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Steam and hot water underground process piping and equipment | Owens Corning Insulation
Owens Corning

Thermal insulation solutions for underground steam piping and equipment operating at above ambient temperatures.

The direct burial of insulated pipelines is often a practical method of installing underground steam piping systems. This method eliminates the need for costly tunnels and speeds the installation install on the piping system.

The success of a direct burial system will depend to a great extent upon the system chosen, proper design and proper installation. Some of the key considerations which should be addressed by the design professionals prior to selecting a particular insulation system are:

  • type of system
  • operating temperature
  • soil type
  • pipe length
Underground piping

Underground steam lines are frequently specified with FOAMGLAS® cellular glass insulation because its high compressive strength permits direct burial and its constant insulating efficiency helps ensure process control over an extended period of time.

A FOAMGLAS® insulation system helps ensure that the temperature inside the steam pipes is controlled and kept stable, limiting the heat transfer to the cold soil, and helping the system to operate efficiently.

When a pipe is buried directly into the ground, it must withstand a high amount of pressure while also being subjected to moisture penetration. FOAMGLAS® cellular glass insulation has the compressive strength to withstand the pressures typical in these applications, while retaining its impermeability to moisture. By using a FOAMGLAS® insulation system, you help prevent the risk of moisture penetrating the system and corroding your piping network.

Underground steam pipe

Typical configuration for underground steam piping systems:

  • An anti-corrosion layer
  • An anti-abrasive layer
  • One or several layers of FOAMGLAS® cellular glass
  • PC® Coating or PITTWRAP® jacketing appropriate for the application.