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FROM THE JOBSITE
FROM THE JOBSITE
Theprojectmanager from LenzingAG:
“In the warm, humid atmosphere of the production area a
closed-cell insulationmaterial was the only option. Therewould
havebeenaverygreat riskofmoisturepenetration if other insu-
lation materials had been used in this environment. We chose
Arma-Chek Silver, because the product doesn’t just provide the
pipeswith reliable protection against condensation – the tough,
covered insulationmaterial isalsoveryeasy toclean.WithArma-
Chek Silver we can also rule out pieces of the insulation getting
into the production, for example due tomechanical impact dur-
ingmaintenancework.What’smore, theproduct isUV resistant.
Thiswas crucial especially for the insulationof theair ducts.”
Theowner of the insulation contracting company:
“Especially in production areas where space is at a premium,
Arma-Chek Silver is an ideal solution.When installedprofession-
ally, thepre-covered, closed-cell insulationmaterial ensures reli-
able condensation control evenwhere there is a high tempera-
ture difference and prevents energy losses. Using the 2-in-1
product also allowed us to save a great deal of time – a huge
benefit when you’re on such a tight schedule. And the result
looks reallygood, too.”
material,was specified for insulatingall pipes andducts of theair-
handling system
Highest requirements for the technical insulation
Due to thewet-spinning process, temperatures and humidity are high
in the production areas. Part of the new patented TENCEL® line is an
innovative air-handling concept. The ventilation pipes and ducts are
madeof stainless steel andaluminium.
The temperatures and high humidity in the spinning hall are very dif-
ferent from theoutdoor temperatures– from -16 °C inwinter to+35 °C
in summer. So it is essential that the air-handling equipment is insu-
lated efficiently. For the project manager of Lenzing AG, closed-cell
insulationmaterialwas theonlyoption in theseambient conditions.At
the same time, the product had to beUV resistant and easy to clean.
Arma-Chek Silver, the pre-covered elastomeric insulation material
made by Armacell, was specified for insulating the entire pipe- and
ductworkof theair-handling system.
UV-resistant, easy-to-clean2-in-1 system
Arma-ChekSilver is anArmaflex insulationmaterialwitha flexible cov-
ering consisting of a tough polymer layer, a double-layer laminate of
aluminiumandaUV-resistant polyester foil. Due to its attractive silver-
coloured surface this is a reliable insulation systemwhich can also be
used in applications with high aesthetic requirements. The smooth
surface alsomakes Arma-Chek Silver very easy to clean. Furthermore,
the system is highly resistant to various acids, alkali and salt solutions,
hydrocarbons, alcohols etc. This not only provides installations with
tough protection against aggressive ambient conditions, but also
means thatdisinfectantscanbeused for cleaning. TheUV resistanceof
themulti-layeredcoveringmaterial iscontinuouslysubjected toweath-
ering tests inaccordancewithDINEN ISO4892 (Weather-Ometer).
Especially on production lines where the insulation is subject to
mechanical stress during maintenance work, Arma-Chek Silver has
benefits compared tometal claddings. Thematerial has highmechani-
cal stability whilst at the same time maintaining a certain degree of
flexibility. The coveringmaterials provide the insulationwith effective
protection against mechanical impact, yet are flexible enough to
recover fromblows, usually leavingnodents in the surface.
Reliableprotectionagainstmoistureensures long service life
Arma-Chek Silver is verywell protected againstmoisture. Because the
covering is attacheddirectly to the insulation, any riskofwater ingress
at these points is ruled out. If metal cladding systems are not com-
pletely tight – and it is never completely possible to ensure that they
are –water canpenetrate the insulation.Moisture not only leads to a
drastic reduction in the thermal properties of the insulationmaterial,
significant corrosion damage can occur under the insulation. In the
caseof theArma-Chekproducts the flexible covering is firmlyattached
to the insulation and seams are sealedwith the ArmaChek Silver self-
adhesive tape.
As there are no seams or crimps in the systems, neithermoisture nor
germs can penetrate the insulation. The elastomeric insulationmate-
rial has a closedmicrocell structure, very low thermal conductivityand
high resistance towater-vapour transmission. Theseproperties ensure
that installations insulatedwithArma-Chek have long-termprotection
againstmoisture ingress. Because theyaredust- and fibre-freemateri-
als, Armaflex products offer passive protection against micro-organ-
isms. In addition, AF/Armaflex is equipped with antimicrobial Micro-
ban® technology and has even greater resistance to bacteria and
mould.
Time-saving installation thanks to pre-covered insulation
systems
Unlike traditional insulationmaterialsandcoverings, Arma-ChekSilver
can be installed in one work step. This allows considerable time-sav-
ings – a great advantage in this project with a very tight schedule.
Arma-Chek products can be installed simply, directly on site without
theneed for special tools. Thematerial is easy to cut andhighly resis-
tant to tearing and impact.
Everythingwent according toplan
To coordinatematerial usage and labour, the projectmanager drewup
a workflow plan. The Arma-Chek Silver products were produced and
delivered on call with a lead-time of 10 working days. All in all the
employees of the company Knierzinger installed 10,455 m² of Arma-
Chek Silver continuous sheets in insulation thicknesses of 19, 25 and
32mmand secured the seamswith some81,000mofArma-ChekSilver
self-adhesive tape. Before the startof the largestArma-ChekSilverproj-
ect in Europe so far, the insulators were trained in the correct installa-
tionbyanArmacell applications specialist.
In July last year, the LenzingGroup startedup theworld’s largest lyocell
fibre lineand reported verypositiveexperiences at theendof the year.
Even in the firstmonthsafter commissioning the jumbo linewasalready
runningat full capacityandwithout anybreakdowns.
(Engelbert Ellmauer)
ThenewTENCEL® fibreplant (in the foregroundon the right)was constructed in just 24months. (Photo: LenzingAG)
