5 Questions to Answer Before Selecting Pipe Insulation
1. What is the pipe temperature?
This is the primary selection driver. Cold pipes need closed-cell insulation with a vapour barrier. Hot pipes above 105°C need mineral wool.
| Temperature | Application | Material |
|---|---|---|
| Below ambient | Chilled water, refrigeration, cold water | K-FLEX ST/SK (closed-cell) |
| 40–80°C | HVAC heating, domestic hot water | K-FLEX ST or K-FLEX PE |
| 80–105°C | High-temp HVAC | K-FLEX ST or Solar HT |
| Above 105°C | Steam, industrial heating | K-Rock mineral wool |
2. Is condensation a risk?
If the pipe runs below ambient temperature — chilled water, refrigeration, cold water supply — you must use closed-cell insulation with a built-in vapour barrier. Open-cell materials absorb moisture and lose thermal performance. K-FLEX ST and SK are the standard choice — no additional vapour wrapping required. All joints must be sealed with K-420 adhesive.
3. What are the fire safety requirements?
Standard applications: Class O/1 elastomeric is acceptable. Fire-critical areas — plant rooms, commercial risers, escape routes, high-rise buildings over 18m — require non-combustible K-Rock mineral wool with A1/A2 fire rating. Check the project fire strategy before specifying.
4. Indoor or outdoor?
Indoors: standard K-FLEX ST/SK elastomeric or mineral wool. Outdoors: K-FLEX Solar HT (UV-stabilised) or protect standard insulation with aluminium or PVC cladding. Standard elastomeric degrades in sunlight within months.
5. What thickness do you need?
| Application | Recommended Material | Typical Thickness |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic hot water | PE or Elastomeric | 13mm |
| Domestic cold water | Elastomeric (closed-cell) | 13mm |
| HVAC heating | Elastomeric or Mineral Wool | 13–19mm |
| Chilled water | K-FLEX ST/SK | 19–25mm |
| Refrigeration | K-FLEX ST/SK | 19–32mm |
| Heat pump lines | K-FLEX ST / Solar HT | 13–19mm |
| High-temp steam | K-Rock mineral wool | 25–50mm |
Installation Notes
Fastest installation: K-FLEX SK self-seal — peel and stick, no adhesive needed.
Complex pipework: Elastomeric tube is flexible and fits around bends and elbows without pre-formed sections. Mineral wool requires pre-formed fittings or on-site fabrication.
Outdoor use: K-FLEX Solar HT is UV-stabilised for external applications. Standard elastomeric degrades in UV without cladding protection.
Sealing: All joints on cold pipe applications must be sealed with K-420 contact adhesive — an unsealed joint is a vapour path to the pipe surface.
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