Insulation Vocab

Question 1

The ability of a material to withstand abrasion without appreciative erosion.

Answer 1

Abrasion Resistance:

Question 2

The process of drawing fluid or gas into a porous material, such as a sponge soaking up water.

Answer 2

Absorption:

Question 3

Jackets, mastics, or films used to protect insulation from mechanical and personnel abuse.

Answer 3

Abuse Coverings and Finishes:

Question 4

Thermal resistance added to a construction element by insulation.

A substance used to bond materials by surface attachment.

Answer 4

Added R-value:

Adhesive:

Question 5

A homogeneous, low-density solid-state material derived from a gel, in which the liquid component of the gel has been replaced with a gas.

Answer 5

Aerogel:

Question 6

The area between insulation facing and the interior of exterior wall coverings. Normally a 1-inch air gap.

Answer 6

Air Space:

Question 7

Thin sheet of rolled aluminum (0.15 mm thick and under).

Cushioning material applied where insulation contacts pipe, duct, vessel, or adjacent insulation to prevent eroding of either or both.

Answer 7

Aluminum Foil:

Anti-Abrasive Coating:

Question 8

The generic name for those silicate minerals that cleave naturally into fibers, the three important forms being chrysotile (white), crocidolite (blue), and amosite.

Answer 8

Asbestos:

Question 9

Strapping used to fasten insulation and/or jacketing in place.

Answer 9

Bands:

Question 10

Substance contained in insulation material that stabilizes the fibers (sometimes called a
thermal setting resin).

Answer 10

Binder:

Question 11

Blanket insulation covered by flexible metal-mesh facings attached on one or both sides.

Answer 11

Blanket Insulation, Metal Mesh:

Question 12

Insulation of flexible type, formed into sheets or rolls, usually with a vapor barrier on side and with or without a container sheet on the other side.

Answer 12

Blanket Insulation:

Question 13

Semi-rigid insulation formed into sections, rectangular both in plan and cross section, usually 90-120 cm (3 – 4 ft) long, 15-60 cm wide (0.5 – 2 ft), and 2.5-15 cm (1-6 in) thick.

Answer 13

Block Insulation:

Question 14

A material used to retain the insulation in place in open areas.

Answer 14

Blocking:

Question 15

Semi-rigid insulation formed into sections, rectangular both in plan and cross section, usually more than 120 cm (4 ft) long, 60-75 cm (2 – 2.5 ft) wide, and up to 10 cm (4 in )thick.

Answer 15

Board Insulation:

Question 16

A weather barrier coating designed to prevent water (rain, snow, sleet, spillage, wash water, etc.) from entering the insulation system, while still allowing the escape of small quantities of water vapor resulting from heat applied to the moisture entrapped in the insulation.

Answer 16

Breather Coating:

Question 17

The end joints of pipe insulation.

Answer 17

Butt Joints (insulation):

Question 18

Strips of similar jacket material applied around pipe insulation butt joints.

Answer 18

Butt Strip:

Question 19

Insulation composed principally of hydrous calcium silicate, and which usually contains reinforcing fibers.

Answer 19

Calcium Silicate Insulation:

Question 20

A closely woven fabric of cotton, flax, hemp, or jute characterized by strength and firmness.

Answer 20

Canvas:

Question 21

Empty space between studs/joists in which insulation is placed.

Answer 21

Cavity:

Question 22

Insulation composed principally of natural or synthetic elastomers, or both, processed to form a flexible, semi-rigid, or rigid foam that has a closed-cell structure.

Answer 22

Cellular Elastomeric Insulation:

Question 23

A lightweight expanded glass with small cells, preferably nonintercommunicating (i.e., small, individual cells separated from each other), produced by a foaming process.

Answer 23

Cellular Glass (Foamed Glass):

Question 24

Insulation composed of small, individual cells separated from each other. The material may be glass or plastic such as polystyrene, polyurethane, polyisocyanurate, or elastomeric.

Answer 24

Cellular Insulation:

Question 25

Fibrous material, loose or fabricated into convenient forms, mainly intended for use at appropriate elevated temperatures. The fibers may consist of silica (SiO2) or of an appropriate metal silicate, e.g., aluminosilicate. Alternatively, they may be formed synthetically from appropriate refractory metal oxides, e.g., alumina, zirconia.

Answer 25

Ceramic Fiber:

Question 26

A material comprised predominantly of individual noninterconnecting cellular voids.

Answer 26

Closed Cell Foam:

Question 27

The property of an insulation material that resists any change in dimensions when acted upon by a compaction force.

Answer 27

Compressive Strength:

Question 28

Changing a substance from a vapor to a liquid state by removing the heat. Shows up on surfaces as a film or drops of water.

Answer 28

Condensation:

Question 29

Transmission of energy (heat/sound) through a material or from one material to another by direct contact. Materials with low rates make good insulation.

Answer 29

Conduction:

Question 30

Transmission of energy (heat/sound) from one place to another by movement of a fluid such as air or water.

