Technical Bulletin
The Panduit solution for electric heat trace installation utilizes the Panduit
Heat Trace Wave-Ty™ as a part of the installation process. Panduit’s Heat
Trace Solution is for use in the installation of Mineral Insulated Electric Heat
Trace (MIEHT) and eliminates some of the key problems with tie wire, mainly
safety concerns and damaging of the MIEHT. By using electric heat trace
ties specifically sized for common industrial pipes, this approach allows the
installer to quickly and safely install EHT in about one third of the time as
typical tie wire.
Electric Heat Trace is commonly used for temperature maintenance, viscosity control or freeze protection. This is typically done
by using traced pipes with insulation and cladding. The traced pipes can be accomplished in several ways. For the purposes of
this document, we will be focusing solely on mineral insulated electric heat trace.
Tie wire is commonly used within the industry to install mineral insulated electric heat trace. Heat trace installation using tie wire
requires training and tensioning is dependent on installer skill and experience. Tooling used with tie wire consists of a pair of
nippers or linesman’s pliers. The installer twists and turns the tie wire in order pull the heat trace closer to the pipes. Too much
tension can result in damage to the heat trace. The installation process requires a great deal of repetitive twisting and pulling to
position the heat trace close to the pipes.
Heat trace tie wire is generally applied approximately every 12 inches on vertical and horizontal runs. In a time study, Panduit
found that the installers took approximately 1.6 minutes on average for vertical and horizontal runs. Elbows, ball valves, flanges
and T-valves just added to the complexity with average times ranging from 2.58 minutes to 14.72 minutes depending upon
fixture. Installation problems associated with tie wire tend to fall into two categories. The first are safety concerns ranging from
puncture hazards (from cut tie wire), blood poisoning, pulling and twisting tie wire (RSI, CTS) and more. The other area is
around damage to, and system reliability of the heat trace. Tie wire if over tensioned can damage the heat trace.
Heat Trace Installation System
Product Bulletin
Heat Trace Wave-Ty
features and benefits
Safety:
Significantly lower risk of health and safety concerns vs. tie wire. Tie wire can result in puncture risk
along with blood poisoning concerns due to residual coating. Tie wire installation can result in
repetitive strain injuries and carpel tunnel syndrome.
Installation Speed:
Installs 2 – 3 times faster than tie wire depending upon fixture. Ball valve took 883 seconds to install
using tie wire and only 271 seconds using a Heat Trace Wave-Ty™ for 225% savings (time).
Lower Installed Cost:
Can deliver approximately 30% lower overall installed cost versus tie wire depending upon pipe
diameter. Approximately 50% of the overall cost for installation of heat trace can be attributed to labor.
Reliability:
Heat Trace Wave-Ty
™
does not damage mineral insulated electric heat trace. Wide, flat profile along
with spring design does not damage heat trace.
Reduced Down Time:
Prevents damage to electric heat trace due installation. Over tensioning of tie wire can result in
damage to electric heat trace ultimately lead to failures and an increase in downtime.
Information based upon results of Test Report SS-PLR-367 – Heat Trace Wire and Insulation Installation Time Study.
application
Material:
304 Grade Stainless Steel
Minimum Loop Tensile Strength:*
600 lbs., 2670 Newtons
Maximum Temperature Rating:
538 °C, 1000 °F
Minimum Temperature Rating:
-80 °C, -112 °F
RoHS:
Compliant
Flammability:
Non Flammable
Ultra-Violet Light Resistance:
Excellent
*Minimum Loop Tensile Strength for HTMLT38WEH-Q is 300 lbs., 1335 Newtons
technical information