Heat-Loss Calculator › Reference › DN40 (1½″) @ 180°C
Heat loss from a DN40 (1½″) pipe at 180 °C
A bare DN40 (1½″) pipe running at 180 °C in 20 °C still air loses about 243 W per metre. Wrap it in 50 mm of removable lamella mat and loss drops to about 49 W/m — a 80% cut — while the outer surface falls to about 31 °C (touch-safe). Figures use the ASTM C680 steady-state method.
These conditions are typical of low-pressure saturated steam, medium-temperature hot water (MTHW) and thermal-oil return lines. A bare surface here is already a burn risk and loses a large, continuous amount of heat that insulation recovers almost entirely.
Per-metre heat loss
| Quantity | Bare | Insulated (50 mm) |
|---|---|---|
| Heat loss | 243 W/m | 49 W/m |
| Heat loss (imperial) | 252.6 BTU/hr·ft | 51.4 BTU/hr·ft |
| Reduction | — | 80% |
| Outer surface temp | ~180°C | 31°C |
| Conductivity k (at 100°C mean) | — | 0.059 W/m·K |
How much insulation thickness?
The same DN40 (1½″) line at 180 °C, with different removable-insulation thicknesses (lamella mat, k≈0.059 W/m·K). Heat loss and surface temperature both fall as thickness increases — with diminishing returns past 50–75 mm.
| Thickness | Heat loss | Reduction | Surface temp |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 mm | 71 W/m | 71% | 43°C |
| 40 mm | 55 W/m | 77% | 34°C |
| 50 mm | 49 W/m | 80% | 31°C |
| 75 mm | 40 W/m | 83% | 26°C |
| 100 mm | 35 W/m | 85% | 25°C |
At this temperature the bare surface burns on contact within a second; 50 mm of removable insulation typically returns it to a touch-safe ≤45 °C.
Example: a 50 m line with 4 valves
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Heat loss, bare | 12.7 kW |
| Heat saved by insulation | 10.1 kW |
| Fuel energy saved | 95.4 MWh/yr |
| Money saved | €6,677/yr |
| CO₂ avoided | 19.1 t/yr (≈ 4.1 cars off the road, 908 trees, 4.0 homes’ power, 44 barrels of oil, 78,121 km of driving or 19 transatlantic flights) |
| Payback (removable insulation) | 11.0 months |
Assumptions. 50 m pipe + 4 valves (each ≈0.6 m bare pipe), 8000 h/yr, 85% boiler efficiency, €0.07/kWh fuel, 0.20 kg CO₂/kWh, 50 mm insulation at €250/m². CO₂ equivalences use US EPA / DEFRA conversion factors. Change any of these in the live calculator. Estimates for guidance — confirm with a site survey.
Run your own numbers
Adjust size, temperature, thickness, hours and energy price live — or get an exact heat-loss study and fixed insulation price for your equipment list.
Open the calculator →Get an exact quoteIs a bare DN40 (1½″) line at 180 °C a burn hazard?
Yes — a bare DN40 (1½″) surface at 180 °C exceeds the ~60 °C touch-safe threshold (ASTM C1055, EN ISO 13732-1) and burns on brief contact. The line also loses about 243 W/m, so insulation fixes safety and energy at once.