Fire Resistant
The industrial insulation products supplied by Crossroads C&I are non-combustible and fire resistant. These products are designed for a range of operating temperatures up to 1200°F (650°C), withstanding the heat of flames up to 2150ºF (1177ºC) without melting. Crossroads C&I industrial insulations are excellent barriers to flame spread and critical lines of defence in fire control for personnel and equipment in plants and pipe and vessel lines.
Energy saving
Since pipe and vessel work can operate at temperatures far removed from the ambient temperature, and the rate of heat flow from a pipe and vessel is related to the temperature differential between the pipe and vessel and the surrounding ambient air, heat flow from pipe and vessel work can be considerable. In many situations this heat flow is undesirable. The application of Crossroads C&I thermal pipe and vessel insulation introduces thermal resistance and reduces the heat flow.
Thicknesses of thermal pipe and vessel insulation used for saving energy vary, but as a general rule pipe and vessels operating at more extreme temperatures exhibit a greater heat flow and larger thicknesses are applied due to the greater potential savings. The location of pipe and vessel work also influences the selection of insulation thickness.
Noise Control
Pipe and vessel work can operate as a conduit for noise to travel and can also radiate mechanical noise, industrial insulation can prevent this noise transfer by acting to damp the pipe and vessel wall and performing an acoustic decoupling function. E.g. the mineral wool compositions of the industrial insulations supplied by Crossroads C&I have unique non-directional structures and densities to effectively reduce airflow and essentially, sound transmissions. These denser structures, coupled with tight, seamless joints create effective barriers to noise and contribute to much quieter and safer work environments.
Condensation control
Where pipe and vessels operate at below ambient temperatures the potential exists for water vapour to condensate on the pipe and vessel surface. Moisture is known to contribute towards many different types of corrosion and so preventing the formation of condensation on pipe and vessel work is important.
Crossroads C&I pipe and vessel insulation can prevent condensation forming, as the surface temperature of the insulation will vary from the surface temperature of the pipe and vessel. Condensation will not occur provided the insulation surface is above the dew point temperature of the air and the insulation incorporates some form of water vapour barrier or retarder that prevents water vapour from passing through the insulation to form on the pipe and vessel surface.
Water Resistant
Crossroads C&I supplied industrial insulation products do not absorb water or hold moisture. The dense stone wool content of mineral wool and fiberglass naturally repels and drains water away from pipe and vessels without ever compromising R-value. Aerogels are extremely hydrophobic and therefore have outstanding resistance to moisture. Ideally, Crossroads C&I supplied industrial insulations products do not promote fungi, mildew, or bacteria growth and are chemically inert to eliminate corrosion.
Pipe and vessel freezing
Since pipe and vessels can be are located outside in extreme colder climates or in unheated areas where the ambient temperature drops below the freezing point of water there is the potential for water in pipe and vessel work to freeze. When water freezes it expands due to negative thermal expansion and this expansion can cause failure of a pipe and vessel system in one of a number of ways. Crossroads C&I pipe and vessel insulation reduces the risk of pipe and vessel freezing. For this reason it is recommended to insulate pipe and vessel work at risk of freezing and local water supply regulations may require pipe and vessel insulation is applied to reduce the risk of pipe and vessel freezing. Since smaller bore pipe and vessels contain a much smaller volume of water than larger pipe and vessels the time before freezing occurs is much less on smaller bore pipe and vessel work. For this reason on smaller bore pipe and vessel work insulation is typically used in combination with alternative methods of preventing pipe and vessel freezing (i.e. modulating trace heating cable or ensuring a consistent flow of water through the pipe and vessel).
Easy Installation
All Crossroads C&I supplied industrial insulation products are easy to handle on job sites. The mineral wool and fiberglass products’ higher densities make them simple to cut with a serrated knife for clean straight edges and proper fits at the point of installation. Quick and easy cutting means less waste and faster installation, which saves money on labour and lost production time. Quick and easy cutting also means fast and simple routine maintenance. Aerogels are lighter than other insulation materials. This enables them to be easily handled on the job site. They can be installed in longer lengths than traditional insulations, which can improve installation rates. Their lightweight also reduces overall loading of the pipe and equipment support structure
Eco-friendly Features
Crossroads C&I’s innovative pipe and vessel insulations offer a world of green features, which help developers earn LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) points across several construction categories and help industrial plants contribute to a much greener planet. Crossroads C&I’s industrial pipe and vessel insulations’ greenest features include:
- Natural, inorganic material with recycled content
- Non-combustible without dangerous chemicals
- Excellent sound absorption for acoustical comfort
- Higher R-values for consistent thermal performance
- Chemically inert for minimizing indoor air quality pollutants
- Resistance to growth of mold, fungi, and bacteria
- CFC and HCFC free product and process
Factors influencing performance
The relative performance of Crossroads C&I pipe and vessel insulation on any given application can be influenced by many factors. The principle factors are:
- Thermal conductivity ("k" or "λ" value)
- Surface emissivity ("ε" value)
- Water vapour resistance ("μ" value)
- Insulation thickness
- Density
Other factors, such as the level of moisture content and the opening of joints, can influence the overall performance of pipe and vessel insulation.