Insulation plays an essential role in the comfort and performance of any commercial or industrial facility. In addition to the construction insulation installed when the structure was built, mechanical insulation is used to help control temperature in commercial and industrial settings. Mechanical insulation is used to protect pipes, ducts, holding tanks, and expensive equipment against temperature differentials. The right mechanical insulation can reduce energy costs and extend the life of your equipment. The wrong mechanical insulation could lead to serious equipment damage over time.

Here are three questions that you can ask yourself to ensure you are buying the right mechanical insulation for your facility.

1. What Is Your System Operating Temperature?

The first step in identifying the right mechanical insulation is to determine the operating temperature of the system that you are trying to insulate. Mechanical insulation comes in a wide range of protection levels to help ensure facility managers can adequately insulate their systems.

If you have a system that handles primarily chilled water or liquid refrigerants, a low-temperature range mechanical insulation will suffice. Medium temperature range mechanical insulation is designed to accommodate systems that generate more heat. These systems can include hot water, steam, and ovens or kilns. The extreme temperatures created by systems that are responsible for creating power require high-temperature mechanical insulation.

Taking the time to identify the unique operating temperature of your commercial or industrial systems will allow you to invest in the mechanical insulation that is rated to accommodate the system's temperature on a daily basis.

2. Where Is Your System Located?

The location of your commercial or industrial system will also play a role in determining which type of mechanical insulation will give you the best results. In addition to coming in varying thicknesses, mechanical insulation can feature a wide range of characteristics that are tailored to perform under specific conditions.

Any commercial or industrial system that is located outdoors will be exposed to the elements on a daily basis. You want to select a mechanical insulation product that is capable of protecting your system against corrosion and water damage when the system is located outdoors.

Indoor commercial and mechanical systems are at risk of being exposed to corrosive chemicals and physical damage. The right mechanical insulation will protect against these dangers to ensure that your system operates as efficiently as possible.

3. Is the Ambient Temperature Constant?

You have to factor in the environment in which your mechanical insulation will be installed if you want to purchase the right insulation product. Ambient air temperature plays a critical role in the overall performance of any insulation product. You need to determine if the ambient air temperature near your commercial or industrial system will remain constant, or if temperatures will fluctuate on a regular basis.

If the ambient air temperature will remain constant, no additional protective measures are required to ensure your mechanical insulation performs properly. If ambient air temperatures will fluctuate often, you will need mechanical insulation equipped to protect your system against condensation, heat transfer, and other temperature-related problems. 

Anytime you have a commercial or industrial system that operates at a temperature outside the range of the ambient air temperature, mechanical insulation is required.

Mechanical insulation has the ability to prevent heat transfer between your system and the surrounding environment. This reduces energy costs and helps to boost the efficiency of your system over time. Take the time to identify the ambient air temperature near your commercial or industrial system, your system's operating temperature, and the location of the system so that you can invest in the mechanical insulation that will offer the most protection over time.

Contact a company that offers mechanical insulation for sale to get more tips.