Why pipe insulation in your loft and other cold spaces is a must.

1. Pipe Insulation prevents frozen pipes

The main reason to insulate water supply pipes exposed in your loft is that pipework in these areas is susceptible to frost.

Therefore, if temperatures reach 0 degrees celsius in these areas and cool the plumbing to a point where it freezes, which is especially true for cold pipes which are already going to be very cold at this time of year, then the frozen water within the pipework will expand.

In cold climates, the inside of a pipe can freeze and thaw many times over the course of the year. This will stress the copper or plastic material that the pipe is made out of to the point where it cannot hold the expanded water anymore and as a result, cause the pipes to burst.

Once the pipe has thawed, water will then continue to flow through the rupture. Now, this is obviously going to cause a huge problem because the water will come gushing through your ceiling spaces into your living spaces.

This could happen and you could be asleep in the middle of the night, you could be away on holiday or out of the house for a day or two, and then when you come back, you find that your house is flooded because the mains cold water pipe work as nonstop pumped cold water through the ruptured pipe into your loft space and throughout the entire house. 

Damages could run into 10s of thousands of £'s. You may also have a fight on your hands with getting paid out by insurance as we all know how difficult insurance companies make it to claim successfully, not to mention all the time spent on cleaning up and the possibility of having to stay in a hotel or relatives until the house is habitable again.

And it doesn't have to be a major leak that causes a torrent of water that can cause a lot of damage either. The weakest point of any pipework system is on the fittings such as an elbow or a tee piece. Frost might not burst the pipe enough to constantly gush water but instead cause the fitting to weep a small amount. 

At first, it won't be apparent but given enough time the leak will soak the area around it and eventually show itself in the form of a damp patch on the wall or ceiling. 

You will then have a major problem on your hands because it will take time for you to identify the source of the leak because it could be hidden under layers of loft insulation or other items put in storage. It could also be travelling from the source of the leak, along joists, etc and finally, end up nowhere near the damaged pipe.

Even when the leak has been fixed, the damp area could take months to dry out properly and if it isn't taken care of quickly then mould will take hold which can be a nightmare to get rid of once it establishes itself

2. Insulating Pipes Improves Comfort by reducing heat loss

In addition to the problems that can be caused by frozen pipes bursting, another issue that can occur is that hot water pipes also lose heat.

This is because a lot of heat is lost through the surface area of a pipe. Not only will this cause you to waste energy and make your energy bills higher (we'll talk about this in a moment) but it will mean that your radiators will take longer to heat up and quicker to cool down alongside your hot water pipes which feed showers and taps.

This impacts your comfort because you have to wait for radiators and showers to get up to desired temperatures longer, which is felt especially in winter. 

This is because a lot of heat is lost through the surface area of a pipe. The goal of pipe insulation is to stop this flow of energy, in the form of heat, keeping more of it in the pipe for longer.

3. Pipe Insulation Lowers Energy Costs

When you have properly insulated pipework, you will be reducing the amount of heat that is lost through the surface area of the pipe – meaning that your radiators will need to work less hard to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.

As we mentioned earlier, this can mean that you will have to spend less on your energy bills each month.

One of the main reasons to use pipe insulation is to eliminate this heat loss or at least reduce its impact to where it's not felt as pronounced.

4. Lagging Pipes Lowers your carbon footprint

Properly insulated pipes as discussed already means you will need less energy to condition, either heat or cool, the contents of the pipe either for heating or cooling air conditioning.

This means that you will in turn indirectly emit less carbon, therefore lowering your carbon footprint. This is better for the planet and over the course of its lifetime insulation is one material that will prevent more carbon from being emitted that was caused during its manufacture, which is not the case for most building materials.

5. Pipe Insulation can protect pipes from corrosion and damage

Pipe insulation is an important part of any building's plumbing system. It can protect pipes from corrosion and damage, which can be costly to repair or replace. It also prevents condensation to form on the pipes, which can cause rusting and corrosion. 

Most pipe insulation is relatively robust in the sense that it can sustain a bit of damage which can cushion a blow that would have otherwise been a direct hit that could have caused the pipes to burst on impact.

Having said that though you should be using pipe insulation cladding like aluminium or PVC Isogenopak along the pipes in exposed areas such as externally or which are liable to be damaged.

6. Insulating pipes can prevent damage to their surroundings

You might be wondering what could we mean by this.

Well, using pipe insulation that comes with an inherent vapour barrier built into it, that is, it has a jacketing such as a foil facing that prevents moisture from perforating through it, can prevent hot and cold pipes from sweating due to condensation forming on the surface of them.

Condensation on pipes can have a range of damaging effects, such as corrosion, microbial and mould growth, and also structural damage.

That's why insulating copper pipes, in particular, exposed cold pipes is a great way to eliminate pipe sweating and humidity problems.

Corrosion of metal pipes is caused by the existence of moisture, as well as this can result in leakages as well as various other problems.

Furthermore, condensation can offer a perfect environment for microbial growth, which can, even more, bring about health issues as well as contamination of the water if there is a slight fissure in the pipe allowing it to enter.

