TECHNICAL COMPARISON ARMAFLEX Vs EPS (THERMOCOL)/ PUF
Sr. No. INSULATION MATERIAL EPS PUF Armaflex Class O/FM Approved NBR Remarks
PARAMETERS
1 Material Type Expanded Polystyrene Poly Urethane Foam Elastomeric Nitrile Rubber
2 Cellular Structure Partially closed Partially closed Completely Closed Cell
Thermal
3 0.034 0.022 0.035
Conductivity@0DegC(W/m.K)
4 Water Absorption High Less than 3%
80-250 34-100 Minimum 7000
On account of the extremely high Mu
This allows a rapid Water Vapour Ingress to take place
Moisture Diffusion Resistance value, there will be very low Water
5 which rapidly increases the Thermal Conductivity and
Factor (Higher is Better) Vapour Ingress,Increase in Themal
energy losses
Conductivity is negligible
This leads to corrosion, condensation, energy Excellent long term Thermal
loss,formation of bacteria and fungus Performance
Loses Thermal Efficiency with age very rapidly as water
Retains efficiency for much longer
6 Long Term Behaviour seeps into insulation and deterioates leading to energy
period.
losses
In longer term the due to constant
In long term,due to deteriation in the thermal
thermal conductivity value, the
7 Transit Loss & Temp Rise conductivity values,the temperature rise is high for the
temperature rise is very low for a
service medium resulting in energy wastage
service medium
Being flexible. Tubes & Sheets can
Being rigid, even with best installation practices the take difficult shapes easily. Joints
8 Flexible joints are always prone for water vapour ingress. Very made with Armaflex Pipeseal provide
difficult to insulate Valves, strainers etc with EPS and PUF cold weld. It leaves no scope for
water vapour ingress.
On account of in built water vapour
resistnace, chances of Microbial
growth are rare. Our Class O
9 Microbial Resistance Zero Armaflex Plus product also comes
with additional security against
microbes, with Microban - anti-
microbial additive.
No risk of Corrosion as Armaflex NBR
High risk of corrosion as EPS & PUF absorbs moisture
10 Corrosion Don't allow water absorption and
due to low Mu value
seepage
1 % water vapour ingress (by
Joints are always a problem. In practical site conditions
11 Joints Seamless joints, like a cold weld volume) leads to around 4-
joints are laways prone to water vapor ingress.
6% increase in conductivity
Don't propagate fire, self
Propagates Fire. There has been international as well as
extinguishing. Meets most Stringent
12 Fire Performance Indian cases where both EPS and PUF was one of the
Global Fire Norms like British
factors to spread fire
Standards, ASTM & FM
The burning fire droplets acts
as fire multiplier.
Thermoplastics like EPS/PUF
13 Fire Behaviour Burns and drips (burning droplets) Nil
has been causes of major fire
accidents throughout the
world
This material meets Part 6 and part 7
Needs Coal tar(Bitumen) for installation which is of BS476 1989, Thus material is given
14 Fire Hazard
extremely fire hazardous as "CLASS-O" Certification. Also the
Material is FM Approved
The total installed cost of Armaflex is
comparable with EPS/PUF/PIR
In the long run PUF & EPS work out to be costly due to
insulation. In long run it gives huge
15 Savings high energy wastage, high maintainance, corrosion
savings on account energy savings
damage
and almost no maintenance cost wit
almost nil chance of corrosion
External Heat Transfer Coefficient,
16 5 (with Al Cladding/Foil), Al cladding must in EPS & PUF 9
(W/m2.K)
Easy & faster to install since its
Difficult to install, because of cumbersome installation
17 Ease of Installation flexible and joins easily with
process. Takes longer to install
adhesives
Allows changes in line very easily as
only longitudnal,butt joints needs to
18 Alterations Very difficult
done along with vapor sealing at the
end
19 Maintainance(Change over) Cycle 3-7 Years 7-10 Years 15+ Years
