Best insulation for exterior 15mm pipe?

[john999uk]

I am trying to work out what is the best insulation to us on 15mm pipe that is outdoors!!! The pipe is under a static caravan and the site is open 12 months of the year. I only need about 4m and the thickest I have seen is 25mm wall thickness.

So any ideas what is best way to stop the external pipes from freezing in the winter?

Thanks

 

[Chalked]

I would fit 25mm armaflex and fit trace heating for the times it's below -5.
Make sure it's well installed and don't leave anything uncovered.

 

[john999uk]

I would fit 25mm armaflex and fit trace heating for the times it's below -5.
Make sure it's well installed and don't leave anything uncovered.

Cheers for that. Do you know of anywhere that might stock the Armafex?
I had forgotten about heat trace cable. That might be a great way to 'assist' the insulation. There are a few kits on ebay but the watts per meter does vary quite a bit. Is there a formula to work out what I watts per meter I might need? I have only used heat trace once about 20 years ago to stop summer diesel going waxy in the winter. (Long story but had to test summer spec fuel in winter). I just used highest wattage I could get as I wasn't bothered about running costs but now it's my elec bill I want to get most economical to run that will be up to the job.
Thanks again.

 

[AlexGas]

Bss

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Internet just use google easy to get hold of but make sure it's water proof eg for use in external environment

 

[john999uk]

Internet just use google easy to get hold of but make sure it's water proof eg for use in external environment

Cheers. I have tried Google but the killer is normally minimum order value or p&p.
Bss isn't too far from me so that might be easiest. Also as the insulation will be well under the van I am confident it will never get wet, unless the pipes burst
Thanks.

 

[rpm]

Cheers. I have tried Google but the killer is normally minimum order value or p&p.
Bss isn't too far from me so that might be easiest. Also as the insulation will be well under the van I am confident it will never get wet, unless the pipes burst
Thanks.

No risk of flooding there then?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Cheers. I have tried Google but the killer is normally minimum order value or p&p.
Bss isn't too far from me so that might be easiest. Also as the insulation will be well under the van I am confident it will never get wet, unless the pipes burst
Thanks.

just watch out for uv

also

https://www.pipelagging.com/

 

[Ric2013]

I lived in a caravan in Powys throughout December 2014. While I didn't have much heating and once got up to ice in my toilet bowl and basin trap, I never had my water pipes (outside, under the van floor, and not nearly as well lagged as a continuous 25mm thickness) freeze on me. In any case, they were Speedfit or Hep, so would have been easy fix if they had frozen. I drained down when I vacated the site, but not while I was there.

If you're that bothered, could you not lag them and then lag the lagging with felt, or run the lagging through the centre of a 4" soil pipe filled with expanding foam?

 

[john999uk]

No risk of flooding there then?

I would be very surprised if it flooded. While the van is on the side of a river valley the water level must be about 40ft-50ft below the van. The site had a flood 'risk assessment' carried out and said it was fine. So hopefully it will be fine

 

[john999uk]

just watch out for uv

also

https://www.pipelagging.com/

Cheers, UV should be OK as pipe is between rafters under van and sides have panelling (with gaps in case of any gas leaks). But thanks for heads up, I wouldn't have thought of uv damage.

 

[john999uk]

I lived in a caravan in Powys throughout December 2014. While I didn't have much heating and once got up to ice in my toilet bowl and basin trap, I never had my water pipes (outside, under the van floor, and not nearly as well lagged as a continuous 25mm thickness) freeze on me. In any case, they were Speedfit or Hep, so would have been easy fix if they had frozen. I drained down when I vacated the site, but not while I was there.

If you're that bothered, could you not lag them and then lag the lagging with felt, or run the lagging through the centre of a 4" soil pipe filled with expanding foam?

That is good to know. I am probably going ott but want to be able to use van in winter. The thicker insulation isn't much more expensive than the economy stuff so worth it I think.
I am intending to drain down and blow out pipe work when leaving from Oct to March ish.
Thanks