Prevention of Common Pitfalls Through Engineered Specifications and On-Site Review

Abstract

Poorly engineered specifications have a negative effect on thermal insulation systems. The availability, maintainability, and serviceability of piping and equipment are greatly affected by improper selection of thermal insulation materials and systems. System and equipment design criteria, that is, operating conditions including geographic, local, and environment, must be considered for each specific project. The specification on file that was successfully used on a previous project at another time and at another location may not always be a wise choice. It is imperative that the manufacturer's literature be reviewed before insulation materials and accessories are specified, to preclude their use beyond the manufacturer's prescribed limits. Referencing of ASTM standards in the specification is a useful means of establishing a level of conformance and quality. On-site reviews are a useful tool for review of the work and its conformance to the specification. The reviews must occur on a timely basis as the work progresses. Provisions must be made to resolve problems that may arise because of construction restraints during the progress of the work. Close liaison with the insulation contractor will preclude guesswork and the resulting cost of rework.