Application Procedures-Chilled & Low Temp Pipwork.doc

7/29/2019 Application Procedures-Chilled & Low Temp Pipwork.doc

1/8

Installation Practices (Armaflex Sheet & Tube) Asia Market

PROCEDURE CHECK LIST

FOR THE APPLICATION OF ARMAFLEX SHEET & TUBE TO

CHILLED WATER & LOW TEMPERATURE PIPEWORK

INSTALLATIONS.

The following check list procedure is designed to assist the Insulation Contractor to

gain maximum performance and profitability from the Armaflex products during

installation. The information below should be used in addition to current Armacell

published literature relating to the application of Armaflex Sheet & Tube products.

House Keeping Procedures on site:

Avoid keeping the adhesive brushes in the adhesive holder duringapplication. Always keep a cover on the adhesive when not using. (A scrap

section of Armaflex sheet will do the job.)

Keep adhesive brushes stored in thinners when not in use, this will keep thebrushes clean during installation. (Remember to remove the thinner from thebrushes before applying the adhesive to the Armaflex.)

Avoid damaging the Armaflex during installation and fabrication. Keep the Armaflex as clean as possible during fabrication. Where

appropriate fabrication and adhesive work should be done off the ground.

Build a workbench for cutting and fabrication work.

(Use the Armaflex Tube carton for cutting on, the template on the carton can beused as an aid to cutting prefect angles for bend fittings on tube Armaflex.)


2/8

Use the correct size of knife when cutting the Armaflex tubes, i.e., large tubelarge knife, and small tube small knife. On large bore pipework where sheet

is used, use a small knife that is used for sheet fabrications for Ductwork.

Brushes, use the following sizes for different applications as listed below;1. Armaflex seams (25mm.)2. Compressed seams and joints long thin brush 15mm to 20mm.Note: Always cut down the brush heads to half the size.3. After installation of Armaflex clean the dust from all visual surfaces.

A CLEAN JOB IS A PROFESSIONAL JOB

Minimum Tool requirements for each installer:

1 large knife 10 12 for Armaflex Tube product where required. 1 medium knife 6 8 for fabrication cutting. 1 small knife 4 6 for curved and irregular fabrications 1 x 25mm brush for seams of Armaflex tube and sheet. 1 x thin 15mm 20mm brush for wet sealing of pipework and fittings

made of Armaflex.

1 metal/wooden straight edge for Armaflex sheet on large bore pipeworkand fitting fabrications.

Chalk and marking pen. Tape measure and angle set square (where applicable) Dividers for pipework sheet fabrications - (where applicable) Small-sharpened waste sections of various sized pipework 100mm longfor making holes in the Armaflex tube and sheet.

Pre-Installation procedures:

Ensure the specified Armaflex sheet and tube thickness is maintainedthroughout the installation, including all load support brackets and

fittings.

All pipework surfaces should be cleaned before installing the Armaflexsheet where possible, particular attention should be made in service

shafts where concrete often sits on the pipework and pipe-supports

during building construction. Where possible, keep the Armaflex clean during fabrication. Pre-fabricate pipework fitting covers on the workbenches in (mass), this

will speed up the installation.


3/8

Straight pipework applications - Armaflex Tube:

Install the Armaflex in the 2m lengths where possible. Fit the Armaflex onto the pipework dry, and apply adhesive to the fixing

seams, ensure all surface seams are covered with the adhesive. (USE THEFINGERNAIL TEST BEFORE CLOSING THE FIXING SEAM. FOR

INFORMATION RELATING TO ARMAFLEX ADHESIVE, SEE THE

ARMAFLEX INSTALLTION MANUAL.)

All the Armaflex should be installed under compression. All tube shouldhave an extra 5-10mm added to all cut lengths to allow for this

compression.

All compressed butt joints should be wet sealed with the Armaflexadhesive at all times. Self-adhesive black PVC tape should never be used

on Armaflex to provide a vapour seal. Armaflex 3mm tape should only be

used under written permission from Armacell and local appointed

Agents. All Armaflex tube/sheet ends should be glued to the pipework, and at all

termination points in locations of valves and fittings and vertical

pipework installations.

All pipe-supports shall be vapour sealed with Armaflex adhesive, ensureno gaps are present at such locations.

Where possible keep the Armaflex seams away from view and facingtowards the ceiling and not the floor, it looks better.

