Continuing our series looking at the use of insulation accessories, in this entry we will be looking at how to protect insulation for external use. The basic problem with the majority of thermal pipe insulation products is that you cannot use them outdoors; notable exceptions are premium products such as Eurobatex R which can be used externally without painting due to its protective polyolefin skin, but comes at a price premium compared to other products, or high temperature EPDM rubbers such as Eurobatex AT which are inherently UV stable but lacks the thermal values to be used for frost protection on smaller pipes (this product is intended mainly for use on solar pipework where the thermal requirements differ from conventional thermal insulation products). These products aside, the more common closed cell flexible foams such as Eurobatex Pipe Insulation , Climaflex Pipe Insulation or Armaflex Pipe Insulation will degrade in sunlight. Typically, polyethylene pipe insula
This blog aims to highlight the various different kinds of thermal pipe insulation, and highlight their particular strengths and weaknesses. Choosing the right product for your application helps to avoid wasting money, and understanding more about what you are doing helps you to avoid making mistakes.