What are the new pipe and duct insulation thickness requirements in standard 90 1 2010.
Refrigerant line insulation thickness.
To determine the vrf refrigerant insulation requirements you will need to know several things to.
There are two refrigeration circuits each with a liquid line supplying liquid refrigerant from the condenser to a tx valve adjacent to the evaporator and a suction line returning refrigerant gas from the evaporator to the suction connections of the compressor.
They are warm to hot 110 f 43 3 c for air cooled.
Mandated changes in refrigerants are resulting in colder line temperatures which require increased insulation thickness to prevent condensation.
In typical conditions a 1 inch thickness is the standard.
Two different diameter copper refrigerant lines one approximately 1 4 second 3 4 diameter depends on your system size and distances run between the air conditioning system condensing unit house exterior and the ac coil a coil named after its shape.
Missing or damaged refrigerant line insulation insulation on the refrigerant lines particularly on the larger suction line will cause condensation and drips from the lines in humid areas.
However in some cases where humidity is high over 80 percent a 1 inch thickness may be used.
Liquid lines generally are insulated.
Refrigerant line insulation is partially responsible for the efficiency of your air conditioning system operation.
The thickness required for low temperature pipes like refrigerant and chiller water is less than higher temperature pipes and smaller pipes require less insulation as well 1 in general refrigerant suction lines and chilled water pipes require either 1 2 or 1 insulation depending on the size and temperature of the pipes.
There is a double suction riser on one of the circuits.
1 4 5 8 insulated copper coil line set seamless pipe tube for hvac refrigerant 1 2 white insulation ez twin set 35 long 167 99 167.
The roof of a building at roof level or if they could be considered hot enough to pose a safety risk then insulation should be added.
This is not what dictates insulation thickness.
If it was all vrv vrf manufacturer s would require 2 1 2 on the high pressure lines.
This also applies to the need for epdm on insulated coils line sets going to the fan coils.
If liquid lines pass through a space that is warmer than the refrigerant i e.
In our photo at above left where refrigerant line insulation is incomplete the drip stains on the attic floor may well indicate a point at which leak.
Overall this is good news giving mechanical insulation an opportunity to contribute to greater building energy efficiency.
