REVOLUTIONISING TEMPERATURE
CONTROL Insulation is safety critical in pharmaceutical
factories, where hot pipes and equipment pose
a significant burn risk to workers. Yet traditional
approaches often fall short in terms of durability
and longevity and can be expensive to install
and maintain.

Thermal insulation coatings (TIC) have the
potential to replace bulky materials, such as
mineral wool, that are easily damaged and can
pose a hygiene risk. Just a relatively thin layer of
these easy to apply, easy to maintain solutions
can keep exterior surfaces safe to the touch, even in
the tightest of spaces.

What’s more, conventional methods are expensive
to install due to them needing to be welded around
pipework to maintain a hygienic seal. They can be
TICs are emerging as a safer, smarter alternative to fragile, necessitating frequent repairs, and risk-based
conventional insulation systems.

inspections, in which materials are removed to inspect
for signs of SCC, are not only labour-intensive, but
In the world of pharmaceutical manufacturing, where
also tend to require the wholescale shut down of
hot pipes and machinery are ubiquitous, insulation plays production processes.

a critical role in workplace safety. Just a few seconds of
incidental contact with a hot surface, whether that’s a
TICs are an innovative new approach with the potential
pipe, ductwork, or tank, is enough to blister and burn
to replace systems such as mineral wool. They work
skin. Such injuries, which can be severe or even life-
by lowering the skin stimulation temperature, i.e. both
threatening. the surface temperature and the rate of heat transfer,
of surfaces, thereby reducing the risk of burns and all
Effective insulation is key to keeping people safe as they their consequences.

go about their duties. It creates a barrier that reduces
heat transfer from hot surfaces to the skin. In addition, But they also are easy to clean, and resistant to mould,
it helps minimise heat loss or gain, ensuring products
bacteria, and contaminants, which enhances hygiene and
stay within safe temperature ranges, and keeps energy quality standards.

consumption and costs to a minimum.

Applied onsite, by brush, spray or trowel, for fast
Yet traditional approaches, such as mineral wool
seamless coverage on pipework, tanks and associated
cladding, come with challenges. When condensation
equipment, TICs provide long-lasting protection from
penetrates the barrier, the “dry” insulation
heat, corrosion, and abrasion. They are quick and easy
becomes “wet”.

to install, even in small or difficult to reach areas, and
treated installations can be moved from risk-based to
This can create major hygiene problems with
visual only inspection.

traditional insulation harbouring bacteria such as
listeria that can lead to major problems in busy
TICs are redefining how the pharmaceutical industry
pharmaceutical factories. It also poses the threat of
manages their heat-related risk mitigation. By directly
stainless-steel stress corrosion cracking (SCC), that can reducing surface temperatures, they help eliminate
create major failure and extended downtime in very
burn hazards at source, improving equipment safety,
busy environments, as well as reducing the insulation
while also reducing installation and maintenance costs.

material’s thermal resistivity (R-value). And as the
R-value goes down, the risk of burns goes up.

protective.sherwin-williams.com/uk CHP PACKER INTERNATIONAL update 09