BS 3958-4:

1982

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BRITISH STANDARD
CONFIRMED
DECEMBER 2007

Specification for

Thermal insulation
materials
Part 4: Bonded preformed man-made
mineral fibre pipe sections

UDC 662.998:677.522-462

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BS 3958-4:1982

Cooperating organizations
The Refrigeration, Heating and Air Conditioning Standards Committee, under
whose direction this British Standard was prepared, consists of
representatives from the following:
Association of Manufacturers of Domestic

Electricity Supply Industry in England and

Electrical Appliances

Wales*

Association of Consulting Engineers

Heating and Ventilating Contractors

Boiler and Radiator Manufacturers

Association

Association Limited

Hevac Association

British Combustion Equipment

Institute of Energy

Manufacturers Association

Institute of Refrigeration*

British Gas Corporation*

Institution of Gas Engineers*

British Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

Lloyds Register of Shipping

Association*

Manufacturers Association of Radiators and

Building Services Research and Information

Association

Convectors Ltd.
Ministry of Defence

Chartered Institution of Building Services*

National Coal Board

Department of Energy Technology

Society of British Gas Industries

Department of Health and Social Security*

Water-tube Boilermakers Association*

Department of the Environment (PSA)

The organizations marked with an asterisk in the above list, together with the
following, were directly represented on the Technical Committee entrusted
with the preparation of this British Standard:
Albury Laboratories Limited

Eps Association

Asbestos Cement Manufacturers Association

Eurisol (UK) Association of Manufacturers of

Limited

Mineral Fibre Insulation

British Ceramic Research Association

Fibre Building Board Development

British Rubber Manufacturers Association

Gypsum Products Development Association

Cranfield Institute of Technology

Institution of Mechanical Engineers

Department of Industry (National Physical

Process Plant Association

Laboratory)

Royal Institute of British Architects

Department of the Environment (Building

Research Establishment)
This British Standard, having
been prepared under the
direction of the Refrigeration,
Heating and Air Conditioning
Standards Committee, was
published under the
authority of the Board
of BSI and comes
into effect on
30 November 1982

Organization Ltd.

Combustion Engineering Association

Structural Insulation Association

Thermal Insulation Manufacturers and

Department of the Environment (Housing

and Construction)

Suppliers Association (TIMSA)

Thermal Insulations Contractors Association

Energy Industries Council

Yarsley Testing Laboratories Ltd.

Engineering Equipment Users Association

Coopted member

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Amendments issued since publication

First published March 1968

First revision November 1982

Amd. No.

The following BSI references

relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference RHE/9
Draft for comment 80/74589
ISBN 0 580 12852 0

Date of issue

Comments

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BS 3958-4:1982

Contents
Cooperating organizations
Foreword
1 Scope
2 References
3 Definitions
4 Sampling and testing
5 Composition
6 Moisture content
7 Physical requirements
8 Fire hazard (assessment of self-heating hazard)
9 Chemical requirements
10 Standard shapes and sizes
11 Dimensional tolerances
12 External finish
13 Marking
Appendix A Information to be supplied when ordering
Appendix B Method of test for alkalinity
Table 1 Thermal conductivity values
Table 2 Finishes and overlaps
Publications referred to

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Page
Inside front cover
ii
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
4
4
1
3
Inside back cover

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BS 3958-4:1982

Foreword
This revision of this Part of this British Standard is one of a series published
under the direction of the Refrigeration, Heating and Air Conditioning Standards
Committee to specify requirements for a particular range of insulating materials.
It supersedes the 1968 edition which is now withdrawn.
Mineral fibre insulation is not normally designed or recommended for the support
of loads, therefore no test for compressive strength is included in this Part.
Other Parts of this standard are:
Part 1: Magnesia preformed insulation;
Part 2: Calcium silicate preformed insulation;
Part 3: Metal mesh faced mineral wool mats and mattresses;
Part 5: Bonded mineral wool slabs (for use at temperatures above 50 C);
Part 6: Finishing materials; hard setting composition, self-setting cement
and gypsum plaster.
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
pages 1 to 4, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on
the inside front cover.
ii

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BS 3958-4:1982

1 Scope
This Part of this British Standard specifies
composition, moisture content, physical and
chemical requirements for bonded preformed
man-made mineral fibre pipe sections, generally for
use at elevated temperatures. Ceramic fibres are
excluded.
Information to be supplied when ordering is given in
Appendix A.

