CLIMATUBE® zip

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 (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 intensity of a sound event. A distinction is 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 to the noise of 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 the way 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 insulating 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. It can therefore be used for solar cables and is particularly popular in blocks of flats where several 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.

Heat and hot water pipes and fittings should always be insulated if they are installed in unheated rooms (e.g. cold cellars) and if they 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 as it circulates through the heating pipes and that the flowing water maintains its initial temperature. Insulating 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 thicker insulation has a higher investment costs, this is 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 saving 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 when installing different types of pipe insulation in refrigeration and heating networks.

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

Exposed pipework in unheated rooms where the ambient temperature is less than 20°C should be insulated with a minimum of 9 mm pipe insulation. Pipes installed in shafts, floor ducts or suspended ceilings where the ambient temperature is less than 25°C should again be insulated with at least 13 mm of pipe insulation.

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 in cold water pipes. Warmer, humid air hits the surface of the pipe, cools down and condenses. The moisture, 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, we can provide a template that you can print out and use. However, please ensure that you print at 100% of the original size.