Did You Know?

Greenhouse Gas Emissions:

Did you know that buildings emit more greenhouse gas emissions in Metro Vancouver than on-road transportation?

The 2007 Metro Vancouver Community Energy & Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory (CEEI) reports that CO2e emissions from buildings comprised 50.5% of total emissions in the region compared to 44.6% for on-road transportation. Properly insulating mechanical systems can reduce emissions related to that system by as much as 90%, not to mention the cost savings associated with spending less money on energy consumption. In some cases, the investment in properly insulating a mechanical system has a payback of less than one year and will lower the life cycle costs of the building over the lifespan of the structure. Our specialists can assist you in determining economic thickness of insulation and can quantify energy savings and greenhouse gas emission reductions for your specific application. Contact us today.

New Building Code Requirements:

Did you know that some provincial building codes and the Model National Energy Code Buildings (MNECB) have been updated to increase the amount of insulation required for mechanical systems?

In an effort to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, governments are now legislating that insulation thickness be increased for mechanical insulation systems. In B.C. for example, the provincial building code has been updated to stipulate that the minimum insulation thickness for piping and ductwork must meet the standards of ASHRAE 90.1. For more information on how this may impact your work, contact one of our customer service representatives.

Firestopping:

Did you know that firestopping is mandatory under the building code?

Proper firestopping will compartmentalize a fire to a specific room while ensuring that the smoke and gasses from the fire do not pass through any penetrating item in a wall or ceiling. In most cases, it is the smoke and/or gasses created by a fire that cause injury or fatalities. Firestopping is an effective way of protecting life and property, but as with all life safety applications it must be done correctly.

Simply applying a "Firestop Sealant" to fill a void in a penetrating item through a wall or ceiling does not mean that the item has been properly firestopped. Each firestop product on the market has been tested for a number of different and specific applications, known as a "listing." This listing is like a recipe. The installer needs to know the type of wall or floor construction, the hourly rating of the wall or floor, the penetrating item (pipe, conduit, cable tray, ductwork, etc.), the composition of the penetrating item (steel pipe, copper pipe, plastic pipe, etc.), and the annular spacing between the penetrating item and the wall or floor opening before the proper listing can be determined. Each listing gives specific instructions on how to apply the product based on the prescribed conditions of the listing. To properly firestop the penetrating item all the site conditions must match up with the prescribed conditions in the firestop listing. If any of the conditions don't match up then the listing does not meet the building code. Contact any of our customer service representatives for assistance in firestopping applications and "T" ratings. We can assist you with determining the proper product for your application.

Fire Rated Kitchen Exhaust:

Did you know that the building code requires all kitchen exhaust ducts to be wrapped with a fire rated insulation if the ductwork is within 18 inches of a combustible material?

At Burnaby Insulation/SPI we carry a fire rated duct insulation for kitchen exhaust that is tested and approved to Canadian standards. When properly installed this insulation will allow zero clearance to combustibles. This insulation is also approved as a fire rated insulation for fresh air ducts. For more information on these applications contact one of our customer service representatives.

Electric Heat Tracing:

Did you know that electric heat tracing is designed to prevent liquids in piping and tanks from freezing?

Our electric heat trace systems can be an effective way of ensuring that water pipes and sprinkler piping doesn't freeze when installed with the proper insulation thickness. Contact one of our customer service representatives for more information.

Removable Insulation Covers:

Did you know that removable insulation covers can be an effective way of saving energy by insulating valves and other odd shaped applications?

Valves and control pumps are just two of the more difficult items to insulate, yet research has proven that insulated piping systems that leave the valves and pumps exposed are wasting an enormous amount of energy. Let our experts assist you in determining just how much money you can save by insulating valves and pumps.