Thermal Insulation Thickness Tool

Calculate required insulation thickness for pipes and flat surfaces

Parameters
W/m·K
m
°C
°C
W/m
m
Calculation Results

Enter your parameters and click "Calculate" to see results

Summary
Parameter Value Unit
Insulation Thickness vs. Heat Loss
User Guide
How to use this tool:
  1. Select the surface type (pipe or flat surface)
  2. Choose your preferred unit system (SI or Imperial)
  3. Select the calculation mode (thickness, heat loss, or temperature)
  4. Choose an insulation material or enter a custom k-value
  5. Enter the required parameters based on your calculation mode
  6. Adjust any advanced options if needed
  7. Click "Calculate" to see the results
Formulas Used:

For cylindrical pipes, the heat loss through insulation is calculated using:

Q = (2πk(Ts - Ta)) / ln(r2/r1)

Where:

  • Q = Heat loss per unit length (W/m or BTU/hr·ft)
  • k = Thermal conductivity of insulation (W/m·K or BTU/hr·ft·°F)
  • Ts = Surface temperature (°C or °F)
  • Ta = Ambient temperature (°C or °F)
  • r1 = Inner radius (pipe radius) (m or ft)
  • r2 = Outer radius (pipe radius + insulation thickness) (m or ft)

For flat surfaces, the heat loss through insulation is calculated using:

Q = kA(Ts - Ta) / L

Where:

  • Q = Heat loss (W or BTU/hr)
  • k = Thermal conductivity of insulation (W/m·K or BTU/hr·ft·°F)
  • A = Surface area (m² or ft²)
  • Ts = Surface temperature (°C or °F)
  • Ta = Ambient temperature (°C or °F)
  • L = Insulation thickness (m or ft)
Material Properties:
Material Thermal Conductivity (W/m·K) Max Temperature (°C)
Fiberglass 0.030 - 0.040 230 - 540
Mineral Wool 0.035 - 0.045 650 - 1000
Polyurethane Foam 0.020 - 0.030 100 - 120
Foam Glass 0.040 - 0.050 430 - 480
Cellular Glass 0.038 - 0.048 430 - 480

Developed for Engineers and Designers