Roxul Industrial Insulation Process - Manual (Page 25)

1.1 Planning and preparation
1.1.4 Storage of insulation materials
Incorrect storage of insulation materials outdoors
can cause insulation to deteriorate. Insulation
should be protected when stored, during
installation and when fitted to minimize moisture
exposure, physical damage and contamination. If
storage indoors is not possible, protect the
insulation material from weather influences by
covering it with waterproof material. Insulation
should also be stored a minimum of four inches
above ground and kept on a solid surface away
from ponding water and ground moisture.
Moisture causes many types of corrosion that
virtually never develop in a dry system. The major
types of corrosion in relation to insulation
technology are oxygen, electrochemical and stress
corrosion. Insulation materials that are
manufactured with properties (such as low
chloride content or added inhibitors) can
irrevocably lose these properties when exposed to
contamination or additives are leached out.
The thermal conductivity of water is approximately
25 times greater than that of air. An increase in
moisture therefore results in an increase in the
thermal conductivity of the insulation and,
correspondingly, a decrease in the insulation
efficiency. Higher moisture can also mean a
significantly higher weight, which, as a rule, is not
taken into account in the static design of an
insulation system. It is therefore important to
protect the insulation from moisture after
installation, as well as ensure insulation is
thoroughly dry when installed (especially in sealed
application at low temperatures or where the
temperature cycles).
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