Insulation Blanket Installation – Hard to Identify Parts

Firwin insulation blankets provide critical protection for engines, generators, exhaust systems, and more. Since they are used in such a wide range of applications, insulation blankets come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. Each blanket style has unique installation instructions. While most blankets are straightforward to install, some can be more challenging due to the shape of the blanket out of the box which doesn’t correspond with the shape of the part. 

How Installation Works

Firwin’s insulation blankets are engineered to ensure accurate fits around exhaust and engine components. We understand that a clean fit is critical and time is of the essence, which is why our blankets can be immediately installed right out of the box. For complicated or unique blanket installations, we also provide a numbered diagram to simplify the process.

How to Install Insulation Blankets

Some insulation blanket installation methods for hard-to-identify parts we see at Firwin include:

Segmented Elbows

When installing an insulation blanket on segmented elbows, it is important to cover the full surface area. You can do this by curving the edges of the blanket to create the elbow’s shape. Secure the blanket to the elbow with lacing wire and avoid gaps or voids.

Flanges

Wrap the blanket around the flange and secure it temporarily with a piece of wire or lacing. Carefully pull on the blanket’s drawcords at the top and bottom until the blanket begins to tighten around the flange. When you can see the shape of the flange, you can remove the wire you used to secure the blanket and then use the wiring on the draw cords to fasten them around the rivets.

MineWrap™ Mark II Butterfly Elbows

Open the blanket and pull it over the elbow by curving the edges. Once the elbow is covered, secure the blanket to the joint with lace wire.

Purifiers with Cones

Firwin’s blankets for purifiers with cones are specifically designed to fit snugly. Simply open the blanket and curve it around the cone until the edges meet. The shape of the blanket will conform to the purifier and cone. Then, wrap the blanket with wire to secure it to the equipment.

Manifolds

Due to their complexity, manifolds require a more complex installation. Follow these steps to ensure that your Firwin insulation blanket is properly installed:

1. Fold the blanket around the manifold.
2. Once the blanket is in position, create a loop on one end of the lacing wire by twisting the wire around itself.
3. Feed the loop under the manifold and pull the loop up to hook on the first capstan rivet.
4. Pull on the long end of the wire to tighten it around the rivet and then wrap the wire around the blanket and the first rivet under the manifold.
5. Feed the wire back under the manifold, tighten it, and wrap it around the next rivet.
6. Feed the wire down to the button on the blanket, tighten the wire, wrap it around the blanket, and snip the wire.
7. Continue this process until the manifold insulation blanket is fully installed.

It is important to avoid over-twisting the wire during installation, as it could break off.

Working with Firwin

At Firwin, we are pleased to provide excellent service throughout your insulation selection and installation. We take your requests seriously and strive to respond to every inquiry within 24 hours. Our dedicated team of in-house insulation design experts will help you find the ideal insulation solution for your needs. An ISO 9001:2015 certified company, we stand by our products and services, and will always work with you to solve any problems as they arise.

Contact Firwin to Discuss Your Custom Insulation Solution

Reach out to our insulation specialists today to learn more about Firwin’s high-quality insulation blankets and installation processes.

5 Key Benefits of Removable Insulation Blankets

Removable insulation blankets or jackets are thermal insulating layers that, when attached to machinery and other mechanical components, can manage equipment temperature, optimize operational efficiency, and even enhance safety in the workplace. Unlike standard permanent or hard coat insulation, these blankets ensure that a covered machine or component is still accessible for maintenance. Learn more about the five key benefits of removable insulation blankets and how they compare to permanent varieties.

Key Benefits of Removable Insulation Blankets

Multi-layer insulation blankets of materials like fiberglass and CMS wool serve as moisture protection and heat insulation for equipment like pipes, valves, pumps, exhaust systems, engine components, and much more. Removable thermal insulation jackets offer various benefits to their applications.

Enhance Workplace Safety

While it’s impossible to eliminate all safety hazards from a workplace, you can minimize the risk of common injuries by using insulation covers. Removable insulation covers provide a barrier between your employees and hot equipment, helping to ensure that they won’t get burned when they accidentally make contact. These blankets also reduce ambient temperatures by managing heat generation and, as these covers are fire-resistant, they limit the risk of fire in your facility.

