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SUBJ/APPROVAL OF ECOTHERM FIBROUS GLASS INSULATION FOR HOT PIPING ON NON-NUCLEAR SHIPS

REF/A/DOC/MIL-I-22344 REV.D/15AUG1991

AMPN/REF A IS A SPECIFICATION FOR THERMAL, FIBROUS GLASS PIPE INSULATION.

POC/R.DEMPSEY/CIV/SEA 05M3/LOC:WASHINGTON DC/TEL:COM/202-781-3660/TEL:DSN 326-3660

    RMKS
  1. THE PURPOSE OF THIS ADVISORY MESSAGE IS TO APPROVE ECOTHERM FIBROUS GLASS INSULATION AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO MIL-I-2781 CALCIUM SILICATE INSULATION FOR USE ON HOT PIPING WITH TEMPERATURES UP TO 1000 DEGREES F IN LOW TRAFFIC AS WELL AS SELECTED HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS ON NON-NUCLEAR SURFACE SHIPS ONLY. HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS ARE DEFINED AS THOSE AREAS WHERE THE INSTALLED INSULATION AND LAGGING WILL BE SUBJECT TO WEAR AND DAMAGE DURING ROUTINE OPERATIONS. ECOTHERM IS APPROVED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR CALCIUM SILICATE FOR HOT PIPING IN A VERTICAL ORIENTATION. ECOTHERM IS ALSO APPROVED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR CALCIUM SILICATE IN A HORIZONTAL CONFIGURATION EXCEPT FOR HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS FOUR FEET OR LESS ABOVE THE DECK. FOR LOW ORIENTATION HORIZONTAL PIPING FOUR FEET OR LESS ABOVE THE DECK IN HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS, MIL-I-2781 IS THE RECOMMENDED AND PREFERRED MATERIAL TO BE INSTALLED IN THOSE AREAS.
  2. ECOTHERM MEETS ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF REF A, WHICH INCLUDE A K-FACTOR OF 0.26 MAX AT 100 DEGREES F MEAN TEMPERATURE. ECOTHERM IS RATED BY THE MANUFACTURER, JOHNS MANVILLE, FOR USE IN APPLICATIONS WITH MAXIMUM SERVICE TEMPERATURES UP TO 1000 DEGREES F. IN ADDITION, JOHNS MANVILLE NOTES IN THEIR PRODUCT DATA SHEET THAT ECOTHERM COMPLIES WITH ASTM C 547, TYPE II UP TO A MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 1000 DEGREES F. THE KEY PHYSICAL PROPERTIES TO DETERMINE THE PERFORMANCE OF ECOTHERM FOR HOT PIPE APPLICATIONS IN HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS ARE COMPRESSION STRENGTH AND RECOVERY.
  3. AN 11-MONTH SHIP TEST WAS PERFORMED ON USS BOXER (LHD 4). THE ECOTHERM WAS INSTALLED ON HOT PIPING WITH TEMPERATURES RANGING FROM 300 DEGREES F TO 700 DEGREES F IN SELECTED HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS WHERE CALCIUM SILICATE HAD BEEN THE ORIGINAL INSULATION. AFTER 11-MONTHS SHIPBOARD EXPOSURE, LABORATORY COMPRESSION STRENGTH AND RECOVERY TESTS WERE PERFORMED ON ECOTHERM. THE ECOTHERM EXHIBITED AT LEAST 90% RECOVERY AFTER BEING SUBJECTED TO COMPRESSION. THE FINAL EVALUATION CONCLUDES THAT ECOTHERM PERFORMS AS A THERMAL INSULATION IN LOW TRAFFIC AS WELL AS SELECTED HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS ON HOT PIPING AND IS RATED BY THE MANUFACTURER FOR USE IN APPLICATIONS WITH MAXIMUM SERVICE TEMPERATURES UP TO 1000 DEGREES F.
  4. ECOTHERM OFFERS A 60% WEIGHT REDUCTION AS AN ALTERNATIVE>TO CALCIUM SILICATE FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE APPLICATIONS. IT PROVIDES LABOR SAVINGS IN THAT THE INSULATION IS USER FRIENDLY DURING INSTALLATION AND REMOVAL. THE MATERIAL IS CUT EASILY WITH NO DUSTING. WHEN IT IS REMOVED FROM THE PIPE, THERE IS NO DUST OR CEMENT ADHERED TO THE PIPE. THE PIPE CAN EASILY BE RE-INSULATED WITH NO SCRAPING OR INTENSIVE CLEANING REQUIRED.
  5. ECOTHERM INSULATION SHALL BE INSTALLED ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS. THE MANUFACTURER'S GUIDANCE QQQQ STATES THAT DURING INITIAL HEAT UP TO OPERATING TEMPERATURES ABOVE 350 DEGRREES F, AN ACRID ODOR SIMILAR TO AMMONIA OR SOME SMOKE MAYBE GIVEN OFF; THERFORE, CAUTION SHOULD BE EXERCISED TO VENTILATE THE AREA WELL. THIS IS A SHORT LIVED CONDITION DUE TO BURN OFF OF ORGANIC BINDERS IN NEWLY INSTALLED FIBROUS GLASS PIPE INSULATION UPON INITAIL LIGHT OFF. AFTER THE INITIAL HEAT UP THER SHOULD BE NO RECURRENCE OF ODOR OR SMOKE.
  6. THE SOURCES FROM WHICH ECOTHERM INSULATION CAN BE OBTAINED, INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING SUPPLIERS:
    1. ATLANTECH DISTRIBUTION, 10 LOCKWOOD DR., HAMPTON, VA 23661. POC: TIM HAUFLER, TEL: 757-727-9222.
    2. BRANTON INDUSTRIES, P.O. BOX 10536, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70181. POC: JERRY MALTER, TEL: 504-734-7770.
    3. CLAREMONT SALES CORP., P.O. BOX 952, MERIDEN, CT 06450. POC: LISA ANDERSON, TEL: 203-238-2384.
    4. DISTRIBUTION INTERNATIONAL SOUTHEAST, 1250 ARMOUR AVE., MOBILE, AL 36617. POC: SUE FRANKS, TEL: 251-471-4655.
    5. E.J. BARTELLS, 700 POWELL SW, RENTON, WA 98057. POC: RICK SMITH, TEL: 425-288-4111.
    6. PACIFIC INSULATION, 4550 FEDERAL BLVD., SAN DIEGO, CA 92102. POC: JEAN PETTIES, TEL: 619-262-0741.
  7. REQUEST WIDEST DISSEMINATION AND RE-ADDRESSAL TO SUBORDINATE COMMANDS.

BT
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RTD:000-000/COPIES:

Section 1: PSN 859540Q31
Section 2: PSN 859544Q35

CDOMSG(A)...ACT FOR COMNAVAIRPAC SAN DIEGO CA
N121(I) N431(I) N4342(I) N4344(I) ACDO(I) ARCHIVES(I) MDCMSG(I)
MDSOPR(I)
N611(I) N612(I) N612A(I) N12(I) N43P(I) ( )

Audit Interpretation:
COMNAVAIRPAC SAN DIEGO CA :
COMM ACTV
COMNAVAIRPAC
PEO CARRIERS