StS launches reputable prefabricated insulation products

StS launches the brand name ansaTekt which is a common name of all prefabricated insulation products.

ansaTekt- to care about safety

StS has chosen to be inspired by Norse where ansa means caring and tekt means security. Composite reflects the name of our company’s philosophy of product development and service delivery.

In addition to products with fire-insulating properties, the ansaTekt series also includes prefabricated products within cold insulation, thermal and acoustic insulation, exhaust and personnel protection.

All products satisfies NORSOK’s requirement specification within their respective product categories.

The ansaTect products are characterized by a high degree of flexibility. They are manufactured by measure and can be used in various industrial environments both on and offshore.

StS first with improved fire protection

The weight is reduced by 12-16 percent, and the fire protection is better than today’s solution.

The new pipe insulation product in the ansaTekt series satisfies the requirements for NORSOK fire class 5.

After one hour of 1100 degrees, the temperature of the pipe during the fire insulation should not exceed 400 degrees.

Offshore, insulation systems with steel enclosures are mostly used. 0.7 millimeters are usually considered as a minimum requirement for the thickness of steel capsules in insulation products that will meet the requirements of fire class 5.

Thanks to the availability of new, improved insulation materials, StS has been able to develop a product with the same degree of fire safety, but with significantly lower weight.

-The new ansatekt product will weigh 12-16 percent less than today’s solution. Tests carried out at SINTEF’s laboratory in Trondheim confirm that 0.5millimeter steel enclosure can provide equally good protection against a jet fire of 0.7 millimeters. As an added plus, the temperature in the underlying pipes could be kept lower than the systems we use today, says senior engineer Willy Solemdal. Together with Christian Reuther, Cato Larsen and Arvid Bildøy, he has been responsible for the design of the new series of low-weight fire insulation products.

-StS is the first to get a solution with 0.5millimeter steel casing, continues Solemdal test manager.

-Weight is of critical importance offshore. These products are therefore clearly preferred compared with today’s options. Such an extensive weight reduction could be of importance for future design of pipelines on offshore installations. The isolation on an offshore module can alone weigh several tons, says Christian Reuther.

Pipe insulation is the first of several new fire-proofing products with reduced weight. ‘StS Group’plans to launch a similar safety product for flanges and valves shortly. The testing and development department is now working to optimize the design of the product. By streamlining the manufacturing process, ‘StS Group’ will also be able to shorten delivery time.

Resists jet fire

The pipe insulation shall prevent overheating of oil and gas transport pipes in the case of fire.

The comprehensive test round at SINTEF’s laboratory in Trondheim in late November confirms that the new security products can withstand a jet fire with a temperature above 1100 degrees.

After an hour’s stay in the flames, the temperature of the pipe is still below 400 degrees, according to the final report from the test laboratory.

Insulation materials provided by Protecta AS have made it possible to achieve the significant weight reduction. The company is the country’s leading supplier of fire insulation to the building industry, and has now entered into an exclusive agreement with ‘StS Group’ regarding the right to use the offshore material.

-We in StS are very pleased to have been granted the exclusive right to use Protecta’s insulation products offshore, «says Jan Arvid Jensen, CEO.

-This is a joint effort StS does together with Protecta. Operations Manager Kjetil Bolstad is an important driver and inspirator for the development of the new range of safety products under our direction, says Solemdal.

Efficient noise reduction at Oseberg C

The first big assignment for the supply of ansaTekt audio jackets to Oseberg C is in port. The jackets will reduce the noise level of the platform by 10 decibels or more.

-This first delivery to Oseberg C includes 240 sound jackets to be mounted on valves and flanges on the pipelines aboard the platform, says Production Chairman Svein Angeltveit at StS prefabrication department in Fabrikkgaten.

It is the operating company StatoilHydro that has demanded that the noise from the pipe tires on board should be dampened correspondingly to the requirements for sound insulation in Class 6, ie with 10 decibels (dB).

A similar project with the isolation of two seawater pumps on Oseberg East this summer showed that the noise level before installation was approx. 100 dB. The isolation products from StS ‘reduced the noise to about 90 dB. With such noise levels as this is the case, a reduction of ten decibels will be perceived as halving the noise level, says the production chairman.

Tested

The audio jacks are part of the StS ansaTekt series, which includes products for effective fire, cold, exhaust and personnel protection.

Tests performed at Sinus Sound Laboratory in Stavanger confirm that ansaTekt sound jacks can reduce noise levels by up to 20 decibels (dB). The products thus meet the requirements for sound insulation in Classes A, B and C according to NORSOK R-004 / ISO Standard 15665.

Easy installation

Each sound jacket must be tailored for the equipment to be mounted on. The survey will take place in mid-December. The jackets must be finished and ready for transport offshore on 1 March.

-A big production series in such a short amount of time, but we will be able to get the job done by today’s crew. As far as production capacity is concerned, we have already proven our competitiveness compared with international players, «says Angeltveit.

The noise jackets are designed with the view that the offshore installation should be the easiest possible task, says Aksel Misje.

The jacket is fastened with Velcro and belts. The product can thus be installed without the need to use electric tools that can emit sparks and cause an explosion hazard. The design will thus mean a significant simplification of future inspection and maintenance work. The sound jacks can easily be disassembled when needed, and then unattached back in place when the mission is completed.

-Our new sound jackets were tested in April at Sinus. The test confirmed that the jackets meet the requirements for Classes A, B and C.

Aksel Misje, leader of the prefab department

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