Answer 30

Convection:

Question 31

The elastic, tough outer tissue that is used specially for stoppers and insulation. The process of wearing away gradually, usually by chemical action.

Answer 31

Cork: Corrosion:

Question 32

To place insulation and/or finish materials on, over, or around a surface so as to insulate, protect, or seal.

Answer 32

Cover:

Question 33

Insulation for extremely low-temperature process surfaces from -100°F to -459°F (absolute zero).

Answer 33

Cryogenic Insulation:

Question 34

The separation of the layers of material in a laminate.

Answer 34

Delamination:

Question 35

The weight of a material expressed in kg of a cubic meter of a material (kg/m3).

Answer 35

Density:

Question 36

The temperature at which a vapor begins to condense out of the air.

Answer 36

Dew Point:

Question 37

A passageway made of sheet metal or other suitable material used for conveying air or other gas.

Answer 37

Duct:

Question 38

A closed-cell foam insulation containing elastomers that provide the property of high elasticity.

Answer 38

Elastomeric:

Question 39

The manner by which substances are discharged through the air.

Answer 39

Emission:

Question 40

Metal network made by suitably stamping or cutting sheet metal and stretching it to form open diamond-shaped meshes.

Answer 40

Expanded Metal:

Question 41

An arrangement in an insulation system to minimize the risk of cracking due to thermal movement.

Answer 41

Expansion Joint (insulation):

Question 42

A fibrous material made by spinning molten glass. Used as an insulator and heat loss retardant.

Answer 42

Fiberglass:

Question 43

The insulation for a pipe flange composed of the specified thickness of insulation material, which may be preformed.

Answer 43

Flange Cover:

Question 44

A projecting collar attached to a pipe for the purpose of connecting to another pipe, valve, or fitting.

Answer 44

Flange:

Question 45

A material that tends to conform to the shape of the surface against which it is laid, or is so designed as to alter its manufactured shape to accommodate bends and angles.

Answer 45

Flexible Insulation:

Question 46

An appliance for heating a medium to distribute heat throughout the dwelling unit. Fabric woven from continuous filament or staple glass fiber.

Answer 46

Furnace: Glass Cloth:

Question 47

A material consisting of glass fibers used in making various products, including yams, fabrics, insulation, and structural objects or parts. Mineral fiber produced from molten glass, resistant to heat and fire.

Answer 47

Glass Fiber (Glass Wool):

Question 48

Heat that is lost through air leakage, conduction, and radiation. To maintain a steady temperature, heat losses must be offset by a combination of heat gains and heat contributed by a heating system.

Answer 48

Heat Loss:

Question 49

Heat flow from a hot to a cold body.

Answer 49

Heat Transfer:

Question 50

The quantity of heat flowing through unit area due to all modes of heat transfer induced by the prevailing conditions.

Answer 50

Heat Transmission:

Question 51

Fiberglass insulation with densely packed fibers, resulting in higher R-values for a given thickness. A measure of the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere.

Answer 51

High-Performance Insulation: Humidity:

Question 52

Capability of an insulation material and/ or finish to withstand mechanical or physical abuse.

Answer 52

Impact Resistance:

Question 53

Uncontrolled leakage of air through cracks.

Answer 53

Infiltration:

Question 54

To cover with a material of low conductivity in order to reduce the passage or leakage of heat, reduce the surface temperature, or reduce the noise emanating from the object.

Answer 54

Insulate:

Question 55

A mixture of various insulating fibers and binders with water to form a moldable paste insulation for application to fittings, irregular surfaces, or voids. The process of removing installed insulation.

Answer 55

Insulating Cement: Insulation Removal:

Question 56

Materials with low thermal conductivity characteristics that are used to slow the transfer of heat.

Answer 56

Insulation:

Question 57

A form of facing applied over insulation. It may be integral with the insulation, or field applied using sheet materials. A covering placed over insulation for various functions.

Answer 57

Jacket:

Question 58

Standard unit for measuring electrical energy consumption: kilowatts x hours.

Answer 58

Kilowatt-Hour (kWh):

Question 59

The measure of heat in BTUs that pass through one square foot of a homogeneous substance, 1-inch thick, in an hour, for each degree F temperature difference. The lower the value, the higher the insulating value.

Answer 59

k-Value (Conductivity):

Question 60

Insulation material (usually mineral wool, vermiculite, or cellulose) used for pouring or blowing into the space to be insulated.

Answer 60

Loosefill:

Question 61

A relatively thick consistency protective finish capable of application to thermal insulation or other surfaces, usually by spray or trowel, in thick coats, greater than 0.75 mm.

Answer 61

Mastic:

Question 62

Sheet metal fitted as a protective finish over insulation.

Answer 62

Metal Cladding/Jacketing:

Question 63

Metal chamber through which hot air, gas, steam, or smoke may pass.

Answer 63

Metal Flue:

Question 64

A generic term for all nonmetallic inorganic fibers.

Answer 64

Mineral Fiber:

Question 65

A generic term for mineral fibers of a woolly consistency normally made from molten glass, rock, or slag. Insulation composed principally of fibers manufactured from rock, slag, or glass with or without binders.

