ISO 18096:2022

Overview

ISO 18096:2022 defines a reference test method for determining the maximum service temperature of preformed pipe insulation used in building equipment and industrial installations. The standard specifies the principle, apparatus, test specimens, conditioning, stepwise procedure and how to record and express results (e.g., thickness deformation vs time). It is intended for thermal insulating products and complements product-specific standards and annexes for different materials.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Principle: one‑sided heat treatment on a hot pipe; thickness measured continuously during heating and length measured after cooling. The procedure can be iterative to identify the highest temperature at which performance limits are still met.
• Apparatus:
  • Hot pipe with uniform temperature in the measuring zone and linearity ±1 mm; temperature control to ±2% or ±10 °C.
  • Thermocouples capable of ±1% or ±1 °C accuracy, grooves on the pipe for placement.
  • Flexible metal foil loading to exert 500 Pa pressure over the test length.
  • Thickness measuring device with resolution 0.1 mm; thermal movement of the measuring rod accounted for.
• Test specimens:
  • Total length (1 000 ± 10) mm split into two end guards (250 ± 5 mm) and a test length (500 ± 5 mm).
  • Thickness up to 100 mm (or largest below 100 mm available).
  • Inside diameters: two sizes in range 22 mm to 220 mm.
• Conditioning and test conditions:
  • Storage at least 6 h at (23 ± 5) °C (dispute conditions: 24 h at 23 ± 2 °C, 50 ± 5% RH). Tropical option: 27 ± 5 °C and 65 ± 5% RH.
  • Initial temperature (23 ± 5) °C (or 27 ± 5 °C tropical).
• Procedure specifics:
  • Heat‑up rates of 50 °C/h or 300 °C/h (as specified).
  • Maintain candidate maximum service temperature for 72 h within ±2% or ±10 °C.
  • Record thickness continuously; remeasure after cooling to <35 °C.
• Results and observations:
  • Produce thickness deformation vs time and relative thickness change vs temperature curves.
  • Note dimensional changes, gaps, visual changes and risk indicators such as internal self‑heating.
• Material‑specific annexes: Annex A (mineral wool), Annex B (polyethylene and flexible elastomeric foam), Annex C (phenolic foam) modify the general method.

Applications and users

ISO 18096:2022 is used by:

• Insulation manufacturers to determine and declare maximum service temperatures for preformed pipe products.
• Independent test laboratories performing compliance and quality testing.
• Specifiers, engineers and procurement teams verifying that insulation meets thermal and dimensional stability requirements for HVAC, process piping and industrial installations.
• Certification bodies assessing product conformity and safety (e.g., internal self‑heating hazards).

Practical benefits include reliable temperature rating, improved material selection, performance-based specification and safer long‑term operation of insulated pipes.

Related standards

• ISO 12628 - dimensions and geometry of preformed pipe insulation
• ISO 16544 - conditioning to moisture equilibrium
• ISO 5725-2 - measurement accuracy (repeatability/reproducibility)
• ISO 18097 - testing flat products (referenced for homogeneous products)
• EN 14707 - prior related European standard (merged into this edition)

Keywords: ISO 18096:2022, maximum service temperature, preformed pipe insulation, thermal insulation test method, pipe insulation testing, thermal insulating products.