About the necessity of cladding

The usability of industrial insulation for one or another purpose and under a diverse range of conditions does not depend solely on the insulation properties of these materials, but also on the choice of the right cover material. Quite often (in some industries, e.g. paper, chemical, food, energy industry, etc.), equipment is used in a moist and chemically aggressive environment. Many pipes, equipment’s, storage tanks, etc. are located outside, thus being influenced by all of the accompanying environmental impacts. Even interior temperatures may fluctuate quite a bit and indoor climate in procuction facility may sometimes be even worse than outside conditions. All of the above, along with a number of other environmental factors, have an effect on insulation properties and longevity.

The mechanical properties of the insulation cladding are also important in many cases: resistance to compression, tension, bending, vibration, impact, hardness of the cover, etc.

Consequently, it is important to choose the right cladding material.

Today, sheet metal is one of the most commonly used cladding materials in industrial engineering insulation. Generally, flat sheets are used to cover pipes, equipment, and smaller tanks insulation, profiled sheets are mainly used on flat or nearly flat surfaces, such as large storage tanks, boilers, industrial electrical filters, etc. Exceptional cases, fireproof fabrics, foil, plastic materials, etc., are used as cladding materials.

Cladding is used:

1. to protect insulation from mechanical damage;
2. to protect insulation from the weather conditions, including:
against corrosion caused by moisture; against insulation embrittlement due to UV radiation; against particles flying in the wind, causing the depreciation of the surface layer (erosion);
3. to protect insulation from corrosion caused by an industrial corrosive environment;
4. to allow for the insulation to be more easily cleaned, allowing a good 6th level of hygiene to be maintained, e.g. in the food industry;
5. to prevent dust arising from the insulation material;
6. to be able to change the appearance of the insulation and adapt it to the architectural whole.

When choosing cover materials, their properties and usage options in different environments must be considered pursuant to given conditions. It should not be forgotten that the support structures and fasteners of insulation cover materials are significant for the insulation as a whole.

Some examples:

It must be taken into account that heat bridges, solar and other heat radiation may significantly increase the surface temperature of cover plates. In case of fire, the temperature of a cover plate rises significantly, thus there is a reason to avoid using aluminum sheet metal as a cover plate in places with increased fire risk.

CLADDING MATERIAL

Depending on the place of use and the purposes, cover plates are made from different materials. The most common materials are: