i02-10

LIQUID NITROGEN
AND OXYGEN 08/02

PIPES

1. SERVICE CONDITIONS
These specifications give guidelines for the temperature between -200°C and -180°C. The
insulation of piping and equipment installed in insulation system is adapted to steam out the
the open air or under cover with a service piping.

2. PRELIMINARY CONDITIONS
2.1. FOAMGLAS® slabs and pieces should be anticorrosion paint. The surface should be
transported and stored vertically. Handle the perfectly dry before the insulation is applied.
packages with care. FOAMGLAS® insulation
packages should be protected from the elements
2.2.3. When an adhesive is used, the
compatibility between the anticorrosion paint and
whilst in storage and not allowed to come into
the adhesive should be verified before applying
direct contact with the ground.
the insulation.
2.2. The surface to be insulated should be clean
and free from all traces of grease, rust, dust and
2.3. The surface and the materials used should
be dry before and during application, and should
any foreign matter. The design engineer should
remain dry until start up.
decide whether a coat of anticorrosion paint is
necessary, and the type of paint compatible with
the service temperature and the adhesive used 2.4. The application of FOAMGLAS® insulation
(if any). If he decides to specify a paint, the on pipes or equipment should be done at
following rules should be observed: ambient temperature (no application when piping
or equipment is in service).
2.2.1. The surface, if corroded or otherwise
unsuitable, should be sandblasted before the 2.5. The temperature limits of the accessory
possible anticorrosion coat is applied (SS-Sa- products should be respected during both
2 1/2) storage and application.

2.2.2. Any surface imperfection should be wire 2.6. Hydrostatic, radiographic and other tests
brushed and then coated with a new layer of should be completed before the insulation is
applied.

3. DETERMINATION OF INSULATION THICKNESS REQUIRED

3.1. Heat transfers should be limited to PIPE Thicknesses in mm
acceptable values regarding both economic and
DN inch mm Inside Layer 2 Layer 3
functional aspects.
15 1/2 21.3 50 50
25 1 33.7 55 50
3.2. The formation of condensation on the external 40 1 1/2 48.3 65 50
surface of the insulation should be limited. 50 2 60.3 70 50
80 3 88.9 80 60
3.3. To avoid the hardening of the sealant in the 100 4 114.3 80 60
joints, the thickness of the different insulation layers 150 6 168.3 80 70
should be chosen according to the temperature 200 8 219.1 80 80
range of PITTSEAL® 444N (-50 to +80°C) in order 300 12 323.9 90 80
to have the external layer in this temperature range. 350 14 355.6 100 75
500 20 508.0 70 70 40
3.4. Recommended FOAMGLAS® insulation 600 24 609.6 70 70 50
thickness and number of layers for the following 750 30 762.8 70 70 60
conditions: 1500.0 70 70 70
Ambient temperature 20°C, wind speed 5 km/h, 3000.0 80 80 70
emissivity 0.3 (sheet cover), relative humidity 78%,
maximum heat gain on the external surface 30 W/m².