ALL BINDER POINTS AND ANY PROBES THAT ARE CONNECTEDTOO THE PIPEWORK FOR COMMISIONING PURPOSES SHOULD BE

INSULATED TO THE SAME THICKNESS REQUIREMENT AS THE

MAIN PIPEWORK INSTALLATION. IN ADDITION ALLCONNECTIONS FROM THE PIPEWORK THAT CONNECT TO

PRESSURE GUAGES ALSO SHOULD BE INSULATED WITH

SMALL BORE TUBE EQUAL TO THE THICKNESS OF THE MAINS

PIPEWORK. THIS ALSO APPLYS TO ALL PROBES ON VALVES AND

OTHER FLOW MEASURING EQUIPMENT TYPES.

Pipe-supports and anti-condensation/ice formation control:

When Armaflex pipe-supports are not used the following procedures should be

followed;

Wood Supports should be covered with Armaflex sheet to the samethickness that has been installed to the main pipework.

Foil faced Phenolic pipe-supports shall be sealed at the ends withArmaflex adhesive to prevent the dust from affecting the vapour seal to

the joining Armaflex. If the support is damaged, it is advisable that the

procedures laid out for Wooden Supports are actioned.


4/8

PU Supports shall be vapour sealed with Armaflex adhesive, ensure thatthe PU supports seams are vapour sealed with a sealant, this will prevent

any possible moisture dripping from that joint. Armaflex sheet strips maybe placed under regular pipe load bearing

supports to reduce insulation thickness reduction. The thickness of

Armaflex shall be the same thickness as the mains pipework. TheArmaflex load bearing strips should be of size that equals half the

circumference of the insulated pipe by 100-150mm wide.

ADDITIONAL JOINT PROTECTION at joints, use Armaflex 3mmself adhesive tape. Always remove dirt and dust form the surface of the

installation before applying the Armaflex tape. Allow a minimum of

25mm overlap.Armaflex Bends and Fitting Fabrications from sheet and tube:

All Armaflex Tube fabrications for bends should be done with the aid of theArmaflex Template located on all of the Tube boxes.

Ensure all seam joints have adhesive applied on both surfaces as detailed inthe Armaflex Installation Manual.

It is better to fabricate the fittings on the box, in large quantities. In locations that have many bends and fittings, install the bend fitting 1 st,

then install the straight lengths of Armaflex 2nd

, following application

procedures at all time. On pulled bends that have a very very large radius, the Armaflex can be

sleeved up and around the fitting. Always fix the seam on the centre of the

pipework and not along the throat or on the back off the bend. Once the

seam is secure, the adhesive joint can be turned away from view. On fitting fabrications, the cutting and glued seam should always be facing to

the side of facing upwards. It is not advised that a seam is facing downwards

towards the floor Fitting fabrications from Armaflex sheet should follow the instructions in the

Armaflex installation manual. For large bore welded bends that are segmented, the shape of the welded

segments can be chalked and transferred by Armaflex sheet be placed onto

the fitting using the correct thickness of insulation. The chalked outline can

be used as a template and transferred to metal or the Armaflex boxes.

Always keep to the correct dimensions.


5/8

Valves and Flanges:

On these fittings always maintain the same insulation thickness as themain pipework branches.

Always wet seal all joints with Armaflex adhesive. If there are jointsthat are hard to get too, the use of a good quality Silicone Sealant couldbe used to provide the vapour seal.

Ensure all exposed metal of the fittings including the neck spindle isinsulated to prevent condensation/ice formation. In areas and locations

that have exposed electrical equipment near by, it is advised that the

Valve Handle itself is also insulated with removable Armaflex

fabrications.

On Low Temperature pipework installations, (below 0c) always packthe air space present in valves and other types of pipework fittings, using

waste Armaflex tube or sheet before installing the Armaflex fitting cover

too the equipment.

Multi-layer Armaflex Tube and Sheet Applications:

Where a 2nd layer of Armaflex sheet is required on large bore pipework, theseams and joints should be always staggered by a minimum of 90 degrees!

On the final layer that is on view, ensure the seams are facing upwardstowards the ceiling and away from view. (On external pipework keep the

seams facing away from direct sunlight.)

Ensure that the termination points of the Armaflex are sealed with adhesiveon all layers with no gaps being present.

All seams and joints on the 1st layer shall be sealed with no gaps beingpresent. The use of any form of self-adhesive should not be used to act as a

vapour barrier.

