why is it necessary to seal the armaflex joints

[mattym]

my college tutor has asked a colleague i work with why is it important to seal the joints on armaflex tape am i right in thinking that is to stop the pipes sweating and also loss of superheat to the atmosphere? any help would be greatly appreciated.

[taz24]

my college tutor has asked a colleague i work with why is it important to seal the joints on armaflex tape am i right in thinking that is to stop the pipes sweating and also loss of superheat to the atmosphere? any help would be greatly appreciated.

It is to stop moisture getting to the pipes.

That then stops them sweating, freezing and dripping.
The transfer of superheat it not nessesarly correct though.
The suction will have superheated vapour so in the suction
pipe you insulate to stop heat exchange and sweating, but
you insulate other pipes also dependant on the application and
those pipes may not have suction vapours inside. Different
pipes are insulated for different reasons, AC for example need
the supply and return pipes insulated because the liquid supply
(smaller) pipe has a saturated liquid inside and if that was not
insulated then you would lose some of your cooling effect and
the pipe would sweat / freeze over.

taz

.

[Gideon Beddows]

insualtion shrinks over time. Sealing the joints helps reduce the shinkage.
Look at installs up buildings as you drive past? You can regularly see the copper tube! :D

[Brian_UK]

If you want some reference then use the Armaflex Installation Manual...
http://www.armacell.com/www/armacell/ACwwwAttach.nsf/ansFiles/000-005-00-ENIran.pdf/$File/000-005-00-ENIran.pdf

[JoeAT50A]

refrigerant line temperature are very low and anytime anywhere that introdued fresh air would condensate.
That why workmanship is very important to handle insulation especially on thickness.
There are many good practices to handle insulation materials.
Sealing is one of them. Please take extra care on this issue, once you see condensation ... then recovery cost will be more heavier than you expected. Don't waste you time and money.