HIRA Industries says its Aerofoam continues to be a front-runner in the race for superior insulation, thanks to its high flexibility coupled with quick and easy application and long-term durability.

Launched in early 2011, Aerofoam has since proven to be a complete solutions package to customers in the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) field. The range offers two specific and unique varieties: Aerofoam-NBR (elastomeric or rubber insulation); and Aerofoam-XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene) exclusively within the UAE.

“The product is a flexible thermal insulation made of cross-linked closed-cell polyethylene foam with aluminium foil and adhesive layer for HVAC applications. It comes in a wide choice of tubes or sheets and also as self-adhesive, continuous-length and pre-cut versions (on demand). The range includes tubes of various levels of thickness and diameter,” says an official for the Dubai-based manufacturer.

Aerofoam-NBR, launched following the introduction of Aerofoam-XPLE, is a technically superior insulation material for pipe and duct insulation in refrigeration, ventilation and air-conditioning applications.

The product already complies with most of the requirements set by British Standards (BS) and American Standards (ASTM) for pipe insulation using nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), according to Hira Industries.

Describing the product, Dr Laurentiu Pestritu, Hira Industries’ insulation product manager for Middle East, India and Africa, states: “Aerofoam-NBR is a highly flexible, closed-cell insulation material that provides installations with reliable protection against condensation and energy losses. Due to its sound technical properties such as high resistance to water vapour diffusion (m ≥ 7.000) and low thermal conductivity (λ=0.035 W/m deg C at 20 deg C), Aerofoam-NBR ensures long-term condensation control. It thus also increases the energy efficiency of the installation in comparison to other elastomeric as well as other insulation materials used for the same scope. Furthermore, the balanced price-performance ratio makes it a particularly economical, energy-saving solution.”

Moreover, as showcased at The Big 5 show last November, Aerofoam is designed to offer long-term reliability and safety.

Pestritu points out that when installing elastomeric insulation materials, mistakes are often made in measuring fittings, cutting material to size and gluing the parts. Aerofoam addresses the issue by designing itself around the problem rather than contributing to it, he says. It has a high resistance to diffusion and low thermal conductivity and reduces the risk of moisture penetration compared to other insulation materials. The resistance to diffusion is built up continuously – cell by cell – throughout the entire material thickness. The ‘cell’ walls are ‘sealed’ during production, allowing for a very high resistance to water vapour.

All Aerofoam products have been tested to BS and ASTM standards, as per industry requirements. These include water vapour diffusion, thermal conductivity, chemical resistance, water absorption, resistance to fungi and bacteria, smoke emission and fire resistance, among other aspects.

The product range is backed by Hira Industries, with continuous technical support, up-to-date stock availability and the possibility of product customisation.

Hira is looking to find a niche for Aerofoam in hitherto unexplored markets as well as trying to revise and enhance the environmentally efficient product. Products already in the pipeline include Aerofoam Clad and the company is also looking forward to developing a sound insulation solution soon.

Dubai-based Hira Industries manufactures rubber and polythene products, tapes, ventilation accessories and diamond pipe supports, and claims to be the only company in the GCC region that can provide both XPE and NPR pipe insulation.

The ISO-certified company has branches in Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and India, and plans to open others soon across the globe.