Before launching into a discussion of insulation options for industrial applications, we need to clarify just what is meant by ‘industrial’. The Oxford English Dictionary defines industrial as relating to the manufacture of goods, yet in conversational English we use the same word to refer to the end product of manufacturing. In this article we will be discussing the varying purposes of insulation in areas meant for manufacturing, processing raw materials and storing the finished product.

There are four main categories of insulation: building, soundproofing, thermal, and electrical. Insulation used in industrial applications can encompass all four of these categories, depending on the needs of the situation. Let’s first take a look at warehousing and the various needs of storage. Perhaps the simplest items to be warehoused are durable goods or hard goods. Durable goods are things that are non-perishable, do not quickly wear out and cannot be completely used at one time. Items like cars, mobile phones,tiles, furniture and toys are hard goods. Buildings that store these kinds of products require not much more than stable temperatures and low humidity. Preventing heating or cooling loss will still be important to maintain a low cost of storage. Plus, preventing condensation from forming on surfaces and products will prevent damage on the contents and the building.

Nondurable goods or soft goods are defined as items that are consumable and therefore have a lifespan of less than three years. Obviously items like cosmetics, fuel, and cleaning products will fall under this category; but so do fast moving items like office supplies, clothing, and footwear, rubber and paper products. Therefore the lifespan of a soft good applies to its life before purchase as well as its life before spoilage. The ambient needs of nondurable goods vary greatly from those of durable goods. For some products a refrigerated environment is required, for others a very dry and dark facility will be needed to maintain the integrity of the product. In these cases a specialized form of insulation that has the ability to resist moisture and mold is important. The use of closed-cell cellulose spray foam insulation will effectively fill voids where creatures may be entering the building and resist the build-up of moisture and prevent mold from forming. In addition, because the foam dries to such a solid state, rodents and birds find it too hard to penetrate.

Warehousing buildings are not the only specialized storage facilities suited to the use of spray foam insulation. Cold storage trucks, trailers and railway cars also require careful preparation for specific needs. The inner cavities are easily filled with expanding spray foam. In fact, any enclosure where an environment differing from the outside temperature must be maintained can be improved with the use of expanding foam insulation. Using closed cell polyurethane foam as opposed to an open cell spray foam means double the R-value and that means huge heating/cooling savings. Additionally, closed cell spray foam resists water and seals out air while open cell actually holds onto the moisture, which will of course lead to mildew and mold.

In the collection of raw materials through mining, there is a significant need for durable methods of insulation. When large equipment is brought to an underground site, the delicate fittings require heat containment and protection from puncture or other damage. There are also the added benefits of sound absorption, reduction of carbon emissions and the protection of workers coming into contact with the extreme surface temperature of the equipment. Glass and rock mineral wools and mats offer these benefits, as well as closed cell spray foam before cladding is applied. In manufacturing applications, all the same scenarios apply: sound absorption, worker protection, and reduction of harmful gasses in to the environment.

We have only just touched upon the use of insulation in industrial applications. There are so many hundreds of specialized needs for every industry, but hopefully a clearer idea of the options available has been illustrated here. Technology is always being touted as progressing more rapidly than other industries like mining and drilling – which often get forgotten. But let us not forget the ability to research and discover new materials and methodologies using new technology has trickled down to almost every other industry – including insulation.

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