Thermal Bridging

Uninsulated valves, flanges, pumps and supports create thermal bridges that bypass insulation
systems. These points leak heat rapidly, reduce system efficiency, increase emissions and drive up
fuel costs — even on well-insulated lines.

Common industrial thermal bridges include:

Impact

Thermal bridges are often responsible for the majority of heat loss in industrial plants despite representing a small fraction of surface area. This makes them high-value targets for fast efficiency
gains.

Payback Periods

Because steam, hot water and process heat are expensive to generate, insulating thermal bridges
delivers extremely fast paybacks.

Typical payback ranges:

• Jackets: 3–18 months
• Fixed insulation: 6–24 months
• High-temp steam assets: often < 12 months

With rising gas and energy prices, many paybacks are shortening year-on-year. This is one of the
strongest financial arguments for insulation in the industrial sector.