Finally, condensation can lead to structural damage, as the condensation can mean water dripping off the pipes, onto nearby surfaces. When the weight of the water-soaked surface means its integrity is compromised, it can fail, leading to things like ceilings falling through.

Taking action to prevent condensation on pipes is necessary for the security as well as durability of any type of plumbing system.

7. Properly Insulated Pipes can help prevent Legionnaires disease.

We go into this in more detail on a blog specifically written for this subject which you can find here.

However, just to summarise, by insulating your hot water pipes you can maintain the hot water temperature at a level which prevents Legionnaires bacteria from existing and multiplying within the pipework. 

8. Insulating Pipes Can Extend the Life of Your Heating System

Another benefit of properly insulating your pipes is that it can extend the life of your heating system.

This is because if there is less heat loss through the surface area of the pipes from your boiler, then less energy will be needed to heat up the house. The benefit of this is that the temperature setting on your water boiler / heater can be set lower. Your boiler will thank you for it over the long run.

This in turn means that your heating system will work for longer before needing to be replaced or repairs need doing.

9. Insulating Pipes Helps Reduce Noise 

Insulating pipes not only helps reduce heat loss but also reduces noises and vibrations.

Unwanted noises can happen because the water is constantly moving within the pipe and this can cause vibrations that travel through the structure of the building. They can also occur when air gets trapped in pipework, causing loud creaking noises.

If the plumbing is not installed correctly, then in gaps where pipes penetrate through walls, they could cause noise by vibrating and rattling.

Therefore acoustically insulating pipes with either Rockwool Pipe Insulation or Isover Pipe Insulation can effectively dampen noises emanating from pipework. Nitrile rubber like Armaflex, the black flexible pipe lagging you have probably seen around, works pretty well too.

There is also specialist acoustic pipe insulation such as the ones that can be found here. It is usually made of dense foam or rubber which has mineral wool adhered or stitched to it, making an effective barrier against sound.

It must be said that it's usually only used on soil and drainage pipes though in most real-world use cases.

10. Some types of pipe insulation can help resist fire

In order to ensure the safety of buildings, many types of pipe insulation can be used to help resist fire. Most modern pipe insulation is what's called Class 0 Rated in the UK, which basically means they are designed to resist the spread of fire along their surface.

However there is specially designed Fire-rated pipe insulation which is designed to provide protection from fire and smoke and can be used on water lines, gas lines, and drains.

It is important to choose the right type of insulation for each application to ensure maximum protection for buildings.

Additionally, it is recommended that all insulation be installed by a professional to ensure proper installation and protection, as it may be the pipe needs to be covered in a fire retardant before you put the insulation around the pipe.

If you are unsure you can contact us and we will advise you as best we can or alternatively a TICA-affiliated thermal insulation contractor.

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What about insulating pipes in cellars and under suspended floors?

Cellars and underfloor suspended floors are probably more sheltered from freezing temperatures considering they are actually below ground or surrounded by brick walls rather than just thin roof tiles. 

However, you still need to insulate them to prevent heat loss in heating and hot water pipes, and as insurance against cold water pipes freezing.

Now we have dealt with why you should insulate pipes in the attic and elsewhere, let's look at what to look for when choosing pipe lagging.

How to choose the right pipe wrap insulation

Pipe lagging is determined based on three factors: wall thickness, length, and bore size. 

Wall Insulation thickness

How thick should the wall thickness be? That's one of the most asked questions surrounding pipe insulation. For example, if your pipe lagging is said to be 25mm thick, it means it has 25mm of insulation on both sides. 

Strictly speaking, water pipe insulation needs should be as thick as British Standard 5422:2009 dictates. You can find these thicknesses on the data sheets that the pipe insulation manufacturers make to accompany their products.

We will do another article on this another day but we have taken a screenshot from the Isover Fibreglass Insulation guide for both Domestic Heating thicknesses and for Non-domestic. You will note that non-domestic requires thicker pipe insulation.

Choosing the correct pipe insulation largely depends on the wall thickness. The insulation must be thick enough to give you the results you are looking for, but too thick insulation may be impossible to fit because the brackets that the pipes hang off may not permit more than say 10mm, especially if the white plastic clips are used as shown in the picture.

If you don't have much space to wrap the insulation around because pipes are installed too close to the wall, for example, it's best to choose a 13mm or 9mm thick nitrile rubber pipe insulation.

This is because you will not be able to fit 20mm thick glasswool pipe lagging for instance and you should insulate the pipes with the maximum permissible thickness, even if it's only 9mm wherever you have access.

Something is better than nothing!

If space is not a constraint, then 20mm thick pipe insulation, or more if you can, would be the best option to maximise efficiency using most types of pipe insulation materials.

A simple rule of thumb is that the bigger the heating or hot water pipe, the thicker the insulation because it has more surface area and thus loses heat faster.

For frost protection, however, the equation is reversed. The smaller the pipe, the thicker the insulation you need because a smaller volume of water freezes more quickly.

Therefore, when the goal is to prevent frozen pipes you should check the manufacturer's thicknesses as per BS5422:2009

Bore size

Bore size refers to the diameter of the hole which runs down through the length of the pipe wrap insulation. It is determined by the pipes you're looking to insulate. For example, a 15mm copper pipe requires pipe insulation 15mm bore size.