1/4 i02-10 – 08/02

 4. MATERIALS USED
4.1. Insulation material
The insulation should be FOAMGLAS® cellular
glass (see data sheets A01 to A17) in preformed
sections, radiused and bevelled lags or slabs.
When ordering the insulation, service temperature
should be indicated to allow the choice of suitable
adhesive for the fabrication of pipe sections or
radiused and bevelled lags. The insulation of
standard 90° or 45° - bends (R=1.5 D) may be
prefabricated in the factory, as for the straight pipe
sections. Non-standard bends, T-pieces, reducers
and other equipment should be insulated with
pieces cut to size and adapted on site. Flanges and
valves should be insulated with pipe shells of larger
dimensions adapted on site.
4.2. Anti-corrosion layer
The anti-corrosion layer should be compatible with
the service temperature.
4.3. Anti-abrasive Layer
PC® HIGH TEMPERATURE ANTI-ABRASIVE (see
Data Sheet P21) is an inorganic material for high
temperatures up to +350°C and for temperatures
< -180°C.
4.4. Joint Sealant
PITTSEAL® 444N is a one-component, permanent
non-hardening butyl based sealer (see Product
Sheet P41). It can be applied from cartridges or by
extrusion gun.
This sealant has been successfully tested for
applications where there is a risk of stress
corrosion.
It has not been tested for its compatibility with liquid
oxygen.
4.5. Adhesive.
PC® 88 ADHESIVE is a flexible two-component
adhesive based on bitumen and polyurethane (see
Data Sheet P05). This adhesive has been
successfully tested for applications where there is a
risk of stress corrosion.
It has not been tested for its compatibility with liquid
oxygen.
4.6. Resilient Insulating Material
Low density mineral wool.
4.7. Fixing Straps
The straps should be annealed stainless steel AISI
type 304 (AFNOR Z6CN 18-09) and should
measure 12.7 mm wide x 0.5 mm thick. Wire to fix
FOAMGLAS® shells or segments should be
avoided, due to the wire cutting of the FOAMGLAS®
surface.
4.8. Surface Protection
Metal jacket of corrugated, flat or hammered
stainless steel. A thickness of 0.4 mm is usually
foreseen for normal uses. The easiest way to apply
the jacket is to band it. Pop rivets or screws may
also be used after having held the jacket tightly with
temporary bands. A cushion layer of fibrous
insulation between FOAMGLAS® insulation and the
jacket should be avoided. This top layer will absorb
the ambient moisture during humid weather.

5. APPLICATION OF PIPE INSULATION

If possible, all factors influencing the insulation
should already be considered at planning stage:
temperature ranges and fluctuations, movements
and vibrations of the pipe.
When the field conditions allow it, the particular
points should be insulated first (elbows, T-junctions,
flanges, valves and other equipment).
5.2.1. The insulation is dry applied on the pipes
with staggered joints. Whenever possible, the
insulation pieces should be staggered vertically by
one half element with respect to each other; for
short sections (under 2 m), a radial staggering is
more suitable. (Fig.1)

5.1. Anti-abrasive
The inner side of the first FOAMGLAS® insulation
layer can be coated with an anti-abrasive applied
either in the factory or on site, according to service
conditions. This can reduce the abrasion caused by
frequent differential movements or vibrations.
If the anti-abrasive is applied on site, it has to be
completely dry before applying the insulation Fig.1
material.

5.2. Pipe Insulation

Straight pipe sections should be insulated with
appropriate FOAMGLAS® shells or segments.

2/4 i02-10 – 08/02

5.2.2. It is suitable to keep the inner layer in place
by reinforced self-adhesive tape, as the additional
thickness of metal strap clamps makes it difficult for
the successive layers to be applied upon each
other.
5.2.3. To take full benefit of the complete
tightness of FOAMGLAS® insulation, all joints of the
outer layer must be sealed with PITTSEAL® 444N.
Care should be taken that the pieces fit before
applying the sealant. Do not use this or any other
sealant to fill joints that are too wide, because this
results in the formation of thermal bridges. The
temperature ranges specified for the sealant should
be taken into account when calculating the
insulation thickness. (Fig.2)
The outer insulation layer should always be held in
place by two fixing straps per standard length
(600 mm). The sealant will spread in the joints
thanks to an even strap tightening; too high tension
will cause the insulation shells to break and will
thus damage the insulation system. Any damaged
pieces should be replaced or at least fixed with
sealant at the breaking point.
The tightening of the fixing straps should be
performed evenly and carefully to avoid breaking
the insulating shells.
5.4. Flanges, Valves and Other Equipment
(Pressure Control Valves, Strainers...)
Insulation units made of the required shells,
segments and slabs are adapted and assembled on
site.
5.4.1. Hollow spaces between equipment and
insulation should be filled with insulating materials
to prevent "pumping" of the enclosed air, in case of
extreme temperature changes. These hollow
spaces may be filled with small FOAMGLAS® parts
(made of chopped up cuttings).
5.4.2. For Flanges, valves and other equipment;
since the overall dimensions of these insulating
coverings are bigger and therefore more prone to
be damaged, metal jackets adapted to the external
diameter of the shells should be used. The
insulating parts should be adhered inside the metal
box.

5.4.3. As was the case for the previous insulating

work, all connection joints of these pieces should
be sealed to the pipe insulant with a mastic.

