Purpose for Insulation

The steel boundaries, interior bulkheads and decks of

ocean-going ships are insulated for a variety of
reasons, to:
1. reduce energy use for space heating and cooling
2. provide an acceptable thermal environment for
occupants
3. prevent moisture condensation on the bulkheads,
decks and ceilings
4. protect against the spread of fire
5. protect stored goods and materials
6. protect cargo
7. mitigate noise migration for occupants
 Purpose for Insulation
Piping and ventilation systems and mechanical
equipment on ships are insulated to:

1. reduce process of HVAC-related energy use

2. reduce loads on mechanical equipment
3. provide personnel protection
4. reduce noise
 Types of Insulation
• Mineral and glass wool in batts and boards of various
densities;
• cellulated glass blocks;
• polystyrene boards or foamed-in-place;
• polyurethane, sprayed, foamed-in-place or board

The use of polyurethane and other organic foam as an insulation

material is restricted to non-passenger ships and is only to fitted
in low fire risk areas such as fish holds, cargo holds, or
refrigerated spaces. Under no circumstances are these materials
to be used in machinery spaces, galleys, accommodation spaces,
control stations or other similar spaces where a fire hazard may
exist. The detailed requirements for the fitting of this material is
described in Technical References No.8.
 Surface Finishes
• A lining is fitted over insulated structure, to protect
the insulation, in both general spaces and in
refrigerated storerooms. (Ref Joiner Bhd notes)
• insulation can be sheathed with (non-combustible):
– a light gauge open meshwork metal covering.
– stainless steel sheet metal.
– inorganic composition panels
– light gauge steel plates
– decorative hard and soft plastic or vinyl laminates
 Insulation Materials Properties
• Conductivity, is only one factor to be considered in
the choice of insulation. Insulations have other
properties to be considered and a choice is seldom
justified on the basis of a single property. Some of
the factors to be considered are as follows:
 Insulation Materials Properties
1. Size. The physical size should be appropriate to spacing of frames, beams, and
stiffeners to avoid waste.
2. Workability. Must be easy to cut and handle on board ship. Must be resilient and
flexible.
3. Combustibility. A combustible insulation is a fire hazard, particularly during
installation or repair work. Non-combustible linings, furring, etc., are preferred,
but if polystyrene or foamed in place of polyurethane insulations are used, a steel
or other non-combustible covering is recommended.
4. Sanitation. Insulation should be odourless and not susceptible to mold, bacterial
growth, or termites.
5. Specific Heat. A high specific heat means a longer pull down time but greater
temperature stability after pull down.
6. Compressive Strength. Important for insulation on decks which must bear a load.
7. Density. Weight on a ship is always important. Insulation weight on an all-
refrigerated ship can vary by several hundred tons depending on type of insulation.
8. Physical Stability. Insulation should not pack, crumble, or otherwise change its
form over a reasonable period of time.
9. Cost. Cost comparisons should be based on installed insulation costs, so that
waste, workability, etc, are accounted for as well as material costs.
Insulation Detailing
 Thermal Insulation Calculations

• The K-Value is a positive constant that relates to the

thermal conductivity properties of a substance and is
used in the calculation of heat transfer rates for
materials.
• It is the amount of heat that flows through a specified
area and thickness of a material over a specified
period of time when there is a temperature difference
of one degree between the surfaces of the material.
• The lower the K-Value, the less thermally conductive
the material, the better the insulator it is.
Thermal Insulation Calculations

• It is defined as the quantity of heat, Q, transmitted

in time t, through a thickness L, in a direction
normal to a surface of area A, due to a temperature
difference ΔT, under steady state conditions and
when the heat transfer is dependent only on the
temperature gradient.
• thermal conductivity = heat flow rate × distance /
(area × temperature difference)
Thermal Insulation Calculations

