Installation and safety28 Sept 2020
Flexible heat shields: installation and care
Shields fail from handling, not from temperature: compression in storage, no allowance for expansion, and damage left unrepaired.
A flexible heat shield is a thermal cover that follows the surface of equipment or pipework, insulating it and protecting the part underneath from ageing and mechanical damage. Service life depends heavily on how it is installed, used, transported and stored.
The common failures are practical ones, and all of them are avoidable.
Rules that prevent most failures
- Stop using a shield that is torn, cracked or deformed, and repair or replace it before refitting
- Leave allowance for thermal expansion and contraction so the equipment does not crush the cover
- Never store or transport shields under long-term load; compression changes the fiber structure and the insulation value
- Keep fastenings matched to the original; a substitute strap changes how the cover seats
Reference note. Figures and standard references are indicative and do not replace the project specification, the current edition of the standard, or product test reports for the specific supply.