Winterization Tips for Your Building, Facility, or Industrial Plant

Anticipating freezing temperatures and safeguarding buildings, equipment, and materials from freeze damage are critical components of any annual property assessment. A solid freeze prevention plan comprises inspection, preventative maintenance, and corrective maintenance actions before the onset of cold weather.

Below are eighteen general freeze protection planning tips offered by application engineers and field experience comments. These procedures are not exhaustive, and we urge that you consult a professional before implementing your plan.

1. Roof and Gutter: Inspect, remove debris, and patch/repair (if needed): roof drains, scuppers, canals, gutters, down spouts before first frost. Inspect and functionally test installed roof and gutter heat trace system. Apply heat in susceptible areas.
2. Identify and test main water supply cutoffs for each facility. Ensure these areas are readily available to emergency personnel responding to a freeze/thaw incident. Apply heat in susceptible areas.
3. Inspect wet‐pipe sprinkler systems for areas prone to freezing. Apply heat in susceptible areas.
4. Identify materials that are subject to freeze damage in outside storage pads and unheated storage areas. Develop plan to ensure these materials can be easily heated and thawed to maintain production.
5. Check and place antifreeze used in cooling systems as necessary.
6. Protect heating system power and temperature controls against inadvertent deactivation.
7. Inspect insulation on piping and vessels.  Look for damage and vulnerable areas that might be exposed to freezing conditions.  Add or replace insulation as needed. 
8. Drain and remove water from all seasonal cooling systems (unless protected by heating tapes or antifreeze).
9. Inspect, test, and stage portable auxiliary heaters.
10. Inspect conditions of all surface heaters such as heating tapes, heating cable, drum heaters, IBC heaters, tank heaters, and pipe heaters. Verify operation and temperature settings and test ground‐fault equipment protection. Replace as needed.
11. Inspect, test, and repair heat trace heating cable located on cooling tower supply and return lines.  Apply heat in susceptible areas.
12. Inspect and identify remaining water and air lines subject to freezing. Install appropriate heat and insulation. Apply heat in susceptible areas.
13. For steam systems: Blow down drip legs, clean strainers, test temperature sensing devices for actuation of control valves and dampers, check steam traps, control actuators/valves, face and bypass dampers, linkages, and temperature controllers. Ensure that a vacuum breaker is installed and in working order on all preheat and heating coils which may be exposed to freezing conditions.
14. For ventilation systems: Test and calibrate all temperature sensing devices, and check operation of valves, dampers, linkages, control actuators, and temperature controllers.
15. Identify areas where personal safety is at risk due to icy conditions. Develop a slip prevention maintenance plan. Apply heat in susceptible areas.
16. Identify control panels and electronic devices susceptible to condensation. Install enclosure heaters to prevent short outs and corrosion.
17. Institute a facility wide awareness plan to identify and report any suspected problems with heating or other cold weather protection equipment during the cold season.
    
    
18. Special Consideration: Hazardous Materials 

• Ensure that all containers used for hazardous or toxic materials are properly stored, and inspect them for deterioration prior to handling. If containers become brittle (due to the combination of chemical attack, freezing temperatures, and ultraviolet light) they may break when moved.
• Liquids should not be permitted to remain in unheated process lines during periods when production has been stopped. All lines should be drained and purged to prevent future line breakage due to freezing temperatures.
• Ensure that piping, tanks, and valves in systems that carry hazardous or toxic substances are properly insulated and/or heated. Install heaters such as heating blankets, insulators, heating tapes, heating jackets, and heating cable as appropriate.

Tips courtesy of BriskHeat. For more information on all BriskHeat products, contact Alliance Technical Sales. Call 630-321-9646 or visit https://alliancets.com.

Winter is Hard On Process Piping, Tanks, and Valves. Protect Them with BriskHeat.

We don't want to say we told you so, but .... we told you so. Winter weather is here, and the need to freeze protect vital process control equipment is evident. Frozen pipes, valves, and vessels caused by sub-zero temperatures and harsh winds cause spills, downtime, and unexpected costs. Additionally, frozen equipment presents the danger of shutting down factory production. It's not too late. You still have time to heat trace and freeze protect your critical equipment for the rest of this winter season.

Traditional heat tracing design schemes combine with innovative products, installation, control, and monitoring technologies in BriskHeat industrial heating products. BriskHeat industrial heating products are ideal for maintaining the proper temperature of valves, pumps, joints, crosses, elbows, flanges, pipes, and tees. Heat tracing cable (constant wattage and self-regulating), tote heaters, insulated heating blankets, immersion heaters, and thermostats are all available from BriskHeat. BriskHeat industrial heating products are long-lasting, reliable, and effective. 

With unpredictable weather conditions ahead, you must protect your piping, tanks, and valves. BriskHeat has a solution for every situation. To learn more, contact Alliance Technical Sales at 630-321-9646 or visit the Alliance website at https://alliancets.com.

