Isolation Kits (insulating kit) Basics for Piping Designers

Isolation Kits (insulating kit) Basics for Piping Designers

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Isolation kits (also referred to as an insulating kit) help remove the metal on metal contact between the bolts and flanges, which aid in corrosion control.  Isolation kits are important in pipeline systems or connections to tanks/equipment where cathodic protection is involved.  Cathodic protection creates an electro-chemical cell, which breaks at the point of the isolation kit as it creates a gap in conductivity.  That's why you see these on pipeline risers when you design P&ID's (Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams), and you should have a keen eye to look for them in the field while as-building risers or tanks/vessels/equipment.

Isolation kits come in a variety of materials, but all consist of the same components, namely an isolation gasket, and one piece sleeve and washer sets.  The sleeve and washer sets essentially look like a bushing with a washer at one end of it, and there is one for each bolt hole.

On a P&ID, these kits are indicated with this symbol:



A Piping Designer needs to know when these are used, where to expect them, how to model them, and to always ensure the item is captured correctly on the P&ID, and in the model.  From the model, a BOM (Bill of Material) will be generated, and often an Isometric drawing.  The isolation kits must be properly installed in the model, with correct material call-outs, in order to produce accurate drawings and BOM's.

As with all things in the world of piping design, check your project materials specifications for details on which isolation kit to use, and confirm with your Project Manager in case the client would like a deviation from the specified material.