Decarbonisation Technology – August 2021

The key to having insulation systems in place that provide long-term thermal efficiency is to choose materials that, even in demanding environments, offer reliable and consistent performance and keep their insulating properties over their complete lifetime. Owens Corning Foamglas cellular glass insulation is manufactured from sand, recycled glass and other natural and abundant materials. It does not contain any organic compounds, oil or oil by-products and no toxic or flammable materials. These raw materials are mixed together and, with the help of a natural reaction, foamed to a block with millions of hermetically sealed glass cells. It is these cells that give Foamglas insulation its superior long-term thermal performance and moisture resistance. Material ageing can cause a chronic loss of thermal efficiency in insulation materials. Foamglas cellular glass insulation is not susceptible to gas diffusion and does not age over time, meaning it provides constant thermal efficiency and energy savings throughout the system’s life. This minimises the need for insulation replacement and helps support sustainable designs aimed at lower long-term life-cycle costs and maximum efficient use of energy. The largest external factor that affects an insulation system’s thermal efficiency is liquid absorption and retention. The most practical approach to long-term efficient insulation systems that also provide the most economical lifetime performance is the use of inherently low permeability insulations. One of the only service-proven materials with decades of in-the- field performance in this category is Foamglas cellular glass insulation. Its all-glass, closed-cell composition is 100% impermeable and highly resistant to moisture in vapour form. This overall moisture resistance allows retention of its original insulating value without a reduced thermal performance for many decades. This contributes to constant thermal efficiency and energy savings throughout the lifetime of the system. FOAMGLAS® insulation is a registered trademark of Owens Corning.

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Insulation’s contribution to long-term thermal efficiency and energy savings

About one-fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions come directly from industrial sources. These direct emissions result from processes, including the combustion of fossil fuels for heat and power, non-energy use of fossil fuels, and chemical processes used in manufacturing. The temperatures in these types of applications are often way above or below ambient temperatures, and thermal insulation is therefore applied to pipes, equipment and tanks to reduce heat loss. This allows a gain in efficiency that reduces the energy use and the corresponding CO 2 emissions. One of the easiest and most effective energy- efficient technologies available today is insulation. Mechanical insulation systems are among the few manufactured products that save more energy

than it takes to produce them. Recent studies have estimated that, over a 20-year lifespan, mechanical insulation systems can save up to 500 times the energy that it takes for manufacturers to produce them. Industrial insulation experts agree that thermal insulation in industry is poorly maintained and that parts are not insulated sufficiently or not at all, creating thermal bridges, which results in excessive heat losses and increased carbon emissions. Recent studies by the National Insulation Association and the European Industrial Insulation Foundation have found that upgrading insulation systems can reduce energy loss by up to 88% and reduce corresponding CO 2 emissions by millions of metric tonnes per year.