Success Story Summary
FOAMGLAS® Cellular Glass Insulation Solves Problems at University of Massachusetts Campus
The southwest dormitory complex of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst has grown considerably over the past quarter century. Feeding this complex is a 6,000 lineal-foot section of the underground steam heat system that consists of 12-inch diameter live steam delivery lines and six-inch diameter condensate returns. It is part of the total campus heating system, which includes approximately 25 miles of underground pipelines. When this section was built in the 1960s, pre-insulated pipelines were direct-buried in the ground, but the system was full of leaks. UMass chose to make two major design changes to the system in the late 1980s. First, new pipe was placed in a concrete vault for its entire length. Then, FOAMGLAS
® cellular glass insulation was installed around the pipelines carrying the steam because of its temperature resistance and impermeability to moisture in both liquid and vapor forms. This new system can withstand temperatures over a range of 1,000°F, from -100°F to +900°F (-73°C to +482°C). The Amherst Campus heating system operates with superheated steam in the 450° to 500°F range.
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