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Why TIPCHECK energy audits offer the most effective payback

Thursday 12 December 2024

Gaps or inconsistencies in building service insulation can lead to a lot of wasted energy, particularly on high temperature industrial applications.

Finding savings

Gaps or inconsistencies in building service insulation can lead to a lot of wasted energy, particularly on high temperature industrial applications.

TIPCHECK energy audits offer an effective means to assess building service insulation on new and existing projects, pinpointing improvements which can provide the most effective payback.

Introducing TIPCHECK

TIPCHECK (Technical Insulation Performance Check) energy audits have been developed for industrial facilities but can also be used on HVAC building pipework (although returns are typically greatest on high temperature pipework).

Assessments can be carried out on plans or in-situ systems and are designed to provide a clear analysis of system performance and prioritised recommendations for improvements.

The assessments are carried out in line with key standards including BS EN 17956: 2024, BS EN 16247-1: 2022 and ISO 50002: 2014. This means any outputs can feed into ISO 50001: 2018 energy management systems, if in operation at the facility.

All audits are carried out by qualified 'TIPCHECK experts' who have at least one year’s experience working with industrial insulation, have completed a five-day training course and exam, and undergo regular refresher training.

How it works

Before a TIPCHECK assessment is conducted, the expert will typically run a kick off meeting to discuss the facility, its operation and what the client is looking to achieve from the assessment.

They will then collect information about the system or system design, including data on existing or expected performance. If the project is at the design stage, this will include information relating to the expected building service insulation specification.

For existing facilities, a typical assessment will include carrying out measurements with temperature probes and thermographic equipment at various locations including at valves or flanges which are representative of others within the system.

Further visits may then be carried out where insulated boxes are positioned around these valves and flanges to assess the relative heat losses when these are insulated or uninsulated.

Using all the data from these assessments, the expert will then carry out evaluations using the TIPCHECK suite of tools to calculate the losses from the designed/existing system and how these could be reduced by upgrading the insulation specification.

The information is collated in a report which covers both energy and cost savings and identifies priority improvements where the fastest paybacks can be achieved.

Showing the way

With high energy costs (particularly for intensive industrial applications) and the ongoing push to deliver net zero, ensuring building services are well insulated is a key priority for many organisations.

TIPCHECK assessments provide a clear and valuable insight into the savings that improvements to building service insulation can bring and which areas should be prioritised as part of this process.