Pre-insulated valves are part of the shut-off valves which are primarily used for cutting off a portion of a heating system and thus enabling interventions to be carried out on a section of the network without having to drain the entirety of the network. This technology allows users to gain durability and resistance to pressure compared to ordinary valves, but they also have many other benefits in the maintenance of a heating network.
Uses
Pre-insulated valves are used to cut a network to perform an air purge or a water drain and to maintain or restore optimal flow in the pipes. It is preferable to use ball valves which can be operated quickly by lever and are treated as pre-insulated piping in terms of expansion, heat losses, sealing and implementation. They ensure the continuity and consistency of a pre-insulated system.
A simple and flexible solution
The pre-insulated valves allow users to avoid building a valve chamber or a concrete manhole. A much simpler installation is used as these stop valves can be installed at any location on the network directly into the ground. Therefore the installation of several pre-insulated valves is recommended to facilitate future interventions on a large network. Even simpler: pre-insulated ball valves require no maintenance; only a twice yearly manouevre to avoid seizing.
Long term savings
Choosing pre-insulated valves rather than naked valves is a choice that will reduce your maintenance costs on the network over the long term. Indeed, open valves must be covered by a protection chamber but even with this configuration, there are question marks over their durability and sealing. Ordinary valves are systematically and inexorably corroded and at constant risk of flooding while, in contrast, pre-insulated valves have very good thermal insulation and do not corrode.
In addition, open valves have a manufacturer’s warranty of 2 years while pre-insulated valves are built into the system and have a 10-year warranty. The initial investment is higher, but the savings in maintenance and replacement of equipment make pre-insulated valves the best choice for preserving a good quality network.