Freeze Protection Season is Around the Corner. Get Ready Now.

Winter is quickly approaching. It's time to assess your plant's heat tracing system and ensure it's working correctly. Alliance Technical Sales can assist you with heat tracing, control, and monitoring equipment. Along with industrial pipe heat tracing, Alliance can help you with commercial pipe tracing and surface snow melting. 

Anticipating freezing temperatures and protecting buildings, equipment, and grounds from freeze damage are critical components of a Facility Maintenance Program. Pipe tracing, drum heating, roof and gutter de-icing, IBC heating, valve de-icing, vessel heating, and enclosure heating are just a few of the freeze protection applications to consider.

Most common objects to consider for seasonal freeze protection:

• Pipe heat tracing
• Drum heaters
• Tote heaters
• Gas cylinder heaters
• External tank heaters
• Roof & gutter de-icing
• Snow melting mats

Plant operators and maintenance personnel must be vigilant to keep their equipment from freezing. Cold temperatures frequently cause objects and their contents to be damaged or destroyed. Pipes, valves, tanks, vessels, conveyors, and housings are just a few examples of everyday things that can be damaged by cold temperatures, resulting in disastrous consequences, costly downtime, and unplanned outages. 

BriskHeat provides an excellent Freeze Protection Planning Guide and Checklist. Download it here. 

Make sure that any freeze protection requirements you have are ready. Failure to ensure adequate protection in these systems against freezing can have disastrous consequences. Act now to stay ahead of your freeze protection requirements before it's too late.

Alliance Technical Sales
https://alliancets.com
630-321-9646

Freeze Protect Your Pipelines, Valves, Vessels and Pumps Now!

It's that time of year again. Winter weather is coming. The need to protect vital factory equipment. A frozen pipe, valve, or vessel caused by lower temperatures and brutal winds will cause expensive, unplanned outages. Your exterior equipment is in danger of freezing and shutting down production. Right now is the time to fully assess your heat trace and freeze protection requirements.

BriskHeat industrial heating products incorporate traditional heat tracing design schemes with innovative products, installation, control, and monitoring technologies. BriskHeat industrial heating products are perfect for keeping valves, pumps, joints, crosses, elbows, flanges, pipes and tees working at the right temperature. BriskHeat products include heat tracing cable (constant wattage and self-regulating), tote heaters, insulated heating blankets, immersion heaters, and thermostats. All are designed for long life and are proven reliable and effective.

With unpredictable weather conditions ahead, you need to have your piping, tanks, and valves protected.  BriskHeat has a solution for any application. To learn more, contact Alliance Technical Sales at 630-321-9646 or visit the Alliance website at https://alliancets.com.

Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC) Heaters

Intermediate bulk containers (also known as IBC tote, IBC tank, IBC, or pallet tank) are stackable, reusable, flexible containers with an integrated pallet base. These multi-use industrial-grade containers are designed to handle, transport, and store liquids, semi-solids, pastes, or solids. They are normally available in 250, 275, 330, 350, 450 and 550 gallon sizes. IBC totes are commonly used in food and beverage production, labs, cosmetics manufacturing, petrochemical/chemical production, oil & gas production, and in many areas of general manufacturing. 

Often, the contents of IBC totes need to be heated to prevent freezing or optimize viscosity for pumping or pouring. IBC tote heaters (or just tote heaters) refer to a certain style of flexible and immersion heaters used to heat the contents of intermediate bulk containers.  Most applications fall in to these areas: viscosity control, freeze protection, thermal mixing, temperature maintenance, and biofuel / biodiesel heating. Failure in keeping the products inside the IBC could result in the contents being ruined, production delays, or inability to dispense at all, which in turn increases production costs or causes damage. Damaged  equipment, replacing ruined materials, or waiting for usable product are expensive prices  to pay for improper heating.

Flexible IBC Tote Heaters

This category refers to flexible rubber blanket heaters that sit under, or is fitted around, the IBC tote. These heaters are designed with power densities (watt densities) that will not harm the tote itself, or the material it contains. Flexible tote heaters usually include backside insulation for better thermal and energy efficiency. Other design criteria include thermostats, water resistance for indoor/outdoor use or wash-down environments; 360° grounded heating element for safety; UL certification; 120 or 240 volt plug set.

Immersion IBC Tote Heaters

Immersion heaters are submersible heaters that use direct heat transfer to allow liquid mediums to quickly reach desired temperatures. They are commonly used with all types of tanks and processing equipment and are a cost effective, rapid heating method in almost any industrial or manufacturing environment. Immersion tote heaters design criteria include 120 or 240 VAC operation; a wide variety of flange/screw connection sizes; temperature indicators/displays; temperature controllers/thermostats; hi/low alarms; and power cords /connections types.

