PIPES
Pipe insulation and the fight against overheating
Parasitic heat release from piped heating and hot water services is a significant contributor to overheating in buildings. Here, Chris Ridge, technical director of the Thermal Insulation Contractors Association (TICA) explains why we cannot afford to overlook the benefits of thermal insulation of pipework as we seek to reduce overheating issues across our healthcare estates.
Statistical analysis shows that the probability of experiencing three consecutive tropical nights has jumped from less than one per cent in a pre-industrial climate to roughly 20 per cent per year today. As peak outside air temperatures soar, our homes and
workplaces are often not the havens we expect them to be. Parasitic heat released from piped heating and hot water services is an underestimated and often hidden enemy, quietly undermining occupant health inside our buildings. Overheating caused by poorly insulated pipework is a significant issue and it is not just a problem that is restricted to plant rooms. It is also commonplace in areas that need to be accessed by members of public, such as corridors within commercial and large residential buildings. The heat network market has taken this issue head on with proposals for improved thermal insulation specifications and an emphasis on competent workmanship under the Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme. The heat network proposals are a detailed response to a specific market where adverse conditions are being experienced. The same level of consideration is also necessary for healthcare estates!
Poorly insulated heating and hot water services pipes could be playing a significant role in escalating temperatures in hospitals. And yet, thermal insulation is often an oversight.
According to a recent article in the British Medical
Journal, staff in one hospital have been “dealing with indoor temperatures of more than 41°C” as the NHS struggled to provide care during the recent Summer heatwave.1 However, overheating is not just a problem reserved for outlying cases. According to The UK Health Alliance on Climate Change, over 90 per cent of NHS buildings in England are vulnerable to overheating, with some hospital wards having recorded indoor temperatures of over 30°C even when outdoor temperatures were just 22°C. Poorly insulated heating and hot water services pipes could be playing a significant role in escalating temperatures in hospitals. And yet, thermal insulation is often an oversight. The opportunity for a robust
Below left: Thermal insulation being installed on heating, cooling, and domestic services on a large hospital project.
Below: The benefits or thermal insulation on heating and hot water pipework.
November 2026 Health Estate Journal 63
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