AP Armaflex®

The Closed
Cell Solution

The Right Insulation

for Cold Systems
PREVENTS MOISTURE INTRUSION AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

• Ensures long-term thermal performance

• Inhibits mold and mildew, protects IAQ
• Withstands abuse – no separate vapor retarder to damage

AP Armaflex: It’s more than just insulating.

Why Insulate Cold
Systems?
Insulation is typically seen as a means to prevent heat
gain or loss through the building envelope. Yet energy
efficient design must also address all interior piping and
air handling systems – with the right insulation materials in
the right thicknesses. These systems benefit particularly
from the right insulation’s ability to prevent condensation,
moisture intrusion and longer-term problems.

Moisture from condensation is a problem in any cold

system. Too frequently, it is assumed that all insulations
are equally suitable for any insulation application. This
generalization is wrong for cold systems and can lead
to system failure, call-backs, energy waste, even mold
and building closings. Not every insulation is engineered
for cold applications. And the perceived convenience of
specifying a single insulation material for an entire project
can result in costly consequences.

Armacell is the global market leader in

foams technology. The company
invented Armaflex®, the
world’s best known
and most trusted
trademark in
elastomeric
foam insulation.
AP Armaflex®
World’s MOST SPECIFIED closed cell elastomeric foam for
insulating chilled water and refrigeration piping and air
handling systems

Glossary for Cold Systems

Thermal Conductivity – The amount of heat (BTU) transferred in one hour through
�� one square foot of a homogeneous material 1-inch thick for a difference in temperature
�� of 1 degree F. The lower the value, the better the insulator.
��

Perm – A measure of vapor-transmission rate. Defined as 1 grain of water vapor per

hour for 1 square foot area for 1 inch of mercury-pressure difference. The lower the
value, the better the vapor retarder.

Permeability – A rating of a material giving the amount of water vapor that passes
through 1 inch thickness of the material.
 The theory of Condensation Control is really
quite simple: You must maintain the surface
temperature above dew point temperature.

Dew Point – (Dew Point Temperature) is the point where saturated

air starts to condense.
– It is a measure of how much water vapor is actually in the air.
– The warmer the air is, the more water vapor it can hold.

Relative Humidity – A measure of the amount of water in the air

compared with the maximum amount of water the air can hold at
the current temperature.
The Nature and Cause of – As the amount of water vapor increases at a given
Condensation temperature, Relative Humidity increases.

Water vapor is naturally attracted from warmer ambient An increase in temperature increases the Dew Point and
air to cold surfaces. The water vapor in the air changes Relative Humidity.
to liquid (condensates) at the cooler surface. This same
physics applies to cold water piping. If the temperature
surrounding the piping drops below the dew point,
condensation will form on the pipes. The presence of
moisture not only robs the system of its thermal efficiency,
it provides suitable conditions for mold and mildew.

Without adequate insulation or the right insulation, the

system will achieve equilibrium on the pipe surface …
resulting in condensation on the pipe.

The Value of Closed Cell

Protection
The optimum, preferred insulation to prevent moisture
intrusion has a closed cell structure. The most-frequently
selected other option has been open cell insulation,
which requires a separate vapor retarder that can fail the
moment it’s punctured or torn. Open cell material has a
non-connecting, random cellular structure. The cells have
no walls, so they are porous and cannot block moisture
migration or wicking inside the insulation. Care must be
taken during and after installation to avoid damaging the
vapor retarder.

Unlike open cell insulations, closed-cell elastomeric foams

like the original AP Armaflex have the vapor retarder
built-in. Closed cell insulation has a discrete, non-
interconnected cellular structure. It is not porous, because
cells have sealed walls which inhibit moisture migration or
wicking inside the insulation. The multi-layered structure
can’t be compromised by surface punctures or tears.

AP Armaflex elastomeric foam is a closed cell material,

engineered and ideal for chilled water systems when
properly installed… without a separate, fragile vapor
retarder.
Moisture Control is Critical to
Thermal Efficiency
If moisture intrudes the insulating material surrounding cold To better understand thermal conductivity, consider the
water piping, thermal efficiency is lost. And for every 1% comparative thermal conductivities of the following:
moisture gain, there is a 7.5% loss in thermal efficiency. In
other words, a single percent increase in moisture equates Air 0.15 to 0.18 BTU –in/hour sq ft F
to a 7.5% increase in thermal conductivity (thermal k)—or Insulation 0.25 to 0.30 BTU-in/hr sq ft F
the transference of heat from one surface to another. With Water 4.1 BTU- in/hr sq ft F
chilled water systems, this condition leads to energy loss Ice 15.5 BTU in/hr sq ft F
and higher operating costs. Figure 1 shows the effect of
water vapor intrusion on Thermal k.
The impact of moisture on thermal performance is obvious
when comparing the thermal conductivity of water to
insulation.