2 References
The titles of the publications referred to in this
standard are listed on the inside back cover.

3 Definitions
For the purposes of this Part of this British
Standard, the definitions given in BS 874, BS 2972,
BS 3533 and BS 5422 apply.

4 Sampling and testing

Sampling and testing shall be in accordance with
the appropriate clause in BS 2972. For thermal
conductivity determinations and for the assessment
of fire hazard, a flat slab representative of the pipe
section shall be used for the tests.

5 Composition
The material shall be of man-made mineral fibre
made from rock, slag or glass, processed from a
molten state into a fibrous form, and shall be bonded
with a suitable binder.

6 Moisture content
When conditioned at high humidity in accordance
with 40.4 of BS 2972:1975, the moisture content of
the material shall not exceed 5 % by mass.

7 Physical requirements
7.1 Thermal conductivity. When tested in
accordance with the appropriate method of test for
thermal conductivity given in BS 874, the thermal
conductivity shall not exceed the values given
in Table 1.

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Table 1 Thermal conductivity values

50
100
150
200
250
300
350

Mean temperature

Thermal conductivity

W/(mK)

0.043
0.052
0.064
0.078
0.093
0.110
0.129

NOTE 1 BS 874 requires the test report to state which method

of test was employed, the bulk density of the material, the hot
face temperature and cold face temperature (generally within the
range 10 C to 50 C), the conditioning procedure and the
moisture content before and after the test.
NOTE 2 In order to comply with the requirements of Table 1,
products of different bulk density may be supplied for use at
different service temperatures. The required service temperature
should be stated by the purchaser.

7.2 Bulk density. For any particular product, the

variation from the manufacturers declared value
for bulk density, calculated at the nominal
thickness, shall not exceed 15 %.
NOTE The bulk density of the material will normally lie within
the range 50 kg/m3 to 200 kg/m3. The manufacturers declared
value for bulk density may vary with the size of section.

7.3 Heat stability. When a sample is heated in

accordance with 21.1 of BS 2972:1975 at the stated
maximum temperature of use, the material shall
maintain its general form and shall not suffer
visible deterioration of the fibrous structure.
7.4 Temperature limitations. Not all products
can give satisfactory service at high hot face
temperatures. The manufacturer shall state the
recommended maximum service temperature and
limiting thickness.

8 Fire hazard (assessment of

self-heating hazard)
The material shall comply with the requirements
of 18.1 to 18.3 of BS 2972:1975 and with the
requirements of 27.1 of BS 5422:1977, as
appropriate.

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BS 3958-4:1982

9 Chemical requirements

11 Dimensional tolerances

9.1 Alkalinity. When tested by the method

described in Appendix B, the pH value recorded
shall be between 6.0 and 10.0.
9.2 Corrosive attack. The material shall not
include significant quantities of substances that will
promote corrosive attack on the surfaces with which
it is to be in contact. Where necessary, trace
quantities of water-soluble chlorides shall be
estimated in accordance with section 22 of
BS 2972:1975.

Preformed pipe sections shall be in accordance with

the nominal dimensions stated by the manufacturer
(or supplier, as appropriate), subject to the following
tolerances.

NOTE 1 Water-soluble chlorides are normally present in trace

quantities in most commercial thermal insulating materials. In
the presence of moisture and oxygen and under certain adverse
metallurgical conditions chloride ions are capable of initiating
stress corrosion cracking in susceptible metal alloys such as
austenitic stainless steels.
It is not practicable to indicate a safe upper limit for chloride
content since water can leach out soluble chlorides from
substantial volumes of insulating materials and allow them to be
concentrated at the metal-insulation interface, in addition, water
from outside sources such as the process itself or wind-driven
spray can substantially increase the chloride content of the
insulation.
In conditions potentially conducive to stress corrosion cracking,
appropriate safeguards should be adopted (see BS 5970).
NOTE 2 Some organic matter may be present either in a fibrous
form or as a bonding agent. It is suggested that the composition
of the product be checked with the manufacturer for use in
process conditions where organics may present a hazard,
e.g. processes involving powerful oxidizing agents or thermal
insulation on pipework and plant in a flammable atmosphere.

10 Standard shapes and sizes

10.1 Shape. Standard sections shall be cylindrical
or semi-cylindrical. Very large diameters may be
catered for by multi-segmental sections.
10.2 Sizes. The standard ranges of sizes shall be as
follows.
Length:

0.5 m to 1.2 m

Diameter:

to fit standard pipes of external

diameter up to 610 mm

Length:

3 mm

Thickness:

3 mm

Uniformity:

the local thickness at any

point shall not differ from
the average thickness by
more than 3 mm

Internal diameter:

0, + 1.5 mm (or + 1 %),

whichever is the greater).

