Three honest reasons: fixed lagging gets cut off at the first maintenance and refitting needs an insulation crew nobody schedules; leak-detection culture — operators historically wanted to SEE flange leaks (modern covers solve this with witness drain points); and procurement treats insulation per square metre, where complex small components look expensive. The economics say otherwise: a bare DN150 valve at 250 °C wastes roughly €700+/yr in fuel — components, not straight pipe, are where plant surveys find most recoverable loss.
Compute your own case: free heat-loss calculator · materials library: 12 datasheets ·
