What is BS 5422 - Thermal insulating materials for pipes about?
BS 5422 sets out how to establish and specify minimum thermal insulation requirements for pipework and other equipment. BS 5422 reflects the latest energy efficiency requirements.
Who is BS 5422 - Thermal insulating materials for pipes for?
BS 5422 on thermal insulating materials for pipes can be adopted by specifiers and manufacturers of insulation materials including finishing materials, designers of insulation, and contractors working with thermal insulation, including:
- Mechanical services designers and contractors
- Ventilation designers and contractors
- Process industry designers
- Insulation industry contractors
- Pipeline installation contractors
- Retrofit advisors
- Insulation designers
- Heating and ventilation designers
What does BS 5422 - Thermal insulating materials for pipes cover?
BS 5422 on thermal insulating materials for pipes describes a method for specifying requirements for thermal insulating materials on pipes, tanks, vessels, ductwork and equipment for certain defined applications and conditions within the temperature range –40 °C to +700 °C.
BS 5422 also specifies some physical requirements for the insulating materials.
NOTE: BS 5422 does not apply to pipelines that are embedded underground, nor does it refer to the insulation of building construction.
Why should you use BS 5422 - Thermal insulating materials for pipes?
Thermal insulation of pipework and equipment is one of the most cost-effective ways available of conserving energy in both cooled and heated systems, so BS 5422 helps minimize carbon emissions. In addition:
- It will help manufacturers, industry-wide, to ensure their products meet appropriate performance requirements
- It will help designers and specifiers of insulation materials identify the minimum performance requirements for each application
- Information is presented in a clear, familiar layout with readily understandable criteria for use in design and installation work
- Its use can improve the efficiency with which materials are used
- It can increase confidence that pipework and related equipment is achieving optimal performance
- Given evolving energy efficiency requirements, the 2022 version reflects the latest standards
BS 5422 contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goal 9 on building resilient infrastructure and Goal 13 on taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
What’s new about BS 5422:2023?
Energy efficiency requirements have been evolving since the publication of BS 5422:2009. This is reflected in the key changes in BS 5422:2023, which include:- Revised, and where possible, simplified tables. For example, higher thermal conductivity values for materials no longer supplied or very rarely used, have been removed.
- Thermal conductivity values are based on the most commonly used insulation materials at the time of revision
- All pipe sizes are indicated as “less than or equal to” values, which reduces the need for interpolation, and tends to increase the overall thermal efficiency of the targeted systems
- Reaction to Fire is defined in terms of Euroclass, which is used in today's Building Regulations documents and is the default in product marking. Euroclass Reaction to Fire gives a more comprehensive and clear definition of the behaviour of materials exposed to fire than the more limited legacy BS 476 based scope.
- Enhanced insulation thicknesses have been captured from the legacy Energy Technology List/Capital Allowances levels
- District heating tables for secondary and tertiary systems have been added
- Pipework internal to dwellings is covered with the addition of a new ‘enhanced’ specification category
- Plastic pipes (single wall) are treated as having no insulating value of their own