• The U-Value, or coefficient of heat transmission, is a

value that describes the ability of a material to
conduct heat.
• It is the reciprocal of the R-Value (U-Value = 1/R-
Value).
• The lower the number, the greater the heat transfer
resistance characteristics of the material, the better
the insulator it is.
Thermal Insulation Calculations
• The R-Value, or thermal resistance of a material,
designates the resistance of a material to heat
conduction.
• The R-Value is the reciprocal of the conductivity of a
material (U-Value).
• The R-Value can also be calculated from the thermal
conductivity value, K and the thickness of the
material (R = 1/k x thickness).
• The larger the R-Value of a material, the greater its
thermal resistance properties, the better the
insulator it is.
 Acoustic Insulation Criteria
• Sound isolation is achieved by sound-absorption
treatment as described, plus the use of isolators.
Isolators are non-rigid attachment fittings made of
springs, rubber, or felt which do not transmit vibration
and reduce the telegraphed, direct-contact noise.
• Isolators are applied to both the source of noise and to
the partition between the noise-producing space and
the space to be protected.
• For example, to sound-isolate an accommodation space
from a noisy fan room, the fans are mounted on
isolators, and joiner treatment is applied as follows
depending on the relative positions of the rooms:
 Acoustic Insulation Criteria
• Accommodation space directly below fan room.
• Apply insulation and perforated sheathing to ceiling
of fan room.
• Apply insulation overhead in accommodation space.
Tight joiner ceiling, bulkheads, and lining in
accommodation spaces to be acoustically separated
from ship's structure by mounting on isolators.
 Acoustic Insulation Criteria
• Accommodation space directly above fan room.
• Apply insulation and tight joiner ceiling, suspended
by isolators, overhead in fan room.
• Apply insulation and perforated ceiling overhead in
accommodation space.
• Lay carpet on deck of accommodation space if
possible.
 Acoustic Insulation Criteria
• Accommodation space next to and on same level as
fan room.
• Apply insulation and perforated ceiling overhead in
fan room.
• Apply insulation and solid, sound-isolated ceiling to
overhead in accommodation space.
• Apply insulation and sound-isolated joiner lining on
accommodation space side of steel bulkhead next to
the fan room.
 Pipe Insulation
• Piping is frequently covered by layers of insulation
• Pipe insulation amounts to wrapping the pipe in a blanket of
insulating material.
• The thickness of the blanket of insulation depends on the
application.
• It is a natural law the heat passes form a hot or warm
surface to a cold or colder one.
• Insulation helps prevent hot fluid from cooling as it passes
through the system.
• And if the piping is carrying a cold fluid, insulation helps
keep the fluid cold.
• Protects crew from getting burnt
• Keeps heat in as to not add heat to areas they pass through.
 Vapour Barriers
• Where insulations are exposed to oil and oil vapours
they should be faced with a vapour barrier of
impervious material such as aluminum foil or plastic
film. Any joints should be sealed with a tape of
compatible material, having a minimum width of
50mm.
 Vapour Barriers
• Where there is a risk of a fire classed bulkhead
insulation becoming damaged by the shipping or
unshipping of machinery, or similar operations, the
vapour barrier should be protected by a metal
sheathing.
• The metal sheathing should be attached to the
structure independently of the fire insulation with a
gap of at least 25mm, and the number and size of the
means of securing the metal sheathing should be kept
to a minimum.
 Heat Transmission
• There are three forms of heat transmission that are
of concern on a ship, they are:

1. Conduction
2. Convection
3. Radiation
 Conduction
• The transfer of heat through a material by the
transfer of kinetic energy from particle to particle;
the flow of heat between two materials of different
temperatures that are in direct physical contact.
• A good example would be how the elements on an
electric stove or clothes iron work.
• The molecules stay cool until they are restricted and
start to bump one another.
• This action causes energy to be released in the form
of heat. The faster heat moves through a material
the higher its conductivity.
 Convection
• The transfer of heat by means of air currents. When
you hold your hand over a light bulb and feel the
heat rising through the air, you are experiencing the
convection process.
 Radiation
• The transfer of heat through matter or space by
means of electromagnetic waves, a direct transfer of
heat from one object to another without a heating
medium in between.
• This is the same process by which infrared heat
works.
• Radiant energy is transmitted as an electromagnetic
wave until it strikes an object. Silver or foil act as a
radiant barrier.
 Insulation Coefficients
• The insulating materials that are used on a ship have
a number of constants and coefficients associated
with them that the designer must be aware of when
specifying a particular product.

