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Pittsburgh Corning has announced that its Foamglas pipework system, previously used in the oil and gas industry, is now available for the building services sector.
Cellular glass insulation enables a continuous insulation system to be created wherever services need to pass through a fire wall or floor. Fire protection of up to 120 minutes at a fire wall penetration can be achieved when used with cladding, and up to 90 minutes when used without cladding. Foamglas is classed as a non-combustible (Euroclass A1) insulation material and in the event of fire, will not emit toxic fumes or smoke.
The closed-cell construction also ensures that condensation and damp inside the wall or floor structure can be eliminated, even when installed without a vapour barrier. Manufactured from pure glass, it remains effective regardless of the conditions, and its thermal conductivity remains constant throughout its lifetime, says the company.
With an operating temperature range from -268 degrees C to 480 degrees C, it can be used on the full piping temperature range in buildings, from chilled water to steam. A data sheet summarising installation requirements for 120 and 90 minutes of fire protection is available from the company.