Providing plant protection

In the Scottish Highlands recent winters have been severe, with temperatures dropping to -15°C. The town of Fortrose, about 10km north east of Inverness, was no exception. So when Inverness-based mechanical and electrical engineers Commissioning Solutions Scotland was asked to replace failed process pumps for the local waste water treatment facility, careful consideration was given to the insulation material used to protect the equipment and process flows.

David Hawthorn of Commissioning Solutions Scotland, working with thermal insulation contractor McDonald & Co, specified Armacell's Class O Armaflex nitrile rubber insulation.

As a closed cell foam material, Armaflex provides an integral vapour barrier against water ingress and condensation, with no additional water vapour barrier required. The material has a moisture resistance factor of >7000µ so even if the material is damaged in places, it still provides protection against condensation and water ingress as the closed cell structure is built-up throughout the material's thickness.

At outdoor temperatures of -15°C and initial line temperatures of 7°C, a 25mm layer of Armaflex will provide 40+ hours of frost protection on an 89mm dia steel pipe or 52h on a 114mm dia pipe when containing static fluids. Armaflex sheet can be cut and fabricated to cover fittings, pumps and valves.