Overview
ISO 18097:2022 - "Thermal insulating products for building equipment and industrial installations - Determination of maximum service temperature" defines a reference test method to determine the maximum service temperature of flat thermal insulation products. The standard specifies apparatus, specimen preparation, conditioning, test procedures and how to record and report dimensional and thermal behavior when a specimen is exposed to elevated temperatures.
Key technical topics and requirements
- Scope: Applies to flat insulation products used in building equipment and industrial installations; material-specific modifications are given in Annexes A–D (e.g., mineral wool, cellular glass, phenolic foam, polyethylene foam and flexible elastomeric foam).
- Specimens: Square or circular samples with cross-sections of 100, 150, 200 or 300 mm and a nominal thickness of 100 ± 5 mm (slicing permitted); minimum three specimens unless otherwise specified.
- Conditioning: Store specimens at (23 ± 5) °C (or tropical variant 27 ± 5 °C); for disputes use (23 ± 2) °C and (50 ± 5)% RH for at least 24 h.
- Apparatus: Flat hot plate with uniform temperature and heat flux, edge insulation that allows free movement, pressure plate, continuous thickness-measuring device (to 0.1 mm), and thermocouples (±1% or ±1 °C).
- Test procedure: Load specimen with 500 Pa, heat at 50 °C/h or 300 °C/h (as specified) to the expected maximum service temperature, maintain the hot side for 72 h within ±2% or ±10 °C, record thickness continuously, then cool and re-measure length/width and thickness.
- Measurements & results: Provide thickness-deformation vs time and temperature curves; calculate percentage dimensional changes of thickness, length and width after test; note visual changes and observations (including internal self‑heating where relevant).
- Accuracy: Specifies measurement tolerances and control limits for temperature and thickness recording.
Practical applications and users
ISO 18097:2022 is used by:
- Manufacturers of thermal insulation for validating product temperature limits and for product datasheets.
- Independent test laboratories performing standardized thermal aging and dimensional stability tests.
- Product certifiers and regulatory bodies assessing compliance with thermal performance criteria.
- Design engineers and specifiers (building services, process insulation) who need reliable maximum service temperature data to select materials for pipework, ducts, vessels and industrial installations.
- R&D teams assessing material development, formulation changes, or multilayer system performance.
Related standards and context
- Harmonized with CEN work (merged with EN 14706:2012) and developed by ISO/TC 163 in collaboration with CEN/TC 88.
- Referenced standards include ISO 29466 (thickness), ISO 29768 (linear dimensions), ISO 16544 (moisture conditioning) and ISO 5725 (measurement accuracy).
Keywords: ISO 18097:2022, maximum service temperature, thermal insulating products, flat insulation testing, hot plate test, thickness deformation, dimensional stability.
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