The Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust (LMCT) is a program to promote the heat and frost insulation industry and expand opportunities for International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers and its Signatory Contractors that started in 2007.
Mechanical Insulation is the single most overlooked and undervalued energy efficiency and sustainability concepts within engineered building facilities in America. Properly installed and maintained mechanical insulation can save millions of dollars if not billions in energy utilization. By using less energy buildings will reduce the carbon footprint that benefits the environment. Mechanical Insulation energy audits offers the physical tangible data that verifies cost, energy and environmental impacts that can be used to develop a clear and pragmatic campaign of strategic sustainability.
Mechanical Insulation is applied only to mechanical systems as opposed to building envelope insulation. It is imperative that new construction incorporates the latest technology insulation products and a need to ensure that the insulation products are installed according to engineered required specifications. Although it is highly recommended, mechanical insulation inspections are rarely ever done, and questionable credentials of inspectors for the ones that are done.
Application Example
A typical hospital size that is 4 stories, 450,000 square feet, approximately contains 85,000 insulated linear ft, that is 17 miles and 400,000 square ft of duct work, that is 4 football fields. The National Insulation Association estimates that between 10% and 30% of mechanical insulation is either damaged or missing.
A quick sample of an energy audit that demonstrates the value mechanical insulation. This is what happens when an only one foot of 8” steam pipe operates at 500°F without insulated or damaged;
- Economic Impact wasting $185.47 per year per foot not being insulated.
- Environment Impact:
- releasing 4436 lbs/ft/yr of CO2
- releasing 2.01 lbs/ft/yr of CO2 MT
- releasing 8.9 lbs/ft/yr
- Energy Impact: wasting 3431 BTUs/hr/ft
This is only an example of only 1 foot of piping! Energy audits can be performed at many different levels to meet the need of facility managers. The cost of installing or repairing mechanical insulation return on investment (ROI) is usually within 6 months to 2 years. By far, mechanical insulation has the best ROI, because very soon the cost to install is quickly converted to annual savings for decades.
Chilled and cold systems present another overlooked concept that should be an extremely concerned for any occupied building. To prevent water or humidity to migrate into the insulation, a vapor barrier must be applied. If the vapor barrier is compromised or missing, the insulation will get wet losing its valuable insulation value. Wet insulation will generate and allow mold and bacteria to fester. The ill health effects of mold in a building is well documented. A safe building is one that has proper vapor barrier installed and maintained.
Firestopping
Another Safe building concept is fire containment within the building. Firestop and Smokeseal is part of the Mechanical Insulation package. When there are penetrations that must pass through a fire rated wall, inherently there is a compromise, or a weakness, to that fire barrier. The wall was designed to stop the spread of flame and smoke for a designed amount of time per numerous building fire codes. Properly installed firestop and smokeseal systems on mechanic penetrations does not safe energy as much is saves lives. It will only save lives when properly installed and maintained.
The realization the importance of Mechanical Insulation delivers real tangible results that offers energy conservation, energy cost savings, safe building environments, and understanding necessary codes and inspections prolongs the life of energy sustainability. Properly maintained and installed mechanical insulation will increase the value of Operational Sustainability and Efficiency for decades to come. Lowering the carbon footprint on the world’s fragile ecological systems. It is time we all think differently about insulation.
Our industry professionals are highly skilled and are trained in a US DOL Approved Apprenticeship Training and the journeymen skills are updated with the ever-changing insulation technologies. Our professions are also trained to the highest construction safety and health concepts, in many cases exceeding common safety standards.
LMCT contractors are equipped with the trained and disciplined workforce provided by the International Union are much better suited for today’s ever-changing marketplace.
The LMCT works tirelessly to raise awareness of the importance of Mechanical Insulation plays in today's business marketplace through various marketing and advertising initiatives. We represent a working relationship created to forge an environment that provides expanded job opportunities for our contractors.
Are you looking for an expert contractor in your area?
Contact Executive Director Pete Ielmini | email: pielmini@insulatorslmct.org
Have a question about the LMCT or the benefits of Mechanical Insulation? Get in contact with our leadership!
Executive Director Pete Ielmini | email: pielmini@insulatorslmct.org
Deputy Director Gina Walsh | email: gwalsh@insulatorslmct.org
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