When I insulated the pipes in my loft, I carefully covered them completely. I mitered the insulation at the elbows and included any isolation valves.
Some years ago we had a single story extension built and I noticed last weekend that in the extension roof space, only the straights are insulated. The elbows and isolation valves are exposed. (In some places the pipes are below the roof insulation, but not everywhere) In addition, where the heating pipes run along one wall on saddles they are so close to the wall, that only space for very thin insulation to be fitted between the pipe and the wall. Also the saddles are not covered.
Is this normal practice?
Do bends / isolation valves not run the risk of bursting if they freeze?
Does this meet building regulation because of the heat being lost for example?
Should there be a minimum specification of thickness for the insulation in an unheated roof space?
Some years ago we had a single story extension built and I noticed last weekend that in the extension roof space, only the straights are insulated. The elbows and isolation valves are exposed. (In some places the pipes are below the roof insulation, but not everywhere) In addition, where the heating pipes run along one wall on saddles they are so close to the wall, that only space for very thin insulation to be fitted between the pipe and the wall. Also the saddles are not covered.
Is this normal practice?
Do bends / isolation valves not run the risk of bursting if they freeze?
Does this meet building regulation because of the heat being lost for example?
Should there be a minimum specification of thickness for the insulation in an unheated roof space?