Our range of pipe insulations can be divided into the following fire protection classes:

• CLIMATUBE® zip, CLIMATUBE® easy, CLIMATUBE® basic, CLIMATUBE® protect, CLIMATUBE® silence = fire protection class E (normally flammable)
• CLIMATUBE® flex = B_Ls3d0 (hardly flammable)
• CLIMATUBE® wool = A2_Ls1d0 (non-combustible)

The classification of pipe insulation follows the European standard DIN EN 13501-1 and is subdivided as follows:

European classes

A – Non-flammable – no contribution to fire
B – Flame retardant – very limited contribution to fire
C – Flame retardant – limited contribution to fire
D – Normal flammability – acceptable contribution to fire
E – Normal flammability – acceptable behaviour to fire

s – Smoke generation

s1 – Low smoke generation
s2 – Average smoke generation
s3 – High smoke generation

d – Burning droplets

d0 – No burning droplets within 600 seconds
d1 – No burning droplets with after-flame time greater than 10 seconds within 600 seconds
s2 – No performance determined

L – Fire behaviour class for pipe insulation materials

The lambda value λ describes the thermal conductivity of a building material and indicates how much heat can pass through a given material at a given temperature difference.

As a general rule: The lower the thermal conductivity, the better the insulation, i.e. the thermal protection, of a material.

What is the unit of thermal conductivity ?

The thermal conductivity of a material is expressed in units of W/mK. It defines the heat flow in watts (W), that passes through a material 1 metre (m) thick per hour at a temperature difference of 1 Kelvin (K).

The sound pressure level defines the strength of a sound event. A distinction can be made here between the sound pressure level (dB) and the weighted sound pressure level dB (A):

• Sound pressure level dB = refers to the strength of a sound and not to the perceived volume
• Weighted sound pressure level dB (A) = refers to human perception, i.e. how loud the sound is perceived to be

While a weighted sound pressure level of 20 dB (A) is more like rustling leaves, a sound pressure level of 80 dB (A) can be compared with the noise made by a passing truck.

Whether for residential, office or industrial buildings – there are various materials to choose from for insulating plumbing and heating systems. The most common insulation materials are:

• Polyethylene (PE)
• Rubber
• Mineral wool

These insulations also differ in terms they are used:

Polyethylene insulation:

PE pipe insulation consists of a flexible polyethylene foam and is mainly used to insulate plumbing and heating systems in residential, office and industrial buildings. It is also used to protect hot and cold water pipes (including plastic and multi-layer composite pipes) and fittings. PE insulation is not suitable for solar and refrigeration systems. As pipe insulation is very flexible, it is particularly suitable for protecting easily accessible pipework. To line bends or curves, either notches can be made or special corner pieces can be used.

Rubber insulation:

Rubber pipe insulation is very flexible and can also be laid around bends and curves without further processing. This makes it the perfect choice for insulation of hard-to-reach and heavily ramified pipes in plumbing and heating systems.

Mineral wool:

Mineral wool pipe insulation has an aluminium coating, is non-combustible and is also resistant to high temperatures. For this reason, it can be used for solar cables and is particularly popular in blocks of flats where multiple fire zones are crossed. As mineral wool insulation is not flexible, it is particularly suitable for straight, easily accessible pipe seals. However, the insulation can also be adjusted by mitre cutting to line bends and curves.

Heating and hot water pipes and fittings should always be insulated if they run in unheated rooms (e.g. cold cellars) and are accessible.

Heating pipes should be insulated to prevent heat loss and unnecessary CO₂ emissions. After all, professional insulation ensures that the heat generated is not lost while it circulates through the heating pipes and that the flowing water maintains its initial temperature. The insulation of heating and plumbing pipes and fittings is therefore a comparatively cost-effective way of optimising one’s own energy balance, and usually pays for itself quickly.

As a general rule: The better the insulation, the greater the effect achieved and the potential savings in energy costs.

However, the space available must also be taken into account when selecting pipe insulation. If sufficient space is available, larger pipe casings with thicker insulation can be used to maximise the savings potential. Although higher insulation thicknesses are associated with higher investment costs, these are usually quickly offset by the energy savings.

The savings potential varies from building to building. Based on average household values, the following example illustrates how much heating costs can be saved with  CLIMATUBE® zip 28-15 pipe insulation (insulation thickness 15 mm/internal diameter 28 mm):

Flow temperature: 70°C
Ambient temperature: 15°C
Savings compared to uninsulated pipes: approx. 74 %
Heating oil saving per metre of insulation: approx. 8.74 l/year
Natural gas savings per metre of insulation: approx. 8.59 m³/year
CO₂  reduction per metre of insulation: approx. 16.13 kg/year

Heating oil saving for 25 m CLIMATUBE® zip 28-15: approx. 218.5 l/year

Would you like a personalised calculation of your savings potential? Feel free to use our specially developed  Online Calculation Tool.

It is based on defined key figures obtained by our engineers during the installation of various pipe insulations in refrigeration and heating networks.

Yes, insulating cold water pipes also makes sense, because it prevents the water from heating up, keeping it hygienic (germ-free). Insulating cold water pipes also protects against condensation and helps to prevent sound transmission.

Exposed pipelines in unheated rooms with an ambient temperature lower than 20°C should be insulated with at least 9 mm thick pipe insulation. Pipes which are laid in pipe shafts, floor ducts or suspended ceilings and where the ambient temperature is less than 25°C should again be insulated with at least 13 mm.

Sewage pipes in buildings should be insulated for two reasons. One is to prevent the formation of condensation (e.g. on rainwater pipes). Secondly, insulation improves the sound insulation of the pipes.

As a rule, the phenomenon of condensation only occurs on cold water pipes. Warmer, humid air hits the surface of the pipe, cools down and condenses. The moisture, which is often referred to as condensation, settles on the pipes and begins to drip downwards. In old galvanised steel pipes, this process can lead to rusting over time.

To help you determine the correct pipe size for ordering insulation material, we can provide a template that you can print out and use. However, please ensure that you print at 100% original size.