In areas that are exposed to view, like car parks in Hotel basements, it isadvisable to protect the finished Armaflex installation from damage.

When the O.D of the pipework installation is 600mm and above, all overadhesive coverage should be used on both the Armaflex sheet and the under-

laying pipework surface. (See Armaflex Installation manual.)

Concrete load bearing structures & Distribution pumps.

In situations where a distribution pump is fixed directly onto a concreteload bearing structure. To prevent cold bridging Armaflex sheet shall

be installed too the top of the structure where the pump is fixed down in

position. After this procedure, a purpose made fabrication Armaflex

cover can be installed around the pump. All exposed metal surfaces

should be insulated.


6/8

Note: Care should be taken in the design of the Armaflex fitting cover. Always

allow for free flow air intake, so avoiding heat build up within the pump unit

its self. Check with the site engineer on design of your fitting cover for approval

before commencing this area of insulation work.

Storage and Distributions Vessels:

When installing Armaflex sheet, always apply all-over adhesive coverageto both the Armaflex sheet and the under-laying surface.

All Armaflex sheet shall be installed under compression, with all seamsand joints vapour sealed with Armaflex adhesive.See Armaflex

Installation Manual

All fixing seams should be staggered on single layer and multi layerapplications.

All exposed metal surface shall be insulated too the thickness specified. ALL VESSEL SUPPORT LEGS and structures shall be fully insulated to

the same thickness as the vessels body.

Inspection hatches should be made removable for easy access. Anyremovable Armaflex fabrications can be vapour sealed using a good

quality local silicone sealant.

All connecting pipework from the vessel shall be wet sealed usingArmaflex adhesive as per Armacell recommendations.See Armaflex

Installation Manual.

Mechanical protection:

Where additional mechanical protection is required? Use of one of theArmacells Arma-Chek systems. Where non-Armacell mechanical

protection materials are used, please contact you local Armacell sales

office or Approved agent for advise on compatibility and suitability.

Armaflex Installations External to Building (Exposed to sunlight:)

All Armaflex seams should be turned away from direct sunlight; they shouldface the building roof top floor or facing the building wall face.

Armaflex should always be protected from UV and Chemical attack usingArmacell protection systems or other approved coverings and coatings

within 3 days of application. If this is not possible, we would recommended

that until the coverings or coating are applied the Armaflex installation, is

covered and protected with Black plastic sheeting, avoid clear see

through sheeting! As UV will pass through or use other materials that

would prevent UV and chemicals attacking the Armaflex surface.


7/8

Application checklist: SAY YES EVERY TIME

Always use the recommended Armaflex adhesive. Use only fresh adhesive, and keep you adhesive covered when not in use. Never thin down your adhesive with thinner or Armaflex cleaner when it

goes thick and un-usable. Replace with new fresh adhesive.

Use good quality tools and brushes and keep them sharp and clean. Keep Armaflex clean and dry during during and after installation. Clean pipework before installing the Armaflex tube and sheet. Remove any

construction building cement from the pipework surface.

Use Armaflex cartons for templates, also us the template aid on the Tubecarton for bend and other types of fitting fabrications when using Armaflex

Tubes.

Always install Armaflex under compression. Never stretch.

Always check that all seams and joints are sealed with no gaps present. Fix Armaflex to pipework at all tube and sheet ends and at all pipework

termination points at valve, flange and other types of pipework fittings

locations.

Keep Armaflex seams away from view; turn to the side or facing up-wardswhen inside a building.

For a good job, keep your adhesive seams tidy and small, use the correct sizeof brush.

Never use black PVC tape to provide vapour seals on seams and joints, usethe recommended Armaflex adhesive. For additional joint protections on Low

Temperature pipework apply Armaflex 3mm self adhesive tape over the glued

sealed butt joints. Always seal Armaflex termination points to the pipework before installing

Armaflex covers to valves and flanges.

Always pack out the air space when insulating valves, pumps etc, on LowTemperature installations.

Keep to the correct insulation thickness throughout the pipeworkinstallation on pipe-supports and fittings etc.

Use the Armaflex Installation Manual is you are not sure what to do orASK.

Use and keep templates when making pipework fabrications from Armaflexsheet.

For irregular shapes and for marking out, use white chalk.DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.

Application team

Armacell India


8/8

Documents

Application Procedures-Chilled & Low Temp Pipwork.doc