and they can be considered as radiators. According to European standards, the permissible loss value should not exceed 6 W of heat per hour. Such requirements can be provided by an insulation based on mineral fibers - basalt wool and glass wool, less often - wool from slag. These are fibrous products made from rocks. The entire free space between the threads is filled with air or neutral gas, which remains stationary and provides good thermal insulation.
Mineral wool for pipes allows you to isolate heating systems, hot water supply, water supply, sewerage, air conditioning. The products are used in communications in unheated rooms, with underground and above-ground arrangement of elements. The advantages of mineral wool are especially noticeable in the last two cases, when strong wind, snow, moisture in the ground act on the pipes. The insulator operates on the principle of a thermos: hot remains hot, cold - cold.
Without fail, pipes are insulated in such cases:
- The tilt angle of the system is small.
- The samples are buried in the ground less than 0.5 m.
- If the system has areas with sharp turns and often congested places.
There is a misconception that only elements located outside the building are insulated. Utilities without protection radiate some of the heat into the wall or soil under the floor, therefore, the protection of hidden pipelines in the room is also necessary.
There are two ways of installing mineral wool. Classic involves wrapping plumbing equipment in rolls or mats. This option has many disadvantages: the plates do not hold their shape well, the layer thickness is uneven, and installation takes a long time.
Mineral wool cylinders are free from such disadvantages. Long workpieces of two or more parts allow you to quickly complete the work, the influence of the human factor is reduced to a minimum. The outer metal coating on the shell will protect the material from adverse external influences. The products are placed in their proper place and fixed in various ways.
Mineral heaters, covered with metal foil, fiberglass, mesh to protect against mechanical stress, fire, moisture and other negative influences, are very convenient to use.
Heat insulators are sold in a convenient container that facilitates their transportation and storage.
Advantages and disadvantages of pipe insulation with mineral wool
Today, the most demanded insulation is mineral wool in the form of mats or cylinders.
It is popular for the following qualities:
- The product has a low level of thermal conductivity.
- Samples do not contain impurities harmful to humans, because made from natural material.
- Insulation of pipes with mineral wool displaces the dew point from the surface, which avoids premature corrosion of the metal.
- After laying the insulation, noise is reduced and vibration of the structure is reduced. These qualities are important for air conditioning systems in buildings.
- The product prevents the coolant from freezing and the subsequent destruction of communications.
- It is a durable material with a service life of over 50 years. Its performance does not change throughout the entire period of operation.
- Mineral wool insulation does not require special knowledge, the work is done quickly.
- The pipelines are well protected from mechanical stress. The fibers of the insulator are closely intertwined to withstand heavy loads.
- Minvata does not sit down. It can be reused.
- It prevents accidental burns from hot heating systems.
- The material does not lend itself to decay, it resists mold and mildew well.
- Does not deteriorate under the influence of aggressive media, such as cement.
- The product does not burn, has a low flammability.
- The cost of fiber insulation is much lower than other products of a similar purpose.
The insulator has disadvantages that affect its applicability:
- The material can harm the human body, especially glass wool. The fibers cause severe stinging, so cover your breathing, skin and eyes with personal protective equipment. Work in clothes made of thick fabric, which is thrown away when heavily soiled - a robe contaminated with fiberglass cannot be washed.
- Mineral wool consists of fibers, the voids between them are quickly filled with water, which leads to a loss of thermal insulation properties. If the insulation absorbs 2% of the total weight of the product, its effectiveness will decrease by 50%. In order not to spoil the protective coating, the finished shell must be carefully waterproofed.
Pipe insulation technology with mineral wool
Insulation can be installed by one person who has no experience in such work. Special tools for thermal insulation of pipes with mineral wool are not required, a sharp knife is enough to cut off excess parts. Choosing the right material is essential.
Choice of mineral wool
There are many modifications of mineral wool on the market, each of which is designed for use in specific cases. In order not to be mistaken with the choice, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the following information.
Glass wool is most often used outside residential buildings. This is due to the fact that it is vulnerable to high temperatures. The material is sold in the form of mats, slabs, rolls and cylinders. It is soft and elastic, suitable for pipe insulation in any form. There is no general standard for the length of blanks; each manufacturer produces samples at its discretion. Product thickness - 50-150 mm.
Stone wool has a high thermal resistance threshold, which makes it possible to insulate pipes in the residential sector and at industrial facilities. It is used to insulate heating systems, plumbing fixtures in basements and living rooms. With its help, pipes are insulated in boiler rooms and other rooms with extreme operating conditions. It has no restrictions on its use outside or inside the building. For this task, buy stone wool in the form of a shell or lamellar rolls, which look like rectangular pieces glued to foil. It will not work to wrap the pipe with a solid plate - the product has too short pile, which makes the material rigid.
Slag wool has poor thermal insulation properties and is purchased only because of the low price. It is forbidden to use it inside residential premises due to the harmful effects on the human body. The material is used in irresponsible places, because it loses its properties in humid environments and at critical temperatures.
