Thermal insulation for building equipment and industrial installations – methods for determining the surface area of thermal insulation
Working with industrial thermal insulation is inherently linked to estimating the surface area of fittings, piping, tanks, and other equipment. It determines material consumption and therefore also the cost of insulation works.
As many insulation companies operate on the market, there are just as many methods for determining surface area. These depend on measurement methodology, the level of simplification, convenience, and many other factors.
A problem arises, however, for the client when quotations start coming in. In order to compare them, all these methods must be verified and reduced to a common basis. If this is not done, the client may sometimes choose an offer that only appears to be the most favourable.
With awareness of these shortcomings, the Polish Association of Industrial Insulation Contractors (of which SUM Poland Sp. z o.o. is a member) has made an attempt to develop unified principles for measuring industrial installations.
✅ This took several years of intensive work, involving the creation of drawings, tables, and method verification. As a result, at the end of 2020, the new standard PN-B-20106: 2020-12 Thermal insulation for building equipment and industrial installations – Methods for determining the surface area of thermal insulation was published by the Polish Committee for Standardization.
This standard specifies methods for determining the surface area of thermal insulation for building equipment and industrial installations. It presents generally accepted solutions for insulation works. The standard may be applied in the design, execution, renovation, and modernisation of insulation for building equipment and industrial installations, both for heat insulation and cold insulation, as well as for its acceptance upon completion of works.
Customers can now refer to its provisions when preparing enquiries and announcing tenders. This standard should facilitate technical discussions and the settlement of investment projects.
Time will tell whether it will be positively received by the industry and the market.