Extend the Life-Span of Insulated Components

Removable insulation blankets can be helpful in protecting outdoor components from extreme temperatures and the elements. If you have pipes with small diameters that run outdoors, for example, they are particularly prone to freezing. A removable insulating blanket will help safeguard against fluctuating temperatures and resulting burst pipes. Apart from external conditions, condensation can also gather on a pipe’s surface, a condition known as pipe sweating. Removable insulation blankets can protect against resulting rust and corrosion that would otherwise occur to extend the life span of machinery while still keeping its parts accessible for maintenance.

Facilitate Routine Maintenance

Removable insulation blankets make it simpler to identify potential equipment problems before they become a bigger issue that might otherwise lead to expensive downtime for your operation. You can easily conduct periodic and efficient equipment inspections and carry out any necessary maintenance.

Install With Ease

Installing a removable insulation blanket is an easy process as they simply wrap around the desired component to provide that thermal insulation. They typically utilize lacing wire fastenings for greater versatility, but other options include straps, snaps, Velcro, and springs.

Generate Cost Savings in Reduced Energy Consumption

When heat escapes through a pipe or at the heat source itself, it can result in a lot of lost energy and require greater energy consumption to make up for it. A removable insulation blanket traps such heat from escaping, thereby resulting in significant cost savings while ensuring that companies are compliant with energy-efficient regulations. 

Removable Insulation Blanket vs. Permanent Insulation: Which Should You Use?

The right choice between removable and permanent insulation depends on your application. Your durability requirements, space constraints, a necessity for removability, and budget will ultimately be the deciding factors. When comparing the two, consider the following:

• Resistance to wear. Removable blankets may be tough, but they are typically not as impervious to damage as permanent insulation. Permanent insulation may be better suited to applications involving sharp objects to prevent tears.
• Space limitations. Permanent insulation such as Firwin’s  Hard Coat insulation is applied directly to a component and conforms tightly to the part surface, making it ideal for applications with space constraints.
• Removability. For applications where periodic maintenance is beneficial, removable blankets are the obvious choice. They are even capable of reuse.
• Budget. With higher performance comes higher costs. High-performance permanent insulation such as Firwin’s Hard Coating is more expensive than the removable option for its durability.
• Lead times. Depending on the company, both permanent and removable insulation blankets typically have turn times of approximately two to three weeks. However, keep in mind that  components for hard coat insulation need to be first shipped to the factory, where the insulation is applied, and then the insulated component is shipped back to the customer. This can result in additional delays and expenses. 

Firwin: Your Removable Insulation Blanket Experts

Removable insulation blankets are critical additions for piping and machinery in various industrial processes, and Firwin Corporation is here to help. Whether you need a removable jacket or a permanent Firwin HC™ Hard Coat, you can count on us for high-performance products that meet your needs. We ensure high-quality blankets through our commitment to continuous process and production improvement, with our team embracing technological advancements to incorporate innovation into our product line.

Here at Firwin, we do our best to reply to all inquiries within a 24-hour period to best serve you with superior customer service. If you have any questions about our products, contact us today, and we will help you make the right insulation choice for your project.

High Temperature Thermal Insulation Product

Making sure you select a material that can withstand the parameters of your application is a central requirement when choosing a high-temperature thermal insulation product. There are a variety of materials that can be used for insulation, and your selected material must be able to tolerate the specific demands of your equipment and operational environment.

High-Temperature Applications

When choosing an insulation solution for high-temperature environments, the tolerances of considered materials should be carefully examined to ensure safe operation and long service life.

Typical applications that experience high temperatures include:

• Furnaces and boilers
• Ovens and kilns
• Expansion joints
• Flanges
• Heat exchangers
• Compressors
• Turbines
• Chillers
• Incinerators
• Catalytic converters
• Engine & Exhaust Components
• Welding
• Dryers
• High-pressure steam piping

High-Temperature Insulation Materials

There is a range of insulation materials suitable for high-temperature usages, such as:

