What is Thermal Insulation and What is Its Application?

Thermal insulation, also known as thermal insulation, is used as a solution to prevent heat transfer and even sound insulation from the walls and ceilings of buildings, as well as the outer walls of pipes containing cold and hot water and floors to the external environment.

Therefore, thermal and sound insulation is one of the most important building materials that reduces the need for energy for heating or cooling and also significantly reduces energy loss and consumption. This is particularly important given the diverse and changing weather conditions around the world.

Many building contractors and implementers may initially not use insulation due to the initial purchase costs, but over time and gradually, the reduction in energy consumption will more than compensate for this initial cost.

In addition, the use of thermal insulation will significantly reduce the entry of pollutants into the environment. This article discusses the applications, features, and benefits of various thermal insulation; stay with us.

What is Thermal Insulation?

 Thermal insulation refers to materials used to reduce heat transfer in buildings. The main goal of using thermal insulation is to prevent energy loss during the hot and cold seasons of the year.

Thermal insulations, in addition to maintaining a suitable temperature inside the building, also prevent moisture infiltration and sound transmission. These materials are produced in various types such as rock wool, fiberglass, polymer insulations, and various foams, and are used in various industries including construction, petrochemicals, and power plants.

Important features of thermal insulation include long lifespan and high fire resistance.

Different Types of Thermal Insulation

Thermal insulations are generally divided into categories of rock wool and fiberglass insulation rolls, various types of foam and polystyrene insulation sheets in different thicknesses with or without foil, rock wool sandwich panels, polystyrene sandwich panels, polyurethane sandwich panels, pipe and cellulose insulations, etc. The most commonly used types will be explained below.

Fiberglass Insulation

Fiberglass insulation is produced by blowing steam onto molten glass fibers. Its fibrous structure provides flexibility and traps air in empty spaces, enhancing insulation. Fiberglass insulation has a density ranging from 8 to 140 kg/m³ and can withstand temperatures up to 600°C.

It consists of extremely thin glass fibers that are loosely bound together and then placed on kraft paper, lead, asphalt, or fiber mesh. Fiberglass insulation is slow-burning, environmentally friendly, and often used in sloped roofs on underlayment sheets, and in flat roofs beneath asphalt or mosaic (or roof tiles) as a felt.

It's crucial to keep this insulation dry to prevent mold and bacteria growth. Its physical structure provides acoustic properties, making it suitable for sound insulation in construction.

Mineral Wool Slag Insulation

Mineral wool slag insulation is a type of mineral wool made from blast furnace slag. For low-temperature insulation, it's covered with an asphalt-coated paper sheet. For high temperatures, it's equipped with an aluminum sheet or galvanized mesh. This insulation offers high resistance to combustion, mold, and bacteria growth, making it superior to fiberglass insulation in this aspect.

Rock Wool Insulation

Rock wool insulation, one of the most common types available, shares similar applications with mineral wool. It's produced from molten basalt rock, a product of volcanic activity.

It can withstand temperatures up to 750°C and is slow-burning. Rock wool insulation is lighter than other insulation types and retains its properties after drying. Its ease of use contributes to its popularity. It's compatible with all building materials and highly resistant to bacterial and fungal growth. Another positive feature is its environmental friendliness.

One of the most important applications of rock wool insulation is in fireproofing. It can be used to protect metal structures, elevator shafts, electrical installations, escape routes, and more from fire.

Foam Insulations

The variety of materials used to create foam insulations results in a wide range of final products. Foam insulations, including polystyrene, polyurethane, phenolic, polyvinyl chloride, EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene monomer) foam, nitrile foam, etc., are available with different properties and applications.

Foam insulations are widely produced and marketed in various roll, pipe, and sheet sizes with or without aluminum foil. They are extensively used in buildings, facilities, and industries.

For a deeper understanding of elastomeric insulations, it's recommended to read the article "What is Elastomeric Insulation and What is its Application?"

Mineral Fiber Insulation

Mineral fiber insulation is made by crushing and granulating refractory volcanic rock. This non-combustible insulation also serves as sound insulation. Mineral fiber insulation is available in a light, elastic mat form and is used in sloped roofs on underlayment sheets. Another notable feature of mineral fiber insulation is its resistance to mold and mildew growth.

Perlite Insulation

This mineral originates from volcanic activity and forms in humid areas. For enhanced insulation properties, perlite is combined with a small amount of water. As a result, perlite contains water molecules in its structure and releases them during high-temperature baking.

This process creates a spongy structure that traps air in its pores, making it an excellent insulator against heat transfer and energy loss.

One of the features of this stone that makes it suitable for thermal insulation is its inorganic nature. This means perlite insulation doesn't react with most acids and is resistant to decay and termite infestation.

Despite its advantages, perlite insulation has significant drawbacks that should be considered during purchase.

