Choosing the right insulation.
A practical guide for buyers and engineers: which material suits which temperature, how the main insulations compare, and what to put in a request for quotation.
Start from the operating temperature.
Products listed are those whose rated service range covers the middle of each band. Check the exact limits on each datasheet.
| Band | Temperature | Suitable products |
|---|---|---|
| Cryogenic | −180 °C – −50 °C | |
| Chilled water & refrigeration | −50 °C – 10 °C | |
| HVAC & low-temperature hot | 10 °C – 120 °C | Rockwool RB SlabRockwool LRB SlabRockwool LRB RollRockwool Pipe SectionCalcium Silicate Block & Pipe SectionCeramic Fiber Blanket & BoardCellular Glass Block & PipeMaftec / Maftac Ceramic Fiber BlanketRemovable Insulation JacketAerogel BlanketNitrile Rubber TubeNitrile Rubber Sheet & RollPUF Pipe Section & BoardPIR BoardXPS / EPS BoardGlass Wool Roll & Blanket |
| Process heat | 120 °C – 450 °C | |
| High-temperature process | 450 °C – 650 °C | |
| Very high temperature | 650 °C – 1,000 °C | |
| Furnace & kiln insulation | 1,000 °C – 1,400 °C | |
| Refractory hot face | 1,400 °C – 2,000 °C |
Compare the materials.
Lower thermal conductivity means less thickness for the same heat loss; fire rating and water absorption decide where a material can go.
| Material | Service temperature | Conductivity | Density | Fire rating | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockwool RB Slab | up to 650 °C | 0.033–0.040 W/m·K | 96 / 128 / 144 kg/m³ | Non-combustible, Class A1 (EN 13501-1) | Very Low (hydrophobic treated, <1% by volume) |
| Rockwool LRB Slab | up to 450 °C | 0.035–0.042 W/m·K | 48 / 64 kg/m³ | Non-combustible, Class A1 (EN 13501-1) | Low (<2% by volume) |
| Rockwool LRB Roll | up to 650 °C | 0.040–0.046 W/m·K | 64 / 80 / 100 / 120 / 128 kg/m³ | Non-combustible, Class A1 (EN 13501-1) | — |
| Rockwool Pipe Section | up to 650 °C | 0.033–0.040 W/m·K | 100 - 120 kg/m³ | Non-combustible, Class A1 | Very Low |
| Calcium Silicate Block & Pipe Section | 40 °C → 1,000 °C | 0.055–0.075 W/m·K | 220 - 280 kg/m³ | Non-combustible, Class A1 | Low, hydrophobic grades available |
| Ceramic Fiber Blanket & Board | up to 1,400 °C | 0.10–0.20 W/m·K | 96 - 160 kg/m³ | Non-combustible | — |
| Cellular Glass Block & Pipe | up to 430 °C | 0.040–0.055 W/m·K | 100 - 165 kg/m³ | Non-combustible, Class A1 | Zero (closed cell, impermeable) |
| Maftec / Maftac Ceramic Fiber Blanket | up to 1,260 °C | 0.10–0.18 W/m·K | 96 - 128 kg/m³ | — | — |
| Removable Insulation Jacket | −50 °C → 550 °C | — | — | Non-combustible core | — |
| Aerogel Blanket | −40 °C → 650 °C | 0.013–0.021 W/m·K | 150 - 200 kg/m³ | Non-combustible, Class A1 | Hydrophobic, water absorption <5% |
| Nitrile Rubber Tube | −40 °C → 105 °C | 0.033–0.040 W/m·K | — | Class O / Class 1 (BS 476 Part 6 & 7) | <5% by volume (closed cell) |
| Nitrile Rubber Sheet & Roll | −40 °C → 105 °C | 0.033–0.040 W/m·K | — | Class O / Class 1 (BS 476) | — |
| PUF Pipe Section & Board | −180 °C → 100 °C | 0.022–0.028 W/m·K | 40 - 48 kg/m³ | Self-extinguishing (with FR additive) | — |
| PIR Board | −180 °C → 140 °C | 0.021–0.025 W/m·K | 32 - 40 kg/m³ | Better fire rating than PUF, Euroclass C-E | — |
| XPS / EPS Board | −50 °C → 75 °C | 0.029–0.033 W/m·K | XPS: 28-45 kg/m³ / EPS: 12-25 kg/m³ | Class E / Class F (self-extinguishing grades available) | XPS very low (<0.3%), EPS low-moderate (2-4%) |
| Glass Wool Roll & Blanket | −10 °C → 230 °C | 0.032–0.040 W/m·K | 16 - 48 kg/m³ | Non-combustible, Class A1 | — |
| Insulating Fire Bricks (IFB) | up to 1,650 °C | 0.15–0.30 W/m·K | 0.5 - 1.0 g/cm³ | — | — |
| Fire Clay Bricks | up to 1,400 °C | 0.8–1.0 W/m·K | 1.9 - 2.1 g/cm³ | — | — |
Hot work vs cold work.
