Insulation control

KNauf opened it's first fibreglass insulation plant in 1978.
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Local considerations
A number of issues must be taken into consideration when selecting insulation for projects in the Middle East, including the climate and need for fire safety, especially in high-rise buildings.

“The vapour pressure compared to the most other areas in the world is invert; this means the thermal insulation has to be protected from the humidity,” explains Vincenz. “This is mostly done by vapour barriers. If this layer is not properly done the insulation can absorb moisture: an absorption of 1% can reduce the performance by 30%,” he adds.

“With the ever changing climate and effects of global warming, the weather conditions in the Middle East no longer demand only high temperature-resistant insulation products, but rather, the need has evolved, requiring products that provide protection from the high temperatures, stand up to the escalating humidity levels and withstand the stormy conditions that have become prevalent over the past few years,” stresses Nasr. “The special qualities that are currently added to the existing ones include the need to be sustainable,” he adds.

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Condensation control is one area of particular concern to building owners and occupiers and, as well as the building structure, the mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) services in general must be carefully considered and designed to tackle energy loss.

“Thermal Insulation, especially of pipework, has not been an important issue previously with condensation control being the only consideration; the global message now, including the UAE and Gulf States, is more environmental,” explains Mike Whelan, Resolco International.

“A strong vapour barrier jacket should always be used in conjunction with a closed cell material to ensure moisture vapour is not allowed to penetrate the system. Moisture or moisture vapour ingress can cause huge problems such as building fabric damage, corroded pipes and an inefficient air conditioning system,” stresses Whelan. 

“Pipe supports are often a weak point in the pipework/insulation system. It is recommended that a high density section of phenolic insulation is used at this point which will support the weight of the pipe whilst continuing the thermal insulation, vapour barrier and fire and smoke properties,” adds Whelan.

Faisal Jassim Trading (FJTCO) offers pre-insulated ducts to help tackle the issue of heat and energy loss within air conditioning systems. “The system eliminates the need for insulators and the possibilities of failure from poor insulation due to bad workmanship or future condensation,” explains FJTCO general manager Raphael Khlat.

The firm’s product enables contractors to meet Ashrae standards and its success has led FJTCO to commission a plant to produce the PIR panels in Dubai in collaboration with a European manufacturer.

Fire safety is a further consideration that must be given to insulation products. “It is absolutely critical for the safety of people in any occupied building that fire and smoke safe materials are used,” stresses Whelan. “Not all thermal insulation materials are smoke safe and standards in Dubai in our opinion need to be clearer and enforced to ensure only fire and smoke safe products are used,” he states.

Meeting project demands
One of the first steps in ensuring a high standard of insulation on a project is to procure a high quality product. Various international standards apply to the production of insulation and the quality of the final products varies according to those that are applied at the manufacturing stage.

“Insulation is available in many forms and in varying qualities,” stresses Nasr. “TPI’s operations adhere to three international standards for quality: ISO 9001, ISO 14,001 and OHSAS 18,001. Moreover, TPI manufactures its PU/PIR insulated products in consistency with the United Nations’ Montreal Protocol of 1987 addressing chemicals that affect the ozone layer, as well as mandates set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to meet the requirements of Title VI of the Clean Air Act (Section 602),” explains Nasr.

By ensuring that any insulation materials procured for a project meet such standards and that the products are correctly installed on site, contractors can be sure that their projects will meet any long-term energy goals of the building.