For more information about about IBC tote heaters, contact Alliance Technical Sales. Call them at 630-321-9646 or visit their website at https://alliancets.com.

It's Really Cold! Are Your Pipes, Tanks, Totes, and Valves Freeze Protected?

Winter is here in full force. Plant operators and plant maintenance must be vigilant in preventing the freezing of their equipment.  Cold temperatures can often damage or destroy objects and their contents. Pipes, valves, tanks, vessels, conveyers, and housings are examples of common objects that can be hurt by the cold and have devastating consequences, costly downtime and unplanned outages.

Anticipating freezing conditions and protecting buildings, equipment, and grounds against freeze damage is a vital part of a Facility Maintenance Program. There's a wide range of freeze protection applications you need to consider, including pipe tracing, drum heating, roof and gutter de-icing, IBC heating, valve de-icing, vessel heating, and enclosure heating.

Freeze Protection Products
(BriskHeat)

Ensure that whatever means of freeze protection you have available are ready. Failure to ensure these systems are properly protected from freezing can have catastrophic consequences. Act now, before it's too late.


Download a freeze protection checklist and freeze protection product catalog here.

Baby, It's Cold Outside (Have You Freeze Protected Properly?)

It's winter and it's cold outside. Pipes will freeze. Processes will stop. Maintenance costs will rise.

Facilities that use or process chemicals, gasses, or even water must maintain them above 55°F (17°C) to prevent them from solidifying, freezing, or becoming too viscous to move. A few examples of these materials include varieties of diethylene (resins and polyurethanes), DMSO (solvents), paraffin’s (petroleum product), #6 crude oil (for asphalt), and many more. Often these materials travel through unique cone, funnel, or bowl-shaped vessels and then through a series of pipes, tubes, hoses, pumps, valves, metering devices, level transmitters, and more. During a cold season, if not protected, these systems can fail to operate efficiently or even freeze causing significant damage and downtime.

Not your typical heat tracing cable.

Often the complex nature of these systems, having many twists and turns, makes them difficult to install traditional heat trace cable to protect against the cold. Also, limited access or difficult to reach areas have their own unique challenges. Traditional semi-flexible self-limiting heat-trace cable is simply too rigid for many of these installations and does not provide adequate surface contact to be effective enough.

XtremeFLEX RKP by BriskHeat
makes it easy to heat difficult
shapes and sizes.

BriskHeat’s new XtremeFLEX RKP silicone heating tapes are the perfect solution for these challenging applications. The RKP tapes have an ultra-thin profile with a super- flexible 1/4” (6mm) bend radius. No additional temperature controller is required because a built-in pre-set thermostat continuously monitors and controls the temperature output of the heater. The complete unit is fully encapsulated in silicone rubber to provide an extremely flexible, durable, and moisture resistant heater. The unique flexibility provides exceptional surface contact for maximum heat transfer and effectiveness around systems that have complex curves, bends, and contours. The heater is also pre-terminated with a power cord and electrical plug to provide quick and easy power connection. RKP silicone heating tapes are a true plug-and- play heater that is both easy to install and easy to maintain. This design makes the RKP an extremely versatile heater for a wide variety of indoor/outdoor installations.

It is always recommended to insulate any heating device to provide a safe and energy efficiency system. BriskHeat offers an Insul-Lock®DS foam pipe insulation that is perfect for use with RKP heating tapes.

For more information, contact Alliance Technical Sales by calling 630-321-9646 or visit https://alliancets.com.

Electric Heating Solutions for Temperature Maintenance and Freeze Protection

Here is an Alliance Technical Sales product catalog for industrial electric heating and freeze protection solutions. The products contained herein are used for temperature maintenance or to prevent freezing of flowing fluids or gases in tanks, pipes, vessels, and lab equipment. Contact Alliance Technical Sales for any electric heating requirement.

https://alliancets.com
630-321-9646
Download the Electric Heating Solutions here.

Electric Heating and Freeze Protection Solutions from Alliance Technical Sales, Inc.

Quickly Solve a Range of Freeze Protection Challenges With Pre-Assembled Self-Regulating Heating Cable

Pre-assembled self-regulating heat cable sets can speed
installation of freeze protection for piping systems.
Image courtesy BriskHeat Corp.

Heat tracing a pipe, from start to finish can be time consuming. Selecting the various components, starting with the heating cable itself, extends through termination kits, controllers, mounting hardware and other electrical hardware needed to put the heating system in operation. BriskHeat has a product that, for many applications, offers a very simple and quick solution.

Pre-assembled self regulating heat cable is available in two voltage ranges, two watt densities, and prefabricated lengths up to 150 feet. Each cable is terminated at each end, saving the installer time. The cable is flexible enough for a spiral installation or to wrap around valves in the piping system. The self regulating aspect of the cable negates the need for a controller and power switching devices. Assemblies targeted for 120 volt applications are provided with a factory installed plug. The 208-277 volt cables will arrive with bare wire leads for installation of a customer provided connector. The cable can be easily installed using fiberglass or aluminum tape. Suitable insulation applied over the finished work will improve the performance of the heating system.