• Fiberglass
  Fiberglass offers superb flexibility and dimensional stability for temperatures up to 1200º F. User-friendly with little odor or smoke, fiberglass will not corrode the metals it protects. One of the most common insulation materials, fiberglass is used in a wide array of everyday applications.
• CMS Wool
  Even though CMS wool is marginally more expensive than fiberglass, it is odorless and can withstand temperatures up to 2192º F. CMS wool is used in a broad range of common applications.
• Super Wool
  Super wool features a distinct low biopersistance and therefore requires fewer safety and health requirements when managing the material. Super wool exhibits low heat storage capacity and low thermal conductivity, as well as exceptional thermal shock resistance. Able to withstand a temperature range of 500º to 2000º F, common applications for super wool include domestic appliances, furnaces, kilns, laboratory ovens, boiler lining, reformers, fire protection, high-temperature gaskets, turbine insulations, expansion joints, and industrial equipment.
• Ceramic fiber
  This material is inorganic, smoke-free and features above-average insulation properties, low heat storage capacity, low thermal conductivity, and dependable thermal shock resistance. It is suggested for use in applications exceeding 2000º F. Typical applications of ceramic fiber include furnaces and kilns, high-temperature gaskets, expansion joints, boiler lining, laboratory ovens, reformers, and fire protection.
• Polycrystalline Fiber
  Made primarily of aluminum and silicon, polycrystalline fiber is created by using sol-gel technology. Double-needled fibers make polycrystalline fibers particularly strong and flexible. They can endure temperatures up to 2912º F and are tolerant of chemically destructive, oxidizing, or atmospherically reduced environments. Common applications include ceramic kilns and furnace linings.

Insulation materials come in a variety of options, and knowing which one to choose is crucial to effective and safe operation. Let us help select which option will work most effectively for your application. To learn more, please view our high-temperature insulation products or request additional product information.

Research and Development

Firwin Corporation is a premier manufacturer of custom insulation products for gas/diesel engines and exhaust systems as well as industrial applications. We invest heavily in R&D to ensure that Firwin is at the forefront of the latest developments in the insulation industry. Our goal remains to offer our customers the best possible insulation solutions for their unique applications.
Here are some examples of products that have resulted from our R&D efforts over the years.

MineWrap™ Mark I and Mark III

If equipment malfunctions in underground mining sites, it can have disastrous consequences for workers and facilities. In the event of an engine oil leak or a leak from a burst hydraulic line, there is a danger of the oil seeping into the insulation material and catching fire. To prevent these hazards, our R&D team developed MineWrap™—a unique line of insulation blankets for wrapping underground mining equipment.
MineWrap™ Mark I and Mark III feature a foil and mesh inner liner that isolates the insulation material, as well as extra rigidity to withstand wear and tear in harsh environments. On the Mark III, we designed the outer liner with reinforced stainless steel foil and mesh for extra puncture resistance.

Permanent Hard Coat Insulation™

Click to Expand

Our Permanent Composite Hard Coat™ is more durable and compact than most conventional insulation products. It can withstand extremely high temperatures and fit in tight spaces. This product is ideal for heat-prone applications like engines, exhaust systems, elbows, and turbochargers, where space is at a premium and removable insulation is not required. Clients in the automotive, mining, marine, and defense industries currently use the Permanent Composite Hard Coat™ to manage their heat-related issues.

Metal Foil Insulation

Firwin MFI Metal Foil Insulation is ideal for exhaust system parts (tubing, piping, elbows) that require pre-installed installation. The insulation is encased by an outer foil that is permanently welded to the part. It provides a visually appealing insulation cover that offers excellent durability, can withstand steam washing and solvents, and keeps fluids from seeping into the insulation material.

Fire Blankets

Our removable fire blankets are designed to protect heat-sensitive components from chemical fires. The blanket slips over the valve or other part to protect it from fires for up to 30 minutes. This gives the operator enough time to initiate safety procedures by shutting down the line, controlling the fire, and minimizing damage.
Our fire blankets have been applied successfully in the oil and gas and chemical industries.

Remote Scanning

In situations where it is impractical for clients or Firwin to take manual measurements at the client’s facility, we employ remote scanning technology to create digital replicas around which we design our insulation products. Some machines have complex geometries, making it challenging to get accurate, reliable measurements by hand. With remote scanning technology, the customer can scan their machinery and send the 3D models to Firwin. We use these models to develop accurate insulation products that fit the customer’s application and save on travel costs and time.