The pipe diameter is measured across the pipe from side to side, in inches or millimetres although millimetres are more often used these days.

Please be aware that steel pipe sizes are measured on the internal diameter of the pipe which you cannot see. When talking about pipe insulation, you need to go off the external diameter of the steel pipe.

For example, 32mm Steel Pipe size actually means you need 42mm insulation. 32mm is the internal diameter, and 42mm is the external diameter.

Measure the diameter of your pipe correctly and determine the thickness of insulation you need before you buy pipe insulation online.

The pipe insulation you choose should not be too small for the pipe you want to insulate. Go up one size if in doubt. A little additional space is ok, but if the insulation you choose is too tight, it can come open even if you use adhesive or tape to close it.

Length

Here's a quick rundown of the standard lengths of pipe insulation.

Kingspan Phenolic Pipe Insulation = 1m

Rockwool Pipe Insulation = 1m

Isover Fibreglass Pipe Insulation and Paroc Pipe Insulaion = 1.2m

Nitrile rubber insulation from K-Flex or polyethylene insulation like Armacell Tubolit are typically manufactured in lengths of 2 meters.

What types of pipe insulation should I choose?

There are many options available today. You can buy pipe insulation online or visit your local vendor. Some of the most commonly used pipe-lagging products include:

• Foam Pipe Insulation: The simplest of all insulation options, Tubolit Polyethene foam pipe lagging from Armacell, comes in lengths of 2m. They work well as loft pipe insulation as well as being used externally due to their closed cell structure, effectively preventing water ingress. Installing foam insulation is super easy too, they are usually snapped into place by using duct tape or PVC tape to seal them, especially on the bends and tees to prevent them from springing off.

• Nitrile rubber pipe lagging: Nitrile rubber lagging solution from KFlex insulation is available in 2-metre lengths. It comes in many forms, including unsplit tubes that you can slip onto the pipe in one, whole sheets and as pre-slit self-seal tubes. This versatile pipe insulation finds alot use in household plumbing and commercial HVAC application especially Air Conditioning systems.

• Phenolic Foam Pipe Insulation: Phenolic pipe insulation from Kingspan is one of the thinnest, most thermally efficient solutions available on the market today. This moisture-resistant pipe lagging can insulate all kinds of pipes in HVAC and building applications.

• Fibreglass and Rockwool Pipe Insulation: These 2 are collectively known as Mineral Wool insulation owing to the fact they are made from the minerals of Silica i.e glass or Basalt rock which are superheated and spun into fibres, hence the name Fibreglass for example. Mineral wool pipe insulation is one of the best options for dual use as acoustic insulation as well as thermal insulation. Pipes should be lagged with 20mm wall thickness at least in domestic properties.

Which pipe insulation is best?

Which pipe insulation is the best is subjective. It depends on what your goals are when choosing pipe insulation as all the different materials have different properties and therefore different outcomes.

When selecting pipe insulation, it is important to consider the desired outcome. Different materials have different properties, so choosing the right one depends on what goals you are trying to achieve.

For example, if you are looking for high-temperature insulation, you may choose a material such as Rockwool or ceramic. For the best thermal pipe insulation, you would be advised to use Phenolic foam insulation such Kingspan Kooltherm, which is the best insulator when it comes to heat loss.

If you are aiming for a low-cost insulation solution that still offers effective protection against heat loss, then foam insulation such as Tubolit or Armaflex lagging might be the best option.

On the other hand, if you need pipe wrap insulation that is also fire resistant, then you might want to look into using Rockwool or calcium silicate. With so many pipe insulation options available, it is important to consider your specific goals before making your decision.

Again if you are unsure, contact us and we will offer free advice or a local pipe insulation contractor.

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 How to check if your pipes are insulated?

Apart from doing a visual survey of pipework, another way is to use a thermal imaging camera to take pictures of the pipework to see where the heat loss is occurring the most.

It may point out dark corners of loft spaces for example where you couldn't see if there is lagging on pipes or not.

If you're in any doubt, then it's always best to get in touch with a professional pipe insulation contractor who can carry out an accurate survey of your property and provide you with an estimate of what needs to be done.

How to lag pipework yourself

Let's break this down into multiple steps because it's important that you get this right before charging ahead with lagging pipes as it may be to your detriment if you do so.

The steps are:

1. Safety Considerations and Tools Needed
2. Buying the right pipe insulation
3. Checks to make prior to insulating your pipes.
4. Actual Installation of the pipe insulation

Stay safe when working in loft spaces

When insulating water pipes in loft spaces, it is important to take into account the environment you will be working as it can be quite hazardous.

The first thing you need to be aware of is the floor in a loft space is usually, well, none existent! Meaning, there will probably be no proper floors for you to walk on, and only timber joists that are available to take your body weight.

Between the joists will be the ceiling of the room below which will normally be just plasterboarded, and these are not capable of supporting the weight of a person.

So with this in mind, you need to use boards to bridge the gap between the joists. It's also advisable to use a harness! This will protect you from falling down if something goes wrong or you lose your footing.