• The thermal conductivity of water is approximately 13

times greater than insulation. Therefore, heat transfer
from the air to the chilled water pipes greatly increases
Mark Hayes, when insulation gets wet.
our Application
Specialist, • The heat gain of the chilled water pipes equates to loss
showing the of costly cooling BTUs.
proper installation
techniques for • The cooling system will work harder to compensate for
insulation. the loss in efficiency and possibly reduce the service life
of the system.

Effect of Water Vapor Intrusion on Thermal K

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Figure 1: Every 1% by volume increase in moisture (density) of the insulation yields a 7.5% increase in thermal conductivity. Thermal conductivity of Water
equals 4, the point of total saturation of the Insulation material. When the vapor jacket of open cell insulation is damaged, the insulation can relatively
quickly reach saturation due to wicking... and result in very high thermal k values.
Moisture Control is also
Critical to IAQ and Problem-free
Facility Operations
Moisture intrusion due to compromised insulation systems
also creates conditions favorable to mold and mildew.
Although mold is a common allergen, the problem of mold
infestation cannot be ignored. Mold can grow unseen
behind walls and in plenums. The spores easily spread,
more so if present in air handling systems. Infestation has
caused school and building closings throughout the U.S.
and costly litigation for many in the construction industry.
The removal of fiber insulation is necessary once mold has been found.

Mold requires three key conditions: Moisture, a food

source and the right temperatures.

• Condensation can provide sufficient moisture for mold Practice of Condensation Control
spores to germinate. Wet pipes or wet insulation can
• Maintain the surface temperature above the dew point.
contribute enough moisture for mold growth in existing
buildings. • Select closed cell insulation: Armaflex is the closed cell
elastomeric insulation invented to prevent condensation,
• Mold needs little more than dust and dirt as food
moisture intrusion and loss of thermal k.
sources – or the cellulose kraft paper in vapor jackets
on some insulation materials. • Use the Armacell ArmWin™ program to
calculate the insulation thickness
• The final primary requirement, 40°F to 100°F temperature,
needed to maintain the surface
is nearly always present inside buildings, so the other
temperature above the dew
two factors must be controlled.
point temperature.
AP ARMAFLEX: The Original
Closed Cell Solution
Prevents Moisture Intrusion Inhibits growth of Mold and Mildew
• Excellent resistance to Water Vapor Transmission: • Minimizes moisture intrusion, the first requirement for
Low 0.08 WVT mold growth
• Minimizes the second requirement: No cellulosic vapor
Provides long-term Thermal Performance
jacket, and the smooth surface doesn’t trap dust and is
• Non-wicking: Moisture will not migrate through properly
easy to clean
installed Armaflex
Provides many other IAQ Benefits:
Provides long-term Durability: No fragile vapor jacket
• Fiber-free: Won’t add fibers to the air stream
• The vapor retarder is built-in
• Clean: Dust-free, dirt-free, non-particulating –
• Multi-layered closed wall cells can’t be compromised by
spaces can remain occupied during reno work
surface punctures or rips
• Formaldehyde-free: Always has been!
• Withstands abuse during installation
• Low VOCs: Plus, no off-gassing, which means
• Keeps working: Stands up to ongoing maintenance work
faster building occupancy
after building occupancy
• Environmentally friendly manufacturing:
• Helps prevent callbacks, product replacement and
No CFCs or HCFCs
costly closings
AP Armaflex Assurance System
Your peace-of-mind assurance that AP Armaflex is
made to the strictest quality, technical performance and
environmentally friendly standards.
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ISO Registration: Ensures that all Armacell manufacturing
facilities consistently meet customer requirements . . . by
managing all processes with ongoing quality assessments. �������� ������������
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Factory Mutual Approval Guide: Ensures consistent

performance to published values by monitoring:

• Fire Performance – FM pipe chase test, Flammability test,

United Building Code (UBC) 26-3 Room Test ��
��������
• WVT – ASTM E 96
• Thermal Conductivity – ASTM C 518

Formaldehyde-Free: Ensures that AP Armaflex is a

low-emitting product. It is also low VOC.

Closed Cell AP Armaflex for Cold Systems: Adding value,

creating better outcomes for Engineers, Owners and
Building Occupants!
ARMACELL LLC
7600 Oakwood Street Extension
P.O. Box 1038
Mebane, NC 27302

TEL: 1 800 866-5638

FAX: 919 304-3847
E-MAIL: info.us@armacell.com
INTERNET: www.armacell.com

CSB 001 01 05 NA NA © 2005 Armacell LLC Printed in United States of America