The Thermal Insulation Association of Canada is inching closer and closer towards its goal of seeing increased minimum pipe insulation thicknesses set forth in the National Energy Code for Buildings. The following column is an update from Steve Clayman, a TIAC consultant who is actively pursuing this update to the NECB-2011. What is needed next is a consensus on minimum pipe insulation thicknesses to recommend to the Standing Committee on Energy Efficiency in Buildings (SCEEB) and the Canadian Code Commission (CCC).

I was involved in the first of four planned conference calls on August 3 regarding the National Energy Code for Buildings - 2015. The purpose of the conference call was to introduce the task group members along with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) staff seconded to support us. There was an early admission by the chair that the NECB-2011 will fall short with the adaption of the MNECB-1997 minimum pipe insulation thicknesses. The chair and NRCan staff recognize this area has to be addressed in view of the impact pipe insulation thicknesses (or lack thereof) has on energy usage. Starting off from this point of view, we were able to get down to serious work.

The task group recognized the value of ASHRAE 90.1-2010, but felt that because the methodology was based on US experience, this Standard should be modified to reflect Canadian conditions. I was asked to provide NRCan staff with the ASHRAE 90.1-2010 methodology. Ron King was immediately helpful in this regard and arranged for me to obtain a 46-page document from Chris Crall of the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA). Chris’ study will now form the basis by which NRCan staff will recommend what Canadian minimum pipe insulation thicknesses should be leading up to NECB-2015’s publication date.

I also provided on request, a section of TIAC’s Best Practices to NRCan staff that describes properties of various types of insulation. Best Practices is an invaluable resource NRCan will be relying on more and more.

The task group discussed the very likelihood that by the fourth conference call (or sooner) we’ll have a consensus on minimum pipe insulation thicknesses to recommend to the Standing Committee on Energy Efficiency in Buildings (SCEEB) and the Canadian Code Commission (CCC). The task group chair anticipates SCEEB will agree to our recommendations and issue an interim directive, initially in the form of a Public Review. Once the Public Review is complete, the CCC can then issue a final directive on minimum pipe insulation thicknesses. This directive could then replace the minimum pipe insulation thickness table in the NECB-2011 by summer 2012.

As you can see there are several “ifs” and “maybes”, but in the main, the direction is positive for our industry. I’ll have more on this by the time the TIAC Convention in Maui rolls around.

Insulation Energy Appraiser Program

A number of you have taken the National Insulation Association’s (NIA) course and received your certification. This is a great first step. Within this group, there are people who are current with their certification, but quite a few who have let their certification lapse. In good part this is an unfortunate result of individuals not being able to further their practical experience once they get back home.

TIAC is interested in building a national directory of experienced NIA Certified Insulation Energy Appraisers. The idea is for qualified people to be available to conduct mechanical insulation audits wherever the requirement presents itself. I understand this topic – determining how the set-up would work – will be up for discussion during the TIAC Convention in Maui.

The International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers’ management would like to have TIAC conduct mechanical insulation audits on industrial operations (petro-chem, pulp & paper, mining/smelting, etc). The International is in a position to bring TIAC members into plants to assess insulation deficiencies and build a business case for the approval of retrofit work. We know from NIA there is a tremendous amount of untapped business available regarding upgrades.    

We would also welcome access to non-union sites, and these don’t necessarily have to be heavy industry facilities. In the interim, there are a couple of items those of you who are interested should consider. If you have taken the NIA Certified Insulation Energy Appraiser and are not current with NIA, you can visit <www.insulation.org/training/ieap/recertification.cfm> and that will take you to the NIA re-certification information site.

As a Certified Insulation Energy Appraiser you’ll now need to gain some jobsite experience. I suggest you call a contractor you know, explain what you’re hoping to do, and ask if you can go on site. Start out with something easy, such as a pipe length and a few valves. Make this first time out an easy experience and then use your classroom training to develop the assessment and conclusions. Remember, TIAC is here to help you. Drop me a line at steve.clayman@tiac.ca or call 416.606.1512.

In the next TIAC Times, we’ll take a look at the benefits of becoming involved in associations key to our industry, one of these being the Canadian Health Care Engineering Society (CHES). Until then.