Fiberglass insulation blankets (glass wool) in Tanzania have continued to rise in demand due to their versatile applications, affordable prices and availability. Fiberglass insulation involves the use of the glass wool blankets to stop the transfer of heat or sound from one surface to another.
Fiberglass blankets used in Tanzania are made from extremely fine fibers of glass that are span into blankets rolls or batts. Fiberglass in used industries and domestic applications for mainly two things: 1) thermal Insulation and 2) Sound Insulation.
Fiberglass Thermal Insulation
Since fiberglass blankets (glass wool) are made from glass fibers and plastic matrix, it is a poor conductor of heat making it suitable for insulation. Fiberglass blankets have R-value of 2.5 – 3.0 per inch, thus making them suitable for insulation in many places. Additionally, it is important to note the fiberglass insulation rolls have a thermal resistance of 538°C, which makes them suitable for application in diverse places. The fiberglass blankets sold in Tanzania have a layer of aluminium foil which makes the blankets more efficient in stopping the radiant heat.
Application of Fiberglass Thermal Insulation in Tanzania
The following are the main places fiberglass insulation blankets are applied in both domestic and industrial uses.
- Pipe Insulation (Lagging): Due to their flexible and lightweight nature, fiberglass rolls are used in lagging pipes in the various industries. their thermal insulation properties allow them to be used to insulate pipes of temperature ranges of from 0oC to 540o This makes them ideal to industries that deal with chemicals or steam pipes.
- Tank Wrapping: Industries dealing with fuels or other flammable fluids use fiberglass blankets or rockwool blankets to keep them cool. The flexibility of glass wool blankets allows them to used on both even and uneven surfaces.
- Cold Rooms and Shipping Containers: Companies dealing with perishable goods such as horticultural produce or other products that require to be kept at low temperature require cold rooms. Fiberglass blanket form an important material in the construction of cold rooms due to low cost and thermal insulation properties.
- Residential Houses and Offices: many parts of the country experience varied weather conditions i.e. hot conditions in the coastal and arid areas and cool and cold climate in the highlands. Fiberglass blankets are used in those houses to keep them cool during hot weather and warm during the cold weathers.
- Ovens, Barbecue and Fire Places: Fiberglass is one of the materials used in Tanzania for oven insulation. These includes food ovens like pizza, chicken, cake, loaf ovens or industrial ovens.
Fiberglass Sound Insulation
Fiberglass blankets have good Sound insulation properties. The 50mm thickness we have in stock have a Noise Reduction Co-efficient (NRC) of 0.80 which is way ahead of many other sound insulation materials available in our East African market.
Application of Fiberglass Sound Insulation in Tanzania
The following are some of the in applications fiberglass wool roll:
- Studios and Audition Halls: Fiberglass (glass wool) sound absorption characteristics are used in the construction of music studios, media studios or audition halls.
- Boardroom and Offices: The privacy of many offices is kept by using fiberglass blankets on the walls to ensure they are soundproof.
- Hospitals and Schools: Due to rapid industrialization in the country, hospitals and schools are finding themselves in the middle of noisy industries or busy roads. To make their environment conducive, fiberglass rolls are used on the walls to make them soundproof.
- Residential Houses: Fiberglass insulation to soundproof houses near busy roads or industries. This also includes the container and sheet houses.
- Entertainment Clubs: To ensure the night clubs and other joints do not disturb their neighborhoods, they are insulated with glass wool blankets.
- Cars and Matatus: Fiberglass is also used for vehicle insulation in Tanzania. Cars and matatus with loud music systems use fiberglass to keep them soundproof. Fiberglass is also used to absorb music vibrations from harming the car.
Why Fiberglass are Becoming Popular in Tanzania
Many industries and builders are using fiberglass in the recent years than it was in recently replacing the other insulation materials such as Styrofoam (polystyrene foam) and polyethylene foam. Some of the factors driving the uptake of fiberglass insulation blankets include:
- Efficiency: Fiberglass rolls have higher thermal and sound insulation efficiencies than other common insulation materials available in the country.
- Cost: Fiberglass rolls are cost effective compared to their effectiveness. One square metre of fiberglass has a price range of TSh. 15,000 to Tsh. 22,000 depending on the quality.
- Fire Rating: Fiberglass blanket is non-combustible. This makes a suitable material in residential houses and industrial applications where there is risk of fire. As a fire retardant, fiberglass will stop the spread of fire in house.
Where to Buy Fiberglass Insulation Blankets in Tanzania
Fiberglass Insulation blankets (glass wool) are industrial insulation materials, thus mainly found in industrialized towns. Kingsman Eng. & Industrial Insulation are leading suppliers of high quality fiberglass blankets (roll) in Tanzania and East Africa. The company headquarters is in Nairobi but they send to various towns in Kenya, as well as Dar es Salaam, Kigali, Kampala and Juba.