Following the release of BS 5422:2023, TICA is raising concerns about the safety and suitability of pre-insulated pipe and duct products used inside buildings
The Thermal Insulation Contractors Association (TICA) is reiterating their concerns over the fire safety capabilites of pre-insulated pipe and duct products, first raised in July 2022 by TICA and Building Engineering Services Association (BESA).
Following the recent release of BS 5422:2023 and with secondary legislation attached to the Building Safety Act on the horizon, TICA’s technical policy manager Chris Ridge has pointed out that several resources on the market “simply do not meet [the] criteria”.
BS 5422:2023 has changed the required fire safety requirements
BS 5422:2023 applies to thermal insulating materials for pipes, tanks, vessels, ductwork and equipment operating between-40ºc and +700ºc.
The first such thermal insulation standards update in nearly 15 years, it sets out the minimum levels of performance for different operating conditions.
“Twelve months after our initial communications it has become necessary for TICA to raise this issue again. BS 5422:2023 now defines Reaction to Fire in terms of the Euroclass system and states a minimum performance of Euroclass C-s3, d2 in dwelling applications and B-s3, d2 in non-dwelling applications. Many pre-insulated systems that are being marketed for use inside of buildings simply do not meet these criteria.”
The testing methods of pre-insulated pipe and duct systems by manufacturers has also been called into question
“We are seeing vastly differing reaction to fire results for products that appear to be of a similar nature,” added Chris. “In some cases, the testing processes adopted by manufacturers of pre-insulated product appear to have diverged from the agreed testing methods commonly understood for traditional thermal insulation products.
“Ultimately, manufacturers are marketing a system by combining pipe and duct products with an insulation product – this cannot negate the responsibility of testing the insulation element to the prescribed standards.”
Misleading marketing may be at work as well
TICA has also highlighted the fact that some pre-insulated products are being marketed for applications where they simply cannot meet the required maximum heat loss requirements prescribed in BS 5422:2023 and Approved Document L Volumes 1 & 2.
Chris said: “Those responsible for specifying and installing pre-insulated systems should be prepared to ask some detailed questions first. Ultimately, this is not just a combination of products but a junction of trades.
“No-one would automatically assume that a thermal insulator is competent to install or specify pipework and ductwork – why, then, should we assume that a ductwork contractor or pipework contractor is competent to install or specify thermal insulation?”