Hot insulation
The goals are energy saving, process stability and personnel protection — keeping touchable surfaces at or below about 55 °C. Mineral wool and calcium silicate are the workhorses; aerogel wins where space is tight. Outdoors, finish with aluminum cladding, bands and sealed joints so rain never reaches the insulation.
Cold insulation
Below ambient, the enemy is moisture. The outer surface must stay above the dew point, and the system must be vapour-tight — closed-cell nitrile, PUF and PIR with sealed joints, foil tape and butyl mastic under cladding overlaps. One open seam can soak a whole run.
Refractory
Hot-face bricks or castables take the flame and slag; insulating fire bricks and fiber behind them cut shell losses. Match mortar chemistry to the brick and plan anchors for castables.
Frequently asked questions.
Which insulation should I use for my operating temperature?
Start from the service temperature. Below −50 °C, PUF and PIR systems are the usual choice; for chilled water and HVAC (−40 to +105 °C) closed-cell nitrile rubber is standard; hot process lines up to 650 °C typically use rockwool pipe sections and slabs; calcium silicate covers load-bearing duty to 1000 °C; ceramic fiber and AES blankets handle 1000–1400 °C; and refractory bricks and castables take the hot face above that. Use the temperature finder to filter our range by your exact temperature.
Do you ship to my country?
We quote for delivery to sea ports worldwide. Offers can be made on EXW, FCA, FOB (Nhava Sheva / Mumbai), CFR or CIF terms — tell us your destination port and preferred Incoterm in the request form. See all countries we serve.
Can I combine several products in one container?
Yes. Insulation, cladding, fixings, sealants and refractory can be consolidated into one shipment. List every line in your enquiry and the quotation will state whether it goes as a 20′, 40′ or 40′ HC container, or as LCL.
Which HS codes apply to your products?
Each product page lists the HS code we use on export invoices; the first six digits follow the international Harmonized System. A full table is on the Export Desk. Final classification in your country depends on exact composition, so please confirm with your customs broker.
What export documents do you provide?
Commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and the bill of lading form the standard set. Technical data sheets and manufacturer test certificates can be supplied on request, along with any other documents your destination requires.
How is material packed for sea freight?
Packing follows the product: slabs and boards are poly-wrapped and palletized, pipe sections are individually wrapped and boxed, blankets are rolled and cartoned, bricks go on shrink-wrapped wooden pallets and monolithics in lined bags. Wooden pallets and crates can be supplied heat-treated to ISPM-15 where required.
How accurate are the calculators?
They are planning estimates based on standard pipe dimensions, typical thermal conductivity curves and simplified surface heat-transfer equations. Use them to size a budget enquiry; final quantities and thicknesses should be confirmed against your drawings and design code.
What should I include in a request for quotation?
Product, size or pipe NB, thickness, density or grade, quantity, required standard or certification, destination port, preferred Incoterm and the required delivery window. The more detail you send, the tighter the offer.
Send your specification. Get an export offer.
Share the product, size, quantity and destination port — we come back with a priced offer, packing details and HS codes for your customs broker.