3D Printing

Firwin’s in-house 3D printing technology allows us to accommodate more complex designs and streamline the production process, ultimately saving our customers time and money. Our ability to 3D print exhaust component prototypes allows us to test fit our blankets in house, which is especially important when developing insulation blankets for new customer applications.

Innovation

Firwin takes pride in innovation and excellence. We encourage our people to embrace an entrepreneurial spirit and provide cutting-edge solutions for demanding applications across diverse industries. Our research and development teams focus on continually improving existing products and adding new ones to benefit our customers.

Working with Firwin Corporation

As a leader in insulation engineering, Firwin Corporation is dedicated to providing high-quality permanent and removable insulation products. For over 40 years, our R&D department has been at the forefront of groundbreaking insulation research. We create solutions for a diverse range of applications, including gas-powered and diesel engines, offroaders, and industrial steam lines and vents. Contact us to learn more about our research and development efforts or to start your custom insulation solution.

Why Work With a One-Stop-Shop Insulation Blanket Supplier?

Insulation blankets serve a number of important functions in various industries and industrial applications. For example, they can be used to protect workers from hot system parts, increase energy efficiency in equipment, shield heat-sensitive components, and/or lower ambient temperatures.

Once you’ve determined you need insulation blankets for your facility, you need to decide from whom you will source them. However, making this decision can be challenging. A quick Google search reveals that there are numerous insulation blanket suppliers, all of whom offer different product and service capabilities. Ideally, the one you choose should meet all of your product and service needs under a single roof, which is why industry professionals often choose to work with a one-stop-shop insulation blanket supplier. In addition to providing you with the products and services you’re looking for, they can benefit your company in many ways.

The following blog post provides an overview of the reasons why you should work with a one-stop-shop insulation blanket supplier.

Broader Experience and Expertise

One-stop-shop suppliers generally have designers, engineers, and other experts on staff. The cumulative knowledge and skills from these experts allow the supplier to ensure each stage of the insulation blanket manufacturing process proceeds with the highest level of accuracy, precision, and quality possible. Additionally, custom products can be designed, prototyped, and testing with greater ease and speed.

Better Product Performance

Since measurement, design, and fabrication of the insulation blanket occurs under one roof, there is less potential for miscommunication. As a result, you can rest assured that your insulation blanket will be manufactured to your specifications and standards. Additionally, you can make adjustments to the product much easier and faster, if needed.

Some one-stop-shop insulation blanket suppliers have an in-house library of blanket patterns for OEM parts, which allows them to produce appropriate insulation products without needing to take measurements of your exact equipment. As a result, you save time and money without sacrificing product fit or performance.

Greater Quality Assurance

Keeping the design, fabrication, and testing of your insulation blankets under one roof allows you to maintain greater oversight at each stage of the manufacturing process. As a result, you can better ensure the quality standard remains consistent from one manufacturing stage to the next. Additionally, you can guarantee the supplier produces the products to your exact specifications.

Improved Process Simplicity and Efficiency

By having one manufacturer in charge of the design, fabrication, and testing of your insulation blankets, you can improve the simplicity and efficiency of the manufacturing process. Instead of communicating and coordinating with multiple vendors, you can manage your order through a single point of contact.

Enhanced Control Over Your Product and Project

Working with a one-stop-shop supplier allows you to have a much greater level of control over your product. If you want to make any changes to your product and order, you only need to communicate with one organization, making it much easier and faster to tailor your insulation blankets to your exact needs.

Increased Manufacturing Capacity

Whether you require prototyping or full-scale manufacturing, your insulation blanket supplier should be able to accommodate your production demands. One-stop-shop suppliers often have the equipment necessary to produce prototypes and large quantities of custom-tailored products.

Simplify Your Project With Firwin

At Firwin, we are a one-stop-shop insulation blanket supplier. We handle every stage of the manufacturing process, from initial design to production to shipping. By partnering with us, our customers benefit from broader experience and expertise, better product performance, greater quality assurance capabilities, improved process simplicity and efficiency, enhanced product and project control, and increased manufacturing flexibility.

To learn more about our insulation blanket capabilities or partner with us for your insulation needs, contact us or request a quote today.