Share your heat trace and freeze protection challenges with industrial heating specialists, leveraging your own knowledge and experience with their product application expertise.

Pre-Assembled Self-Regulating Heating Cable from Alliance Technical Sales, Inc.

Freeze Protection for All Sorts of Commercial and Industrial Things

Freeze protection requirements are ubiquitous and take many
forms. Each has a best solution employing a specialized heater.

Keeping process or inventory liquids from freezing, or becoming extremely viscous, can be an important part of any commercial or industrial operation. Freeze damage to equipment, piping, or containers can result in a wide array of consequences, all of them likely to be negative.

Developing an overall plan for freeze protection can be advantageous to attacking each application on an independent basis.

• Having a common vendor for all freeze protection equipment and supplies can help designers develop a knowledge base about how to meet application challenges with specific products, speeding implementation time. Service techs become familiar with applied products and methods, building their skills and efficiency at installing and maintaining applications throughout the facility.
• Identify all locations where freeze protection is needed. Develop a baseline of the methods employed and equipment installed to meet the needs of each location. Good records form the basis for good maintenance and the ability to make decisions regarding the operation and performance of each system.
• When selecting the products or methods to employ for freeze protection, consider the environment in which the hardware will be installed. Will it require protection from physical damage, chemical attack, or extreme weather. Is the installation space considered a hazardous zone, requiring special certifications for the heating equipment?
• The availability and control of applied heat can also be important. Is there a need for the heating system to deliver highly variable amounts of heat across the range of possible operating scenarios, in order to avoid overheating the process or stored materials? How quickly will the system need to ramp up to the desired operating temperature or respond to changes in an operating process?

These questions, and probably others specifically related to your application, should be part of the consideration for freeze protection applications. Enlisting the cooperation of a process heat specialist can apply leverage to your own process knowledge and experience to develop an effective solution to each challenge.

Check this link for a copy of the Freeze Protection Planning Guide.

Drum Heater Applications

It is common for bulk liquids to be delivered, contained, or dispensed from large pails or drums. At various times and locations during its dwell time in a drum, inventoried liquids might need protection from freezing, or maintenance of an elevated temperature for viscosity control or another reason. It can be impractical to provide a controlled environment in which to house one or more drums, pails, or other containers. A specialized heater provides an effective and economical solution that is easy to put in place as needed.

Silicone rubber drum heaters require only electric power from an extension cord to deliver controlled heat to plastic or metal drums. They can be put in place in minutes and operate unattended to provide controlled levels of heat through the container walls to the target liquid. The units are rugged and have a self-contained thermostat. Various sizes and capacities accommodate a broad range of industrial applications. Specialized custom units can be configured for specific applications.

The short video shows the ease with which these drum heaters can be applied. Share your liquid processing and analytical challenges with fluid processing specialists, leveraging your own knowledge and experience with their product application expertise to develop effective solutions.

Properly Applying Flexible Heat Tape

Heat tape, with its flexibility, provides a good means of delivering heat to a wide range of process applications. It can be applied to pipes, vessels, or other objects that need to be heated for any number of reasons. The range of available product materials and watt densities assures that there is a heat tape configuration for almost every application. This video shows how to properly apply and install heat tape to get the best performance and maintain safe operating conditions.

Share your process heating requirements of all types with an industrial heating specialist, combining your process knowledge and experience with their product application expertise to develop effective solutions.

Silicone Rubber Heating Blankets - Special Delivery for Industrial Heating Applications

Silicone Rubber Heating Blanket
One of countless shapes and sizes
Courtesy Briskheat

Electric heaters for industrial and commercial applications are available in an almost dizzying range of types, materials, and forms. One of those is the silicone rubber heater.

Stock shapes and sizes are available from many manufacturers, but one distinct advantage of silicone rubber heaters is their flexibility. The resistance heater wires are encased in a silicone rubber sheet, providing the ability to wrap the assembly around an object or manipulate it into a close fit with the target of a heating application. The silicone rubber encasement also provides a high level of protection for the heater wires from impact, moisture, and some chemicals.

The watt density of the heaters can be specified to provide a good match between the delivery of heat and the need for it. Custom shapes and configurations can be manufactured to order, and on board or remote controllers provided. Pressure sensitive adhesive is a common option that facilitates the installation of the heater assembly to a part or vessel.

The maximum application temperature is in the range of +450°F (+232°). These heaters are a useful selection option for a large range of operations demanding heat to be applied directly to a surface, object, tank, drum, or other vessel. Share your industrial heating requirements with product specialists for the best match up between heater technology and your application.