Kaiflex Specification: Split-Air Conditioning Applications

Split Air-Conditioning Insulation Specification

S1 – General

S1.01 Scope

All split air-conditioning pipework shall be insulated to prevent condensation and energy losses. All valves, fittings, flanges and associated equipment shall be insulated to the same standards as the linear pipe runs.

Where services have the potential to generate or carry nuisance mechanical noise, acoustic insulation, including sound absorption and anti-vibration, shall be applied.

S1.02 References

The materials, components and completed installations shall conform to applicable Standards current at the time of tendering.

Relevant standards may include:

BS 353 Glossary of terms relating to thermal insulation.

BS 476Fire Tests on Building Materials and Structures.

BS 874Methods of determining thermal properties, with definitions of thermal insulating

terms.

BS 5970Thermal insulation of pipework and equipment in the temperature range of -100°C

to +870°C

EN ISO 8497Determination of steady-state thermal transmission properties of thermal insulation

for circular pipes

EN 12086Thermal insulating products for building applications. Determination of water vapour

transmission properties

EN 12667Determination of thermal resistance by means of guarded hot plate and heat flow

meter methods. Products of high and medium thermal resistance

EN ISO 12241Thermal insulation for building equipment and industrial installations -- Calculation

rules

EN ISO 14304Thermal insulation products for building equipment and industrial installations.

Factory made flexible elastomeric foam (FEF) products. Specification

S1.03 Services to be Insulated

Air-conditioning pipework

S1.04 Pipe Clearances

Shall be sufficient to allow for the full thickness of insulation to be applied around all pipework. The mechanical contractor shall be responsible for ensuring this detail.

S1.05 Pipe Clamps

Shall only be applied around high density load bearing sections at least matching the thermal performance of the thickness of insulation applied to linear pipe runs. The mechanical contractor shall be responsible for ensuring this detail.

S2 Materials

S2.01 General

All insulation materials shall be:

Formaldehyde free.

Shown to inhibit the growth of mould.

Installed to the manufacturers recommendations. In particular all insulation shall be fully vapour sealed using an approved adhesive or mastic around all pipe supports, clamps, valves and flanges.

Class O fire rated under BS 476 Parts 6 & 7 when used indoors.

Either inherently UV resistant or otherwise treated with compatible UV resistant paint or coatings when used on pipework outdoors.

Provided with a compatible weather & UV resistant finish appropriate to the environment when used on pipework outdoors which is likely to experience damage.

Manufactured in accordance with a fully certified EN ISO 9001 quality management system.

S3 – Thermal Insulation

S3.01 Insulation Specification

Materials shall be as described:

Kaiflex ST Class O:

Flexible Nitrile rubber insulation temperature resistant up to 100°C with a closed cell structure and a built in vapour barrier. The material shall exhibit a Class 1 surface spread of flame rating when tested in accordance with BS 476 Part 7 and a Class 0 fire rating when tested in accordance BS 476 Part 6.

The material shall be dust and fibre free and incorporate an anti-microbial additive to prevent mould growth.

The thermal conductivity shall be no greater than 0.034 W/(m·K) at 0°C and 0.038 W/(m·K) at 40°C when tested in accordance with EN ISO 8497 or EN 12667. Water vapour transmission shall be no less than 10,000 when tested in accordance with EN 12086.

Tube material shall be supplied in 2 m lengths or 15 m long coils. Sheets shall be supplied in 1 m continuous rolls. The material shall be black in colour.

Kaiflex EPDM:

Flexible UV resistant EPDM rubber insulation temperature resistant up to 150°C with a closed cell structure and a built in vapour barrier. The material shall exhibit a Class 1 surface spread of flame rating when tested in accordance with BS 476 Part 7.

The material shall be dust and fibre free.

The thermal conductivity shall be no greater than 0.038 W/(m·K) at 0°C and 0.042 W/(m·K) at 40°C when tested in accordance with EN ISO 8497 or EN 12667. Water vapour transmission shall be no less than 4,500 when tested in accordance with EN 12086.

Tube material shall be supplied in 2 m lengths. Sheets shall be supplied in 1 m continuous rolls. The material shall be black in colour

Kaiflex RT-ST

High density load bearing PIR pipe sections with a Nitrile rubber facing to provide a full water vapour seal between the pipe support and the adjoining insulation.

S3.02 Technical Values

Material / Temp Range / “λ” Value W/mK at mean temp / ODP
Rating / GWP
Rating / Fire Class / Typical material density kg/m3
Kaiflex ST Class O / -196ºC to +105ºC / 0.034 @ 0ºC
0.036 @ 20ºC / 0 / 0 / Class O / 50-55
Kaiflex EPDM / -196ºC to
+150ºC / 0.038 @ 0ºC
0.04 @ 20ºC / 0 / 0 / Class 1 / 50-55

S3.03 Material Selection

Shall be:

Internal / External
Concealed / Exposed / Concealed / Exposed
Split Air-Conditioning Pipe / Kaiflex ST Class O / Kaiflex ST Class O / Kaiflex ST Class O*
or Kaiflex EPDM / Kaiflex ST Class O*
or Kaiflex EPDM*

*See coverings selection for acceptable finishes

S3.04 Material Thickness

For each service the thickness of insulation applied shall not be less than that defined in the tables below. The following thickness’s shall be taken to represent reasonable provision for the control of energy loss, prevention of pipe freezing and the prevention of surface condensation.

S3.04.01 Split Air-Conditioning

Pipe O.D / Kaiflex ST
Class O / Kaiflex
EPDM
Insulation Thickness
mm / mm / mm
10 / 13 / 13
12 / 13 / 13
15 / 13 / 13
22 / 13 / 13
28 / 13 / 13
35 / 13 / 19
42 / 19 / 19
54 / 19 / 19
67 / 19 / 19
76.1 / 19 / 19
88.9 / 19 / 19

S4 - Protective Coverings

S4.01 – Covering Specification

Materials shall be as described:

Kaifinish Paint:

UV resistant non-drip paint for Kaiflex ST Class O and Kaiflex BluEco matching material flexibility when dry. Water varnish colour on the base of a PU-dispersion varnish. The colour shall be either white (RAL 9010) or grey (RAL 7035).

In all cases two coats of Kaifinish paint should be applied to provide UV resistance.

Approximate coverage rate 0.55 l/m² (0.275 l/m² per layer). At least 2 hours should be allowed after application of the first film before applying the second layer. Application should be at ambient temperatures between 10°C and 30°C and a maximum relative humidity of 75%.

S4.02 – Covering Selection

Shall be:

For Kaiflex ST Class O:

Internal / External
Concealed / Exposed / Concealed / Exposed
Split Air-Conditioning Pipe / None required / None required / kaifinish Paint / kaifinish Paint

For Kaiflex ST:

Internal / External
Concealed / Exposed / Concealed / Exposed
Split Air-Conditioning Pipe / None required / None required / None required / None required

S5 – Additional Details

S5.01 – Water Vapour Barriers

Shall be built into the insulation material itself wherever possible. The water vapour resistance factor of the insulation shall be no less than 10,000 for Kaiflex ST Class O and no less than 4,000 for Kaiflex EPDM.

Along all insulation seams and joints Kaiflex Adhesive shall be applied to form a water vapour tight seal between two pieces of Kaiflex. Every 2 m and wherever insulation terminates Kaiflex shall be fixed directly to the pipe using Kaiflex Adhesive to form a water vapour tight seal.

S5.02 – Insulation of Pipe Supports

Wherever possible the mechanical contractor shall ensure that all pipe clamps are installed around high density load bearing insulation sections at least matching the thermal performance of the insulation on all linear pipe runs. It is the responsibility of the insulation contractor to ensure that the water vapour barrier is continuous around this load bearing section.

Where the mechanical contractor has installed pipe clamps directly around the pipe the insulation contractor shall note this and, if appropriate, wrap insulation of at least the same thickness as used on adjoining linear pipe runs around the pipe clamp. It is the responsibility of the insulation contractor to ensure that adhesive has been applied to form a water vapour tight seal at this point.

S5.03 – Insulated Valve and Flange Cover Boxes

Shall be manufactured directly from Kaiflex sheet of at least the same thickness as used on linear pipe runs following the manufacturers recommendations. The covering shall match that used on the linear pipe runs.

Where possible contractors shall apply velcro strips to the valve or flange box seams.

S5.04 – Fire Resistant Walls

At points where pipework passes through fire resistant walls the fire resistance of the wall shall be maintained.

The mechanical contractor shall be responsible for ensuring this detail and obtaining from the manufacturer all relevant test certificates.