Thermal classification of insulating materials and systems

Manufacturers must make increasingly effective use of insulating materials to remain competitive in the marketplace. Users, on the other hand, are becoming increasingly conscious of the savings in capital cost which can be effected by loading equipment to its economic limit, which often is determined by its thermal capability.^1,2 Governmental and other agencies which are concerned with safety and reliability are seeking better means of establishing standards of thermal performance. All of these trends have resulted in growing concern with the present methods of thermally classifying insulating materials and apparatus.