Fiberglass Pipe Insulation

Fiberglass insulation is popular all across the United States and more than half of the North American homes use it as an insulating material. Fire safety is a necessary element that is considered while designing houses. Installing the right insulating material can prevent catastrophic losses to the buildings. Heat losses through the walls also lower the temperature of the house during cold seasons. To prevent such losses, fiberglass insulation is used. When compared to other insulating materials like cellulose, slag wool and spray foams, fiberglass has better moisture absorbing ability. How is fiberglass insulation effective in imparting durability to the water pipes? This is a basic question to be understood before installing fiberglass in our homes.

Fiberglass Insulation
Commercial glass is mainly composed of Quartz sand or silica. Silica in its molten state is combined with several other recycled artificial polymers to produce fiberglass. Basically, fiberglass is drawn in the form of continuous fibers or sheets. Depending on the usage of fiberglass, it is supplied to the traders. Two main types of glass fibers are the E-type and S-type fiberglass. The E-type fiberglass is known for its excellent insulating properties, whereas the S-type has better tensile strength. Fiberglass are cost-effective, corrosion resistant and durable. Fiberglass is mainly used in tanks and vessels, poles, home insulation, automobiles and electrical insulation.

Insulating with Fiberglass
Are you fed up of plumbing problems? Or maybe your water pipe's leak often causing problems, especially in the rainy season? Well, if that is so, you can rely on fiberglass pipe insulation and get rid of such problems. Fiberglass pipe insulation becomes more important when it comes to their wide use in industries. In the chemical industries waste water management systems, the need of a long-lasting pipes is crucial. When choosing pipes for such large-scale purposes it is important to consider certain parameters that are very much required for the proper functioning of such pipes. Fiberglass pipe insulation are a better alternative than costly and expensive alloys of metals normally used in the industries.

Benefits of Fiberglass Insulation
Fiberglass pipe insulation keeps the water pipes safe and prevents it from rusting, cold and hot temperatures.

• Fiberglass pipe insulation is covered with a special ASJ (All service jacket). Basically, ASJ is nothing but a vapor retarder that is used to diminish mechanical losses, such as heat and cold. ASJs are mainly composed of aluminum, elastomeric polymer and tri-directional fiberglass. They are tested for fire and are flame resistant.
• Moisture is a major factor that degrades the durability of pipes, especially in industrial plants where the pipes have to face a lot of water both, internally and externally. Fiberglass pipe insulation provides a strong insulation from moisture. This helps in keeping the R-value of the pipes at 3-4.5 per inch. An R-value is a factor that determines the insulation ability of an insulating material. An R-value of 3-4.5 per inch is a very good range for an insulating material.
• Cold water pipes need insulation to keep the water inside cool. However, when the external temperatures rise, normal insulation is of no use. Fiberglass insulated pipes have the ability to withstand very low temperatures and they can operate at temperatures even below 0°C. This makes fiberglass pipe insulation to be used in industries where very low temperatures are required like cold storage factories.
• High temperatures (often above 300°C) is also normal in industries. The pipes used must have the ability to withstand such conditions. Small and large temperature ranges offer flexibility in the functioning of fiberglass pipe insulation.
• Thermal performance of fiberglass pipes is excellent and much better than other pipe insulating materials.
• Corrosion problems can be eliminated using fiberglass pipe insulation to a large extent. Generally, outdoor pipes are more vulnerable to corrosion than the indoor pipes.
• Mites, bacteria and fungi are very common in areas where water pipes are installed. Rodents often infest the areas near the water pipes and thus damage them. Fiberglass proves to be a useful deterrent to their growth.

Fiberglass pipe insulation is cost-effective, has good compressive strength and is also resistant to fire. Still, there are few health concerns regarding its usage. For instance, contact to glass fibers may cause skin irritation and rashes. Also, during installation and cutting the fiber, fiber dust may cause breathing problems. However, if proper precautions are taken, it is not difficult to avoid the threats associated with fiberglass pipe insulation. Experts must be consulted before opting for fiberglass pipe insulation. They can guide you in installing the fiberglass pipe and also give maintenance tips about the fiberglass pipe insulation.