12 External finish
Sections shall be finished plain (no applied finish) or
with one of the finishes given in Table 2.
Overlaps shall be as specified in Table 2.
NOTE Other finishes may be supplied by arrangement between
the purchaser and the manufacturer.

13 Marking
Each package containing pipe sections, or the
articles themselves, shall be clearly marked with
the following:
a) the manufacturers name, mark or symbol;
b) the manufacturers type designation, grade
and maximum service temperature limit;
c) the nominal dimensions (length, thickness and
internal diameter of the section);
d) the number of this British Standard,
i.e. BS 3958-41).

Thickness: 19 mm to 120 mm.

NOTE 1 The full range of thicknesses may not be available for
a specific pipe diameter; the thinner sections are generally only
available for small diameter pipes.
NOTE 2 Not all suppliers provide the full range of standard
sizes. Sections of other dimensions may be available by
arrangement with the manufacturer.

1)

Marking BS 3958-4 on or in relation to a product is a claim by the manufacturer that the product has been manufactured in
accordance with the requirements of the standard. The accuracy of such a claim is therefore solely the manufacturers
responsibility. Enquiries as to the availability of third party certification to support such claims should be addressed to the
Director, Quality Assurance Division, British Standards Institution, Maylands Avenue, Hemel Hempstead, Herts HP2 4SQ in
the case of certification marks administered by BSI or to the appropriate authority for other certification marks.

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BS 3958-4:1982

Table 2 Finishes and overlaps

Finish

Typical quality

Overlap
Longitudinal

End

Cotton scrim

Loomstate, weight 0.028 kg/m2 min.,

texture warp 650, weft 400 threads/metre,
min.

38 mm min.

Cotton canvas

Loomstate, weight 0.1 kg/m2 min., texture

warp 1 850, weft 1 500 threads/metre min.

38 mm min.a

25 mm min.

Aluminium foil
laminate

Foil thickness 0.008 mm min.,

glass fibre reinforced,
paper laminated

38 mm min.a

None
(sealing strip used)

Polyisobutylene
sheet

Thickness 0.8 mm min.

38 mm min.a

25 mm min.

None

May be reduced to 25 mm for sections up to 200 mm in circumference.

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BS 3958-4:1982

Appendix A Information to be
supplied when ordering

Appendix B Method of test for

alkalinity

The following information shall be supplied with the

order:
a) the number of this British Standard,
i.e. BS 3958-4;
b) the dimensions of the sections required;
c) the finish required;
d) the maximum service temperature to which
the product will be subjected;
e) a note of any adverse condition in the
environment of the insulation, e.g. acidic fumes;
f) a note of any special requirements concerning
fire safety.

B.1 Preparation of sample. From the bulk

sample, taken in accordance with BS 2972, cut five
pieces, each of approximate mass 5 g, from separate
units where possible. Crush these pieces and mix
thoroughly.
B.2 Determination of pH. Weigh 2 g of the
crushed sample and shake well for 10 min
with 100 mL of distilled or deionized water
(pH 6.5 to 7.5) at room temperature. Leave to settle
for 5 min and measure the pH of the mixture, using
a standard pH meter (see BS 1647 and BS 3145)
and decanting the solution if necessary. Repeat the
test on a further 2 g of the sample and report both
values.

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BS 3958-4:1982

Publications referred to
BS 874, Methods for determining thermal insulating properties, with definitions of thermal insulating
terms.
BS 1647, pH scale.
BS 2972, Methods of test for inorganic thermal insulating materials.
BS 3145, Specification for laboratory pH meters.
BS 3533, Glossary of thermal insulation terms.
BS 3958, Specification for thermal insulating materials2).
BS 3958-1, Magnesia preformed insulation.
BS 3958-2, Calcium silicate preformed insulation.
BS 3958-3, Metal mesh faced mineral wool mats and mattresses.
BS 3958-5, Bonded mineral wool slabs (for use at temperatures above 50 C).
BS 3958-6, Finishing materials; hard setting composition, self-setting cement and gypsum plaster.
BS 5422, Specification for the use of thermal insulating materials.
BS 5970, Code of practice for thermal insulation of pipework and equipment (in the temperature range
of 100 C to + 870 C).

2) Referred

to in the foreword only.

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BS 3958-4:
1982

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