1. K-Value
2. U-Value
3. R-Value
 K-Value
• The K-Value is a positive constant that relates to the
thermal conductivity properties of a substance and is
used in the calculation of heat transfer rates for
materials.
• It is the amount of heat that flows through a
specified area and thickness of a material over a
specified period of time when there is a temperature
difference of one degree between the surfaces of the
material.
• The lower the K-Value, the less thermally conductive
the material, the better the insulator it is.
 K-Value
• It is defined as the quantity of heat, Q, transmitted
in time t, through a thickness L, in a direction
normal to a surface of area A, due to a temperature
difference ΔT, under steady state conditions and
when the heat transfer is dependent only on the
temperature gradient.
• thermal conductivity = heat flow rate × distance /
(area × temperature difference)
 U-Value
• The U-Value, or coefficient of heat transmission, is a
value that describes the ability of a material to
conduct heat.
• It is the reciprocal of the R-Value (U-Value = 1/R-
Value).
• The lower the number, the greater the heat transfer
resistance characteristics of the material, the better
the insulator it is.
 R-Value
• The R-Value, or thermal resistance of a material,
designates the resistance of a material to heat
conduction.
• The R-Value is the reciprocal of the conductivity of a
material (U-Value).
• The R-Value can also be calculated from the thermal
conductivity value, K and the thickness of the
material (R = 1/k x thickness).
• The larger the R-Value of a material, the greater its
thermal resistance properties, the better the
insulator it is.
Common insulating materials, “R” values, advantages and disadvantages
Insulating material “R” value Advantages Disadvantages
per inch
(2.54 cm)
Polyurethane, board 6.25 Very good R-value, can be Not always easily available,
used with fibreglass resins relatively expensive
Polyurethane, spray on 7.0 Very good R-value, can be Not always easily available,
used with fibreglass resins, expensive, requires special spray
easy application with spray equipment
equipment
Polyurethane, poured 7.0 Very good R-value, can be Not always easily available,
(two-part chemical) used with fibreglass resins, expensive, requires very careful
relative ease of application volume calculations
Polystyrene, sheets 5.0 Readily available, low cost, Cannot be used with fibreglass
(smooth) reasonable R-value resins unless protected, easily
Trade name “Styrofoam” damaged

Polystyrene, foamed 3.75 to 4.0 Reasonable R-values, lower Cannot be used with fibreglass
in place and expanded cost than smooth surfaced resins unless protected, easily
moulded beads. Known sheets damaged
as Isopor, Polypor, etc.

Cork board 3.33 Availability in many markets, Lower R-values than polyurethane
reasonable cost, can be for styrene foams
covered with fibreglass

Fibreglass wool batts 3.3 Low cost, ease of installation Readily absorbs water or other
fluids, loses insulating value when
wet
Rock wool batts 3.7 As above As above
Wood shavings 2.2 Readily available, low cost Absorbs moisture and loses R-values
when wet, decays
Sawdust 2.44 Readily available, low cost Absorbs moisture and loses R-value
when wet, packs down under
vibration
Straw Readily available, low cost Absorbs moisture and loses R-value
when wet, host to insects, etc.
Air space 1.0 approx. No cost Has to be completely sealed to
prevent air circulation causing heat

infiltration
 Questions
1. What is the purpose of Ship board insulation?
2. List the properties to consider when selecting
insulation for marine use.
3. Describe the various methods of how is insulation
attached to steel bulkheads and decks?
4. List and describe the 3 means of heat transfer.
5. Describe the difference between sound absorption and
sound isolation and how it is applied on ship?