Mechanical Insulation
Insulation securement: tie wire, banding, mesh and blanket hardware
Which wire, band, seal and mesh holds pipe, duct, vessel and removable-blanket insulation in place, and which metal to choose for dry, chilled-water, coastal and hot service. American Wire Works supplies every item in this guide to insulation contractors and distributors.
For Informational Purposes Only
The securement, material and temperature information in this guide is general reference material provided for informational purposes only. It is not a technical specification, engineering instruction, or approved procedure, and figures shown are typical values rather than guaranteed or design limits. Always follow the project insulation specification (e.g. MICA National Insulation Standards), applicable ASTM standards, and the insulation system manufacturer's requirements, and consult a qualified professional for your application. American Wire Works assumes no liability for any selection, installation, or use made based on this content.
What secures what
Find the job, then the securement and material contractors typically use for it.
| Job | Securement | Material | Supplied by AWW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pipe and duct insulation sections, under jacketing | Tie wire, 16 or 18 ga soft annealed | Galvanized for dry indoor work; 304 stainless where moisture or condensation is present | Stainless tie wire→ |
| Metal jacketing on pipe, ducts and equipment | Banding with matching seals | 304 stainless banding with stainless wing seals, or 3003 aluminum banding with aluminum seals on aluminum jacketing | Stainless banding→ |
| Vessels, tanks and breeching | Banding over the insulation, mesh as lagging support | Stainless or galvanized banding; knitted or hex mesh under the finish | Insulation support mesh→ |
| Mastic, cement and coating finishes | Hex netting to hold the finish | 1 in hex opening, galvanized or 304 stainless, 150 ft rolls | Hex mesh→ |
| Removable blankets on valves, flanges and exhaust | Lacing wire and hog rings to close the blanket; knitted mesh in the blanket build | 304 stainless lacing wire; Inconel 600 lacing wire on hot sections above about 1,200°F | Insulation lacing wire→ |
Choosing the metal by environment
Dry indoor service
Galvanized tie wire and aluminum or galvanized banding are the economical choice in conditioned mechanical rooms where the insulation stays dry.
Below-ambient and chilled water
Lines that run below dew point sweat for the life of the building. Zinc coatings eventually fail under constant condensation, so contractors specify 304 stainless tie wire and stainless banding on chilled water, refrigerant and other cold service.
Outdoor, coastal and chloride exposure
304 stainless covers most outdoor work. 316 stainless is the step up for coastal sites, cooling towers and chloride-bearing chemical environments.
Hot surfaces and exhaust
Stainless covers most hot piping. On turbine and generator exhaust, breeching and other surfaces above roughly 1,200°F, Inconel 600 lacing wire and Inconel or 321 knitted mesh hold their strength where stainless would not.
Don’t mix metals
Pair stainless banding with stainless seals and aluminum banding with aluminum seals, and match the band to the jacketing. Dissimilar metals in contact corrode each other, and a failed seal drops the jacketing.
Data centers
Chilled water and generator exhaust
A data center combines two of the hardest securement jobs in one building. Miles of chilled water piping run below dew point, which is why it is tied with stainless wire and jacketed with stainless banding. The backup diesel generators need removable exhaust blankets built with knitted mesh, closed with stainless or Inconel lacing wire and hog rings. Data center insulation supplies lists what distributors serving these jobs order from American Wire Works.
Insulation securement American Wire Works supplies
Standard sizes and put-ups. Private label and stocking programs are available for insulation distributors.
304 and 316, 16 ga (.062″) and 18 ga (.047″), soft annealed. 3.5 lb coil, 5 lb spool, 10 lb coil, 12 lb Serv-Pak, 25 lb coil.
Soft annealed galvanized tie wire for dry indoor insulation work.
304 stainless .032″, .041″ and .047″; Inconel 600 .032″ and .041″. 1 lb and 5 lb spools.
Type 304, including 1/2″ and 3/4″ × .020″, in 200 ft and oscillated coils.
T-304, 1/2″ and 3/4″ widths, boxed.
3003 aluminum, annealed, mill finish, with matching aluminum wing seals.
1 in hex opening, galvanized and 304 stainless, 150 ft rolls.
304 (most common), 321, Monel and Inconel; flattened and crimped; standard and wide widths.
304 stainless and galvanized, 16 ga C-style, 1/2″ and 3/4″.