Fire Pumps

Fire pumps are perhaps the most critical component of any building’s fire protection system. It’s essential that your facility has safe, reliable equipment that meets all applicable safety standards. UL’s safety standards are some of the most important for ensuring your fire protection equipment is enough to keep the building safe.

UL Listed

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is a third-party testing and listing agency that certifies equipment as safe in various applications. It also lists companies as certified manufacturers under UL’s rigorous requirements. UL is tasked with testing fire pumps and engines to evaluate their reliability, durability, and more. Specifically, UL evaluates the equipment with requirements in these four areas:

• Compliance
• Construction
• Performance
• NFPA 20

It’s essential that your facility has fire protection equipment that is UL-certified. Not only does this keep your facility compliant with other requirements, such as OSHA’s safety standards, but it’s also a strong indication of the overall quality of the components used in your system. Equipment that can satisfy UL’s requirements is much more likely to perform as expected in an emergency.

Fire Pump Exhaust Insulation

Like other engine-powered equipment, fire pumps engines can produce a tremendous amount of heat. This can be extremely dangerous to workers or customers in the surrounding areas who might accidentally touch the exposed surfaces.

Surface contact isn’t the only danger of high heat levels, however. The equipment can pour a lot of heat into the surrounding air. If temperatures in the ambient space around the equipment get too high, it may impact the ability of employees to do their jobs without expensive personal protective gear or other safety equipment. Constant high temperatures can also damage surrounding equipment and cause additional indirect harm to building infrastructure.

Insulation covers offer a simple and affordable solution to heat-related issues. Most fire pump and engine-powered systems need to have insulation covers or blankets as part of their total safety process.

These covers fit snugly over the surface of each exhaust pipe and heat-generating component to lock the heat inside. The outside of the insulation blankets then becomes safer to the touch, and the ambient temperature of the space lowers. The covers also help ensure better safety and operation of the fire pump.

The insulation blankets themselves also need to meet safety standards to ensure reliable performance. That’s where Firwin comes in.

Firwin’s Fire Pump Insulation Expertise

Firwin is a leading manufacturer of insulation blankets and covers for a wide range of industrial and commercial systems. Our company is a UL 2200-listed manufacturer, and we have been creating UL-compliant insulation products for nearly 40 years. Fire pump insulation projects are one of our specialties, and our team can create a custom series of insulation blankets that fit your fire pump’s exhaust pipes exactly to guarantee the highest level of safety.

Firwin works quickly to insulate fire pump systems. Contact us today if you’re ready to get started on your fire pump insulation project. If you’d like more information on insulating your fire pump, please download our fire pump safety eBook.

Happy Manufacturing Day From the Firwin Team

Manufacturing plays a huge role in the economy and is the pillar of many small communities. To honor this impact, we recognize Manufacturing Day, which is celebrated every year on the first Friday in October. This year, it falls on October 2. It’s an opportunity for manufacturers across the country to honor and highlight their employees and the work they do while bringing attention to the manufacturing sector and the career possibilities for future skilled workers. Firwin Corp is proud to celebrate with our fellow manufacturers.

Firwin, Leading Manufacturer and Family Business Since 1982

Before being acquired by Paul and Miriam Herman in 1989, Firwin got its name from founders Dave Fireman and Paul Winn in 1982. This small family business has become a leader in the fabrication of removable insulation blankets and permanent Hard Coat insulation solutions.

From the beginning, Firwin led with a simple question: How can we help you? This dedication to serving our clients is still a cornerstone of the business as the next generation of the Herman family takes over key roles within the company.

Commitment to Manufacturing Excellence and Innovation

The best companies are able to serve their clients over the course of decades because they are committed to growth and improvement. We’ve made large investments in research and development, so we can create the best products using the most efficient technology. At Firwin, we strive to stay on top of industry trends and best practices, so we’re always ready with the insulation solutions you need, when you need them.

Looking to the Future

As we celebrate Manufacturing Day this year, we can’t help but reflect upon our long history as we look to the future. The same values that brought us this far will carry us forward: innovative ideas, manufacturing excellence, and stellar customer care. We’re excited to see what’s next for our team and the manufacturing industry.

