User Guide and Specifications for Electrically Isolating Non-Asbestos Gaskets for High-Temperature Service

摘要

Army Regulation 200-1 requires that installations must exclude asbestos from all procurements and uses where asbestos-free substitute materials are available, and minimize asbestos releases to the utmost extent possible. Prior to this ban, asbestos-based gaskets were used extensively and effectively by the Army. The ban has prompted the need for an effective replacement for dielectrically isolating cathodic protection flange gasket materials. Substitute materials are commercially available, but many do not perform adequately. Gasket materials that have been shown to perform adequately while installed in a heat distribution system (HDS) are identified in this report. It is recommended that the gaskets identified in this report be specified for use in new construction and maintenance of existing dielectric unions in HDS piping. It is also recommended that HDS dielectric unions be maintained as indicated in this report. The associated advantages of using this technology are: compliance with AR 200-1, protection of workers from asbestos, and cost savings related to preventable heat loss and premature failure caused by corrosion of HDS piping.