These drawbacks include its low compressive strength, making it unsuitable for areas with high pressure or excessive moisture. Also, due to its sponge-like structure with interconnected holes, it absorbs water, reducing its resistance.

Fiberboard Insulation

Fiberboard insulation, the first thermal insulation used in buildings, is made by compressing felt wool and other plant fibers into rigid boards. It easily absorbs moisture, reducing its resistance and insulating properties.

It has weak fire resistance, making it an unsuitable choice for building construction. However, due to its low cost and dimensional stability, it's used as a base for asphalt and felt coverings, along with plastic underlayment.

Compressed Cork Board Insulation

Compressed cork board insulation is produced by compressing cork granules and combining them with natural resin. It is relatively expensive. This thermal insulation is resistant to moisture, making it popular in humid environments and used in various applications.

Notably, it has low tensile strength, requiring a support during installation to prevent sudden breakage. Compressed cork board insulation, despite its low tensile strength, boasts high compressive strength.

Cellular Glass Insulation

Cellular glass insulation, a non-combustible insulation, is transformed into rigid, spongy insulating sheets using pure glass that expands up to 30 times its original volume.

Its positive features include resistance to moisture absorption and pest infestation. Another important and practical feature of this insulation, which places it among the types of thermal insulation, is its non-combustibility and high compressive strength.

Choosing the Right Thermal Insulation

To make a smart choice of the required thermal insulation, you need to have sufficient knowledge about the types of insulation available, their rated thermal resistance, ease of use and, of course, their value.

You should also consider the functional and environmental characteristics of the insulation and the safety considerations related to thermal insulation during installation and execution. Below are some of the characteristics of a good and suitable fireproof insulation.

Resistance to Pressure Applications

After installing thermal insulation, due to the potential pressures of a structure, they may also be under pressure; therefore, a suitable insulation must be able to withstand the applied pressures.

Non-Flammability of Thermal Insulation

One of the most important things to consider when choosing thermal insulation is the non-flammability of that thermal or sound insulation.

The non-flammability of thermal insulation increases the safety of buildings against fire and prevents the rapid spread of fire. This feature is particularly important in industrial environments and buildings with a high risk of fire.

Thermal Transmittance Coefficient

The lower the thermal transmittance coefficient of the insulation, the higher its thermal resistance and the better its performance against heat transfer and energy loss, which should be considered.

The low thermal transmittance coefficient of the insulation indicates its high efficiency in preventing heat transfer, which reduces energy loss and maintains a suitable temperature in different seasons of the year. This feature helps to optimize energy consumption and reduce energy costs.

Resistance to Fungal Growth

One of the important things to consider in insulation is hygiene. Because if hygiene is not observed, the ground for the growth and reproduction of fungi and microbes is provided.

Therefore, attention to this issue is one of the essential considerations of a good insulation. From the point of view of resistance to fungal growth, rock wool and slag wool insulation are more noteworthy.

UV Resistance

Another important feature that needs to be considered in the process of purchasing insulation that will be exposed to sunlight in open spaces is their resistance to ultraviolet radiation.

Neutral to Chemical Reaction

When installing thermal insulation in a building, it should be noted that they do not react with external factors and are completely neutral. Otherwise, the life of the insulation will be reduced or may even have dangerous consequences for the residents.

High Tensile Strength Against Contraction and Expansion

Expansion and contraction is a process that occurs in any object due to cold and heat and is one of the important things in building construction. A good thermal insulation should have the possibility of contraction and expansion in different temperature conditions.

Advantages of Using Thermal and Acoustic Insulation

As mentioned, insulations are used in walls, pipe walls, heating and cooling equipment, etc., in industry and facilities, and they are used as a solution to reduce the rate of heat transfer to the external environment. The advantages of using thermal and acoustic insulation include:

• Protection of the building structure
• Reduction of energy loss
• Improvement of building airtightness
• Easy and quick installation
• Ease of quality control of thermal insulation
• Reduction of noise pollution

Conditions for Installing Thermal and Acoustic Insulation

Considering various climatic conditions, construction methods, etc., the following points should be taken into account when installing thermal insulation:

• The material of the insulation and its covering must be suitable for the temperature conditions of the piping system and the installation site.
• The material of the insulation and its covering must comply with national building regulations and be suitable for protecting that area of the building against fire.
• The use of combustible materials as insulation, insulation covering, and other auxiliary materials such as adhesive tape, etc., is not permitted.
• Sections of the pipe that pass through fire walls should not have insulation or insulation covering.
• If the pipe is exposed to freezing, the thickness of the insulation must comply with approved engineering tables and methods, or other methods besides insulation should be used to prevent freezing.

Thermal Insulation at a Glance

The information you have studied about thermal insulation is a summary of years of research and investigation by researchers and specialists in HVAC equipment.

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