Manufacturing Day connects manufacturers with the community and with each other. It’s a reminder that we’re all in this together, and that we all have a responsibility to inspire the next generation to manufacturing excellence. To that end, we’d like to encourage parents, teachers, and students to learn more about what we do by attending a virtual event or contacting a local manufacturer. This sector is home to a variety of exciting jobs that match diverse interests, from design to engineering to customer care. You can explore virtual events available this year on Creators Wanted’s page.

As we celebrate the wide range of manufacturing contributions in every industry, we also acknowledge the challenges we face together. We look to solutions that serve our communities and pave the way for the next generation of manufacturers. Contact the experts at Firwin to learn more about Manufacturing Day and custom insulation solutions.

During COVID-19, Firwin is Continuing Regular Operations

March 31, 2020

Dear Firwin Customers and Suppliers,

Please note that Firwin is continuing regular operations as an essential service provider based on the Government of Ontario directive that “Manufacturing Businesses that support and facilitate the two-way movement of essential goods within integrated North America are considered to be essential services”. We continue to maintain all of our regular operations subject to any governmental restrictions and labor availability.

Please note that during this challenging period our standard delivery time is extended to 3-4 weeks and some orders may be delayed from time to time. Please notify Firwin about critical, time-sensitive orders so that we can try our best to accommodate them.

Firwin is taking all necessary precautions to safeguard our employees under the current COVID-19 conditions. Included in this effort is cancelling any visits to our facility from customers or vendors. Firwin is also curtailing any site visits for measuring and installation. If this poses a challenge, please contact us by phone (877-347-9467) or email (firwin@firwin.com) to make alternative arrangements.

At this challenging time for all of us, we would like to extend our thanks to our suppliers for their continued support and efforts. We also want to thank our customers for their continued business and understanding.

Sound Attenuation Solutions

Diesel-powered equipment offers some tremendous advantages, but it does come with one consistently difficult challenge: Noise. The ambient noise levels caused by diesel equipment can be deafening, which can pose a substantial safety risk to operators and personnel. Decreasing this risk requires a careful sound attenuation strategy.

While insulation blankets may help to dampen sound, they are often far more effective when combined with specialized sound attenuation material like barriers, panels, or curtains. Firwin’s experts draw on decades of experience in sound management to engineer a solution customized to meet the needs of your facility.

Background: What is Sound?

Understanding sound attenuation technologies requires a bit of background on what sound actually is. At its simplest, sound is a vibration that the ear can interpret based on changes in atmospheric pressure. The level of perceived sound pressure depends not only on what causes this initial vibration but also on the acoustic traits of the surroundings. Some rooms will naturally amplify sound waves while others are specifically designed to absorb and minimize the disturbance before it reaches the ear.

Sound can be quantified in Decibels (dBs), which is especially useful when discussing personnel safety. The human ear can only tolerate certain noise levels without sustaining damage, up to and including permanent hearing loss. OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.95 dictates the upper limit of tolerable noise as being 85 dBs.

Sound can also be classified by frequency levels, which are interpreted to the ear as different pitches. These vibration frequencies are measured in Hertz (Hz). Isolating and addressing a noise problem requires careful attention to both frequency and volume.

To do this, analysts will break down all present frequencies into eight or nine octave bands. They will then analyze the resulting octave band frequency report in combination with a report of dB ratings in the same room. This provides a full picture of the acoustic situation in the room, allowing an engineer to develop a solution that addresses the specific problem in context of any physical constraints.

Sound Attenuation Materials

Insulation solutions typically combine several materials, each intended to either absorb or block sound. Providing physical barriers in this way can prevent sound leakage and decrease the overall level of sound in a room.

Different materials are better suited to noises of different frequencies. For instance, fiberglass and mineral wool are known to be very effective against high-frequency sounds. Lower frequency sounds are more complicated because they consist of longer wavelengths that are harder to absorb. In these cases, thicker materials and barriers must be used to absorb as much of the wavelength as possible.

Safety is another key consideration for material selection. Sound attenuation is typically necessary in hazardous industrial environments, meaning that any solution must be able to withstand intense heat and other harsh environmental factors. At Firwin, we construct our blankets using only non-combustible materials that conform to MIL and UL fire standards, ensuring that all our products can hold up to extreme temperatures.

Firwin Solutions

Firwin takes pride in offering custom solutions for every client we work with, selecting the most appropriate materials and structures to match the layout and operating conditions of every facility.

