How critical is it to inspect your industrial insulation?
How critical is it to inspect your industrial insulation?
An expert contractor will design and install your industrial insulation to keep your facility safe, efficient, and cost-effective. Insulation is often hidden from view, but it should not be forgotten. At the very least, it is worth having an annual inspection.
Insulation deteriorates over time. Insulation can become ineffective if it is not taken care of. This will impact personnel, processes, as well as the bottom line.
Industrial Insulation Inspection & Maintenance
Insulation becomes less efficient with time. An inspection is the first step in a good maintenance plan. This helps to identify insulation that is missing, damaged, or compromised.
Insulation inspection is not required. This can lead to reduced safety protection, decreased process efficiency, increased corrosion and increased energy consumption. A number of elements are required for proper insulation inspection.
External Visual Inspection
External inspection is simple and easy to do. It involves inspecting the insulation of a facility with an eye for possible problems. A glance can often reveal small problems that, if left untreated, can become major issues.
What do insulation inspectors look out for?
- Spills and leaks may indicate gaps or tears that need to be repaired.
- Cracks or breaks in the caulking that connects pieces of cladding
- Between insulation pieces, seal the joints not sealed
- Foot-traffic or mechanical impacts can cause damage
- Low-temp operations: Abnormal condensation or frost on cold surfaces
- Unanticipated hotspots (high-temp operations).
- Inadequately replaced insulation or missing insulation
External visual inspections can identify visible problems, but they cannot give insight into conditions below industrial insulation. You will need a different type inspection.
Inspection of Internal Insulation
Inspectors use inspection ports to examine the subsurface of insulation. To facilitate inspection, inspection ports are often fitted by the contractor. By removing the plug from the inspection port, inspectors can view the insulation's subsurface.
Inspection ports are convenient but have their downsides. Heat loss can occur if the plugs and ports are damaged. A port can only be opened to one area; inspectors might not see damage in the surrounding area.
An internal inspection can show corrosion underneath insulation (CUI), one of the most common consequences of poor insulation maintenance. CUI is a problem that occurs when moisture penetrates insulation. It can be found in many industries such as fertilizer, specialty chemicals, and oil & gas. CUI can only be identified by internal inspection.
Risk Assessment
Certain insulation problems have a greater impact on operations than others. A risk assessment can help you prioritize inspection tasks and optimize your scheduling. There are many industrial insulation inspection programs that offer a range of practices to address both high-risk and low-risk areas.
This risk assessment will identify areas where insulation failures could have the greatest safety and operational consequences. These areas will require more attention and time to inspect in order to balance maintenance efforts with ongoing operations.
Comprehensive Industrial Insulation Inspection Services
For a successful industrial inspection program, it is important to have a qualified insulation contractor. GIS Insulation has vast experience in installing, repairing and inspecting insulation. Contact us today to learn how we can work together to preserve industrial insulation for many years to come.
