"What? My Insulation is Crushed at the Supports? ...Frosted Too!"

Subject: Insulation Pipe Supports - +250F Operation Temperature and Below

Insulated pipe supports are required for piping in cold service. These supports are load bearing and therefore require a high density insulation with a higher compressive strength than the standard pipeline insulation.

It has been common practice to use a rigid, high density product such as wood blocks or calcium silicate as an insulation pipe support material on mechanical pipe systems due to its superior strength. In reality a cellular, moisture resistant material may perform much more reliably than a calcium silicate product when used as an insulation pipe support on systems which operate at a temperature below +250F.

The problem is condensation (water); in insulation. Condensation may occur on pipe lines which operate below the dew point temperature; below approximately + 62 F to +75 F allowing moisture to penetrate the system. Calcium silicate is hygro-scopic by nature and will actually absorb moisture (humidity) from the air if exposed. In fact, most major manufacturers of calcium silicate indicate on their data sheets that the service temperature range of the product begins at +250 F. (NOTE: At +250 F the temperature of the pipe is above boiling water and insures that any moisture in the calcium silicate will be steamed, or evaporated through the insulation and away from the pipe; thus helping to reduce the possibility of corrosion under insulation.)

Styrofoam and Isocyanurate are well suited to both cold and hot applications. Isocyanurate has a temperature range of -290F to +300F. The Styrofoam temperature limit is -290F to +160F. A piping engineer should be consulted to obtain the proper compressive strength and length of material required to support each pipe size in the system. Systems which operate at below ambient temperatures should also have considerations given to contraction rates of the insulation and the maintenance of a perfect vapor barrier system at the supports.

The heavy density supports are available as 180 or 360 degrees, typically in any length which is evenly divisible into a 36" length of material. Additionally, the "top" 180 degree section may be made with a 2# density material to hold down the cost of the support where applicable. If used as a guide or anchor, the pipe support shall be 360 degrees.

When the supports are used on horizontal piping a heavy gauge metal cradle shall be installed under the insulation to distribute weight of the pipe uniformly over the heavy density support surface. The thickness of the support should match the adjacent pipeline insulation. Single and multi layer insulation construction shall be maintained in the support as in the pipeline insulation. Always maintain the integral vapor barrier of the system.

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