Heaters for pipes are made with and without linings. For thermal insulation without covering, you will need special pierced mats made in accordance with GOST 21880-94. They are sold in rolls wrapped in special paper and are of considerable size. Shell-free products belong to budget materials. They do not resist weathering well, therefore they are mounted in an enclosed space, for example, in attics or in tunnels. To protect the room from fibers, it is recommended to cover the finished casing with foil.
Insulation with a lining is made in the form of stitched mats with a protective mesh. Compared to uncoated mats, these products offer increased strength and flexibility. After wrapping, there are no gaps and crevices. Heat loss after installation is insignificant.
Manufacturers offer rigid samples of a given shape made of basalt fiber in the form of cylinders or semi-cylinders for pipe insulation. For ease of installation, they are provided with grooves. Also for these purposes, small segments of mineral wool can be used. Such insulation does not lose its shape at high temperatures, well protects pipes from mechanical stress.
Cylindrical products are 3, 6 times more efficient than rolled products. The total heat loss during their use reaches 8% throughout the entire service life. Mats and rolls lose their insulating properties every year. In the first year the losses are 10%, in the second - 30%, and in the third they exceed 45%. On average, annual losses during thermal insulation with traditional cotton wool are 28%, which is much more than when using cylindrical products.
Fiber shells are produced with a density of 80 kg / m3… It is available with or without metal coating. The choice of samples is influenced by several factors, the main one being the location of the system. Mineral wool with an aluminum sheath is designed for outdoor use. To reduce the absorption of moisture, it is strongly compacted and carefully waterproofed from above.
Hydrophobic insulating cylinders are also produced, which are used in humid rooms or in places where condensation occurs, but they are very expensive.
The mineral wool shell for pipes consists of two parts. The inner diameter varies between 18-1024 mm and is selected according to the diameter of the element to be insulated. Only in this case will the effect be maximized. The thickness of the insulating layer is 20-80 mm, the standard length is 1 m. The mineral wool shell works well in a wide temperature range - from -40 to +74 degrees.
Heaters coated with foil and fiberglass can be used in damp rooms, they are not afraid of direct ingress of water. For insurance, the products are additionally impregnated with special hydrophobic substances.
Method for installing a cylindrical insulation
Thermal insulation of pipes with mineral wool is carried out only in dry weather. The work is performed in the following sequence:
- Inspect the surface of the insulated element, make sure it is intact and dry. Repair the leak if necessary. If condensation remains on the surface, the plumbing product will quickly fail.
- Treat the surface with an anti-corrosion coating, you can use a primer.
- Put the halves of the mineral wool shell on the pipe with an offset of 10-15 mm and secure first temporarily with wire, and then with special foil tape. It is sold in any hardware store. If not, use plain duct tape, but the efficiency will decrease slightly. The shift of the parts is necessary for the overlap.
- Insulate difficult sections of pipelines (corners, turns, styles) with special curly elements. Wrap the adhesive tape very tightly, make sure that there are no uncovered gaps.
- The larger the shell diameter, the more parts it has. Cylinders up to 50 mm in diameter have only one cut. For setting in place of the slot, open the product, install it on the pipe and secure with tape.
- If the casing consists of several parts, secure them with special clamps, knitting wire or metal tape.
Installation technology of soft mineral wool
Outside the building, system elements can be laid above or below the ground. In the first case, atmospheric precipitation and wind can negatively affect the insulation, in the second - groundwater with aggressive elements. Let's consider each case separately.
Insulation of aboveground pipes is carried out in the following sequence:
- Examine the surface of the sample and, if necessary, modify it as in the previous case.
- Cover the pipe with foil tape, spiraling it around.
- Wrap the insulation tightly, controlling the absence of gaps between the joints.
- Secure the insulator with plumbing tape. Gaps between tape turns are not allowed. Water can enter them and damage the system over time.
- Waterproof the product with roll material, usually roofing material is used for this purpose. It is fixed with a wire.
If the pipes are to be buried in the ground, they must be protected from water in any way. Otherwise, the insulator with a low density will begin to collapse.
The order of work is as follows:
- Dig a trench 60 cm wide and 5 cm deeper than the design.
- Pour a layer of sand 10-15 cm thick at the bottom of the trench, level and compact.
- Assemble the pipeline on the surface, insulate it, as in the previous case. Make sure that the mineral wool and scotch tape do not dangle. Such treatment will ensure the integrity of the insulator even under the action of loads during spring and autumn soil movements.
- Put the assembled product in the trench and cover with earth.
To insulate plumbing systems, you can apply multi-layer protection using a heating cable. This will allow you not to bury the system deeply.
The work is done as follows:
- Wind the heating wire around the pipe.
- Lay glass wool rolls on top and secure with soft wire.
- Waterproof the covering.
- Connect the wires to the outlet.
- Cover the trench with earth.
- If the pipe is located in the house under the floor, it is not necessary to waterproof the product.
How to insulate pipes with mineral wool - watch the video:
Due to its unique properties, mineral wool is used in almost every construction site, from a private house to a multi-storey building. The insulation process itself is simple and accessible to everyone. To obtain an acceptable result, observe the requirements of the laying technology and take a responsible approach to the task. Negligence can cause freezing of pipelines and additional repair costs.