5.4.4. The fixing straps should be placed is the

same way as for the pipe and elbow insulation.

5.5. Movement joints

Fig.2 PITTSEAL® 444N in the joints of
the outer layer
5.2.4. The compressive strength of FOAMGLAS®
on vertical pipes allows the insulation to be self-
supporting up to a great height. But, in order to
avoid excessive thermal movement, supporting ring
with contraction joints should be placed at suitable
distances on vertical straight lines and near singular
points like elbows.
Movement joints should be foreseen in the
insulation system if the thermal movement of the
pipe exceeds 1.5 mm/m.
Movement joints should also be placed between
fixed elements such as fixed points, elbows, T-
pieces, flanges, valves and devices when the
thermal movement of the pipe exceeds 1.5 mm/m.
NOTA: Distance between contraction/expansion
joints is usually foreseen on the basis of a
15 mm differential movement
5.5.1. Thermal contraction of FOAMGLAS® and
stainless steel in mm/m

5.3. Elbows, Reducers, T-junctions Average FOAMGLAS® Stainless steel

The insulation elbows type 3D (R=1.5 D) may be temperature cellular glass
prefabricated in the factory. Other elbow types, °C mm/m mm/m
reducers and T-junctions should be insulated with
pipe shells or segments adapted on site. -200 - 1.36 - 2.83
As for the pipe insulation, all external layer joints -150 - 1.11 - 2.37
must be sealed with PITTSEAL® 444N. -100 - 0.84 - 1.76
Fixing straps should also be used to keep these -50 - 0.51 - 1.06
insulating parts in place. Wire should be avoided
0 - 0.16 - 0.47
whenever possible due to the wire cutting of the
Ambient temperature: 20°C
FOAMGLAS® surface.

3/4 i02-10 – 08/02

5.5.2. Placing of the movement joints:
The opening of the movement joints should be 1 2 3 4
twice as large as the measured
expansion/contraction.
The fibres of the mineral fibre structure, which
should be positioned vertically to the pipe, should
be slightly compressed.
The movement joints should be sealed with great
care. A shell cap fixed and glued on one side
should be sealed with PITTSEAL® 444N on the
moving part. (Fig.3 and Fig.4)
A movement joint should be placed under each
supporting ring on vertical pipes and devices; the
upper half of these movement joint coverings
should be fixed and glued. In case of multi-layer
insulation, the movement joint is staggered. 1. FOAMGLAS® cellular glass
2. PITTSEAL® 444N
3. Mineral wool
5.6. Sliding Pipe Supports 4. PC® 88 ADHESIVE
Whenever possible, the supports should be placed
so that the bearing shell is outside the insulation. Fig.3 Movement joint (Double layer)
The relatively high compressive strength of
FOAMGLAS® allows to avoid thermal bridges at
sliding pipe supports and hangers.
Shells at the support area should be coated 1 2 3 4
internally and externally to fill the surface cells. A
120° wide steel cradle is placed on the external
side of the insulation. The cradle length is
determined in respect with the support load, the
pipe diameter to calculate the contact surface area
of the pipe and the compressive strength of the
FOAMGLAS® type used. It is recommended to take
a safety factor of 5.

5.7. Fixed supports, skirts or legs welded directly

onto the pipe or equipment should be insulated with
the same thickness of insulating material as the
rest. The insulation of vessels or pipes should
extend over a distance equal to four times the
insulation thickness and should in no case be less
than 30 cm. 1. FOAMGLAS® cellular glass
2. PITTSEAL® 444N
3. Mineral wool
4. PC® 88 ADHESIVE

Fig.4 Movement joint (Triple layer)

6. SURFACE PROTECTION
The FOAMGLAS® insulation should be protected
against mechanical damage and weather
conditions. The metal jacket is applied directly on
the FOAMGLAS® surface with an appropriate fixing
technique and without intermediate layer. The high
compressive resistance of FOAMGLAS® justifies a
reduction of the traditional metal cladding thickness.
The metal jacket should be mounted with temporary
straps and fixed with metal screws or blind riveting.
Should the surface of the closed-cell FOAMGLAS®
be locally damaged by the screws, this would have
no negative influence because FOAMGLAS®
cellular glass is a water and water vapour proof
material.

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