For specifiers and piping engineers

Cryogenic Insulator Guide Specification

A three-part guide specification for load-bearing cryogenic thermal and electrical insulators, written for STB-1 Cryogenic Insulator. Copy it into your project manual and edit it to suit. Specifier notes are in italics; edit lists to suit the project.

Part 1 — General

Section includes: load-bearing cryogenic thermal and electrical insulators at the following locations: cryogenic pipe supports and shoes; tank, vessel and equipment supports; bolted isolation joints, including washers and bushings.
Related sections: list piping supports, structural steel, cryogenic equipment and insulation sections as required.
Reference standards: ASTM C518, D149, D229, D256, D495, D638, D695, D696, D732, D790, D2863, E84, E1354; UL 94.
Submittals: product data sheet with the material properties listed in Part 2; shop drawings showing insulator size, thickness, hole locations and bolt sleeves; samples on request.
Design requirements: the supplier provides material properties for use in the support or connection calculations. Calculations should confirm that the insulator does not compress, deflect or creep at the design load across the full operating temperature range.
Delivery, storage and handling: deliver in original packaging, labeled with product and thickness; store flat, dry and off the ground.

Part 2 — Products

Manufacturer: Benchmark Site Services, bmssi.ca.
Product: STB-1 Cryogenic Insulator, thermoset reinforced epoxy composite.
Performance requirements: minimum operating temperature −270 °C (−454 °F); maximum continuous operating temperature 135 °C (275 °F); short-term excursion up to 180 °C (356 °F); compressive strength, ASTM D695, 48,000 psi; compressive modulus, ASTM D695 (1″ thick), 400,671 psi; shear strength, ASTM D732, 16,326 psi; thermal conductivity, ASTM C518, 1.055 BTU·in/hr·ft²·°F; dielectric strength, ASTM D149, 500 VPM; surface burning, ASTM E84, flame spread 25, smoke developed 120.
Thickness: specify 1/4″, 1/2″, 3/4″, 1″ or 2″ by location, and whether isolating washers and bushings are required.

Part 3 — Execution

Install insulators on clean, flat, dry bearing surfaces, full contact across the bearing area.
Field-drill or cut with carbide tooling; seal cut edges where specified.
Fit isolating bushings and washers so that no bolt bridges the cold side to the warm side.
Tighten bolts to the torque on the approved shop drawings.

Full property tables are on the specifications page. Design notes for cold shoes are on cryogenic pipe support insulation.

Request a Quote

Send your drawings, operating temperature and design loads to sales@bmssi.ca or call 800-580-4195. We cut and drill every cryogenic isolation pad in house and quote quickly.