Pipes and Tubes - Recommended Insulation Thickness

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Pipes and Tubes - Recommended Insulation Thickness

Insulation thickness of heating systems - hot water - low, medium and high pressure
steam - systems
To avoid heat loss and reduced efficiency pipe work in heating systems should always be insulated. Very hot
systems, like hot water and steam systems should also be insulated to avoid potential personal injuries.
The table below indicates recommended insulation thickness.
Recommended minimum Thickness of Insulation (inches)*
Temperature Range (oC)
Nominal Pipe
Size
NPS
(inches)

50 - 90

90 - 120

120 - 150

Temperature Range

150 - 230

(oF)

120 - 200

201 - 250

251 - 305

306 - 450

Hot Water

Low Pressure
Steam

Medium
Pressure Steam

High Pressure
Steam

< 1"

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

1 1/4" - 2"

1.0

1.5

2.5

2.5

2 1/2" - 4"

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

5" - 6"

1.5

2.0

3.0

3.5

> 8"

1.5

2.0

3.0

3.5

* based on insulation with thermal resistivity in the range 4 - 4.6 ft2 hr oF/ Btu in

Related Topics
Heat Loss and Insulation - Heat loss from pipes, tubes and tanks - with and without insulation foam, fiberglass, rockwool and more
Insulation - Heat transfer and heat loss from buildings and technical applications - insulation
methods and coefficients to reduce energy consumption

Related Documents
Perlite Insulation - Thermal conductivity - temperature and k-values
Copper Pipes - Heat Loss - Heat loss from copper tubes at various temperature differences
between tube and air
Heat Loss from Steam Pipes (W/m) - The amount of condensate generated in steam pipes
depends on heat loss from the pipe to the surroundings
Heat Loss from Steam Pipes (btu/h per ft) - Amount of condensate generated in steam pipes
depends on the heat loss from the pipe to the surroundings
Insulation Materials and Temperature Ranges - Temperature limits of some common insulation
materials
Insulated Steam Pipes - Condensate Load Generated - The heat loss from steam pipes will

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Pipes and Tubes - Recommended Insulation Thickness

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generate condensate which must be drained from the system - a table indicating the condensate
generated in insulated steam pipes (lb/h per 100 ft)
Polyurethane Insulation - Thermal conductivity - temperature and k-values

Key Words
en: insulation thichness pipes
es: tuberas thichness aislamiento
de: Isolierung thichness Rohre

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