For engine rooms, we typically choose to insulate the walls with tightly packed fibrous glass, mineral wool, or open-cell foam panels, providing effective absorption of high-frequency noise. In other situations, we might opt for a composite such as Firwin BTMM14C. Composites are advantageous when there is a fuller octave spectrum of noise pollution present.

We’ll also consider whether your equipment requires regular maintenance or inspection. If so, we might include removable sound blankets as a part of your solution, making it easy to remove and replace as needed.

We understand that sound attenuation can be complicated, so we’ve created a whitepaper that simplifies material selection for facilities working with diesel equipment. This resource breaks down the most common absorption materials, including comparison charts and tables. It also presents transmission loss and STC information for our composite absorber/barriers used in engine rooms and containers.

To learn more about Firwin’s sound attenuation solutions, download our whitepaper, “Sound Attenuation – Diesel Powered Equipment.” Feel free to contact us with any specific questions.

Insulation & Underground Mining: How to Increase Mining Equipment Safety with the Right Insulation

Underground mining operations may differ around the world, but they pose similar risks to worker health and safety. Different techniques are used to extract metals, gems, coal, and other materials, but the hazards are similar for most of these applications. According to the United States Department of Labor, Mining Health, and Safety Administration (MHSA), 70% of mining accidents in the U.S. involve using heavy machinery and other equipment at worksites.

Mining Safety Challenges and Worker Risks

According to the MHSA, the following are among the top causes contributing to accidents in 2012:

• A lack of safety training
• Poor hazard communication
• Insufficient lockout/tagout precautions
• Faulty electrical wiring
• Improper machine guards
• Hydraulic oil spills igniting on hot engine surfaces
• Oil seeping into insulation covers, which poses a potential fire hazard
• Operators burned in confined mine tunnels
• Insulation failing to meet machine-guarding requirements

How Insulation Meets These Challenges

At Firwin, we offer insulation solutions that help to address the safety challenges posed by mining applications. These include:

• Our MineWrap™ removable insulation blanket, which features an inner lining fabricated from stainless steel, prevents oil from being absorbed into the insulation. MineWrap’s™ exterior can be reinforced with a stainless steel mesh cover to make the blanket more resistant to punctures and the rugged underground mining environment.
• Firwin’s Hard Coat™ composite insulation, a permanent insulation solution applied directly to the component that is being insulated. This is in contrast to MineWrap™, which is wrapped and fastened around the engine or exhaust components and can be removed and reinstalled.

Whether mining operations choose permanent or removable insulation solutions, insulation from Firwin ensures that the insulation material will be completely enclosed and shielded from exterior elements. This mitigates the dangers posed by equipment oil and fluid leaks that could otherwise seep into the insulation and pose fire hazards.

In addition, proper insulation reduces the ambient heat of diesel-powered equipment, and shields workers from burns. Using proper insulation also helps catalysts burn exhaust pollutants more effectively by maintaining the optimal high exhaust temperature as the exhaust travels along the piping.

Mining Vehicle – Minewrap Mark III and Firwin HC Insulation

Improved Mining Safety with Firwin

Underground mining operations inherently pose health and safety risks to the workers in the mine. Among the biggest causes of mining accidents are electrical wiring, machine-guarding, and oil seeping into insulation covers. Proper insulation is critical to safe operation, especially when used for machine-guarding.

Insulating exposed hot exhaust components is important in underground mines, but will only be effective if users select the correct insulation system. Failing to do so may add new safety concerns in the mine. Firwin’s MineWrap Removable Blankets and Hard Coat Composite Insulation are specifically designed to effectively insulate exhaust components used in mining operations in a way that addresses many of the safety hazards common among underground mining operations.

Firwin is a leading manufacturer of custom insulation products for exhaust systems, combustion engines, and an expansive range of other industrial purposes. Our main product lines include removable insulation blankets and permanent Hard Coat™ composite insulation. We are an experienced company that has been providing safe and effective insulation solutions to a wide range of industries since 1982.

In addition to providing high-quality insulation products, we are committed to offering superior customer service through product selection, sales, installation, and beyond. If you’d like more information on Firwin’s products for the mining industry, download our whitepaper. If you still have questions or would like to get more information about our services, feel free to contact us today.