Our range of pipe insulation 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 (flame retardant)
• 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 – Not flammable, no contribution to the fire
B – flame retardant, very limited contribution to fire
C – flame retardant – limited contribution to the fire
D – Normal flammability – acceptable contribution to the fire
E – Normal flammability – acceptable fire behaviour

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 afterflame 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 certain material at a temperature difference.

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

In which unit is the thermal conductivity expressed?

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

The so-called 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 reminiscent of rustling leaves, a sound pressure level of 80 db (A) can be compared with the noise made by a passing truck.

Whether for residential buildings, offices or industrial plants – there are various materials to choose from for the insulation of plumbing and heating systems. The most common insulation materials include:

• Polyethylene (PE)
• Rubber
• Mineral wool

These insulations also differ in terms of their use:

Polyethylene insulation:

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

Rubber insulation:

Pipe insulation made of rubber is very flexible and can also be laid around bends and curves without further processing. It is therefore the perfect choice for the insulation of hard-to-access and heavily branched pipes in plumbing and heating systems.

Mineral wool:

Pipe insulation made of mineral wool has an aluminium coating, is non-combustible and is also resistant to high temperatures. For this reason, the insulation can also be used for solar cables and is particularly popular in apartment buildings when crossing several fire areas. As mineral wool insulation is not flexible, it is particularly suitable for straight-running, easily accessible pipe seals. In order to line bends and curves, however, the insulation can also be adjusted by a mitre cut.

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

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

As a general rule: The better the insulation, the higher 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 air is available, larger pipe casing with a high insulation thickness can also be used to fully exploit the potential for savings. Although high insulation thicknesses are also associated with higher investment costs, these are usually quickly offset by the energy savings.

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

Flow temperature: 70°C
Ambient temperature: 15°C
Saving compared with 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 with 25 m CLIMATUBE® zip 28-15: approx. 218.5 l/year

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

The basis for this is defined key figures, which were determined 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 and thus keeps it hygienic (germ-free). In addition, insulating cold water pipes 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 in pipes only occurs on cold water pipes. Warmer, moist 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 rust over time.

In order to determine the correct pipe size for ordering insulation material, we will be happy to provide you with a template that you can print out and use. Please ensure, however, that the setting “100% original size” is selected when printing.