Owens Corning Insulation is expanding on what it describes as a robust commitment to deliver technical insulation education. These resources are available in-person at customer sites around the globe, as well as through a digital platform.
Located in Pasadena, Texas, USA, just outside Houston, the new Owens Corning Technical Insulation Education and Training Center serves as a hands-on learning hub for engineers, contractors, installers, and insulation crafters to learn about the science and practical application of technical insulation.
The 22,000-square-foot (2,043.9 m2) training facility is located near some of the U.S. Gulf Coast’s largest energy sites and showcases insulation’s capacity to conserve energy, contribute to process efficiency and support jobsite safety.
According to Brandon Stambaugh, director of technical services for the company’s technical insulation business, the Pasadena training center is part of a holistic approach to delivering education to customers and industry professionals.
“Our approach extends beyond material science to help customers analyze energy usage, support safe applications, and make informed decisions that contribute to process efficiency,” Stambaugh says. “Whether a customer wants insulation education delivered at our facility, at their location or through digital learning, Owens Corning is committed to delivering training relevant to customers’ needs and situations.”
Technical Insulation at Owens Corning
The Pasadena training facility can deliver in-person or digitally integrated training, the company explains. The space is equipped with large- and small-diameter pipes, spheres, and ducts, along with many industrial and mechanical assets that require insulation to operate properly in the field.
A material science area demonstrates how the performance properties of an insulating material —such as its permeability, compressive strength, and thermal conductivity—help support performance in the field. On-site capabilities make it possible to simulate and demonstrate challenges such as vapor drive, cryogenic temperatures, or exposure to chemicals over time.
Beyond providing training on cellular glass, extruded polystyrene (XPS), and fiber glass and mineral wool insulating materials, the center also delivers education on designing and installing the overall insulating system. This includes the use of adhesives, sealants, jacketing, and more.
“In industrial applications, various components, such as vapor barriers, jacketing, sealants, and adhesives, work as a system to support processes,” Stambaugh says. “This facility demonstrates how the composition of different insulating materials works with accessories and expert installation to support a high-performing insulating system in the field.”
The on-site fabrication facilities are designed to support material assembly that mimics jobsite conditions.
“By doing the application together in our training center, an engineer can learn how fabrication techniques may help to lower the installed cost of different insulating materials in a process application,” says Bill Tolliver, product technical manager for pipe and insulation.
Tolliver notes that the facility is equipped to conduct time and motion studies, as well as various simulations. This ensures that insulating systems can be cost-effectively vetted before they are installed in real-world applications.
Learning at the Customer Site
Hands-on training can also be conducted at the customer site, according to Owens Corning.
“Installing a cryogenic vapor stop on a pipe or applying a vapor retarder jacketing system might seem pretty straightforward when you read about it, but when engineers actually do the hands-on work, they have a better appreciation for how much skill is required to do the job right in an actual install,” says Bobby Ferrell, technical services engineer.
Digital Resources Also Available
Digital resources including e-books, specification guides, and project profiles from around the globe are available to deliver on-demand information to help inform insulating decisions.
Meanwhile, a newly updated web site focused on mechanical and industrial insulation delves into industrial applications involving piping equipment, tanks, vessels, spheres, ovens, boilers, furnaces, and other industrial infrastructure.
Owens Corning says this focus on training comes at a time when many engineers are retiring from the industry and new entrants often receive only limited information regarding the role that insulating systems play in industrial processes.
“As specifying engineers, installers, and inspectors retire, we have a responsibility to help prepare the next generation of workers,” Ferrell says. “Customers need people with the expertise to specify, install, and maintain insulating systems designed to stand up to the extreme conditions involved in industrial processes.”
Questions about the Owens Corning Technical Insulation and Training Center and inquiries regarding training to support installations can be directed to foamglastechnical@owenscorning.com.
Source: Owens Corning, www.owenscorning.com.