Answer 65

Mineral Wool:

Question 66

The property of a material that enables it to withstand high temperatures without ignition.

Answer 66

Noncombustibility:

Question 67

Compounds containing carbon.

Answer 67

Organic:

Question 68

Airborne spray loss of polyurethane foam that leads to undesirable depositions of spray foam insulation on nearby surfaces.

Answer 68

Overspray (insulation):

Question 69

A prefabricated unit of insulation and lagging.

Answer 69

Panel Insulation:

Question 70

A glossy volcanic rock that expands when heated. After processing, used as loosefill insulation material or bound into slabs.

Answer 70

Perlite:

Question 71

The state or quality of a material that causes it to allow liquids or gases to pass through it. The time rate of water vapor transmission through unit area of a material of unit thickness induced by unit vapor pressure difference between two specific surfaces, under specified temperature and humidity conditions.

Answer 71

Permeability:

Question 72

A measure of the transmission of water vapor through a material or combination of materials, measured in perms. A measure of acidityIalkalinity of aqueous mixtures.

Answer 72

Permeance: pH:

Question 73

A foamed insulation made from resins of phenols condensed with aldehydes. Insulation in a form suitable for application to cylindrical surfaces.

Answer 73

Phenolic Foam: Pipe Insulation:

Question 74

Sections of insulating material in cylindrical form suitable for application to pipes.

Answer 74

Pipe Sections:

Question 75

Insulating material in loose, dry form, prepared for application as a paste or dough by mixing with water, usually on site, and normally setting under the influence of heat applied to the internal surface.

Answer 75

Plastic Composition:

Question 76

A closed-cell, thermoplastic material used for insulation.

Answer 76

Polyethylene:

Question 77

Commonly abbreviated PU, any polymer consisting of a chain of organic units joined by urethane links.

Answer 77

Polyurethane:

Question 78

Thermal insulating material fabricated in such a manner that at least one surface conforms to the shape of the surface to be covered and which, when handled, will maintain its shape without cracking, breaking, crumbling, or permanent deformation. Reflective barriers that inhibit heat transfer by thermal radiation.

Answer 78

Preformed Insulation: Radiant Barrier:

Question 79

Insulation that depends on reduction of radiant heat transfer across air spaces by use of one or more surfaces of high reflectance and low emittance.

Answer 79

Reflective Insulation:

Question 80

Any polymer that is a basic material for plastics.

Answer 80

Resin:

Question 81

The application of additional insulation over existing insulation, new insulation if old insulation has been removed, or new insulation over existing, previously uninsulated surfaces. Mineral wool produced from naturally occurring igneous rock.

Answer 81

Retrofit: Rock Wool:

Question 82

Finishing material, based on Portland cement, that is supplied as a dry powder and, when mixed with water in suitable proportions, will set without the application of heat.

Answer 82

Self-Setting Cement:

Question 83

Mineral fiber made primarily from iron ore blast furnace slag that is spun into a fibrous form. An adherent coating of insulating material.

Answer 83

Slag Wool Insulation: Sprayed Insulation:

Question 84

Insulation of the fibrous or foam type that is applied to a surface by means of power spray devices.

Answer 84

Sprayed-On Insulation:

Question 85

Laboratory test methodology for determining relative properties of materials at specific conditions.

Answer 85

Standard Testing:

Question 86

A thermally conductive material that penetrates or bypasses an insulation system, such as a metal fastener or stud.

Answer 86

Thermal Bridge:

Question 87

The rate at which heat is transmitted through a material, measured in watts per square meter of surface area for a temperature gradient of one Kelvin per meter thickness, simplified to W/mK.

Answer 87

Thermal Conductivity (Lambda Value):

Question 88

Applied or installed thermal insulation including any accessories, vapor retarder, and facing required.

Answer 88

Thermal Insulation System:

Question 89

A material or system that has the property of resisting the transfer of heat. An index of a material's resistance to heat flow.

Answer 89

Thermal Insulation: Thermal Resistance (R-value):

Question 90

Insulation applied on piping and equipment located below grade and usually in direct contact with the surrounding soil.

Answer 90

Underground or Buried Insulation:

Question 91

Insulation with no attached vapor barrier.

Answer 91

Unfaced Insulation:

Question 92

A vapor check with water vapor permeance not exceeding 1 perm, when tested in accordance with BS 2972.

Answer 92

Vapor Barrier:

Question 93

An expanded mineral insulation consisting of a mica-like substance that expands when heated. The resulting granules are generally used as loosefill insulation

Answer 93

Vermiculite:

Question 94

A material or system that adequately impedes the transmission of water vapor under specified conditions.

Answer 94

Water Vapor Retarder (Barrier):

Question 95

Impervious to prolonged exposure to water or water entry.

Answer 95

Waterproof:

Question 96

A breather jacket or coating that allows passage of water | vapor and protects from atmospheric conditions.

Answer 96

Weather Barrier (Weather Coat):

Question 97

Insulation composed of wood/cellulosic fibers, with or without binders.

Answer 97

Wood Fiber: