Choosing the Right Material for Your Insulation Blankets - Part 1: The basics

When it comes to insulation covers, blankets, and jackets, one size does not fit all. In order to match your specific application with the correct insulation materials, quite a few factors need to be considered. An incorrect insulation blanket can cost you money, time, and even the safety of your workers and customers. Some of the factors that must be taken into consideration when selecting the correct insulation materials for your particular application include:

• Maximum temperature range of the application in question

If your insulation cannot handle the temperatures your application demands, then it is at best, ineffective, and at worst, dangerous.

• Desired outer surface “touch” temperature

What temperature do you need the outside of the insulation cover to be? Does it need to be ‘touch-safe’, or are you just trying to lower the ambient temperature in the surrounding area?

• Exposure to elements (i.e. water, chemicals, debris, etc.)

What will your insulation have to go through? Can it handle the water, chemicals, and debris thrown its way? 

• Safety and regulatory requirements

Are there certain standards (i.e. UL, fire safety, etc) that your insulation covers must meet? 

• Space limitations

How much room do you have to work with? Space constraints can influence both the insulation thickness and type of insulation material recommended. 

• Frequency of insulation removal

If you need to remove the insulation often for equipment maintenance or adjustments, it will play a role in what fastening materials are chosen. 

• Aesthetic requirements

Last but certainly not least, do you need your insulation covers to match their surroundings or conform to a certain corporate color?

It is imperative that your insulation blanket provider is aware of these basic factors. Your Firwin rep can walk you through these steps and ensure that you get the right blanket for your application.