Most industrial sites know their insulation isn’t perfect. There’s a bare valve here, a damaged section of lagging there, and a few lines that were never insulated at all. What’s often missing is a clear picture of how much all of that is actually costing, and which fixes would pay back fastest.
That’s exactly what a TIPCheck is designed to show. In this guide we explain what it is, how it works and why it’s one of the quickest routes to cutting energy costs on an industrial site.
What is a TIPCheck?
TIPCheck stands for Technical Insulation Performance Check. It’s a standardised energy audit of industrial insulation systems, developed by the European Industrial Insulation Foundation (EiiF). It’s carried out by trained and certified engineers using a consistent method, so the results are reliable and easy to compare.
A TIPCheck looks at the insulation on your pipework, valves, flanges, vessels and tanks, and works out how much energy, money and CO2 you could save by repairing, upgrading or adding insulation.
How a TIPCheck works
A typical TIPCheck follows four clear steps:
- Start-up meeting: we agree the scope, the areas to be audited and what you want to achieve, and gather information about your processes and energy costs.
- Site survey: our engineers inspect the insulation, record its condition and measure surface temperatures, often using thermal imaging to spot hidden heat loss.
- Calculation: the findings are run through the TIPCheck tool to calculate heat loss, energy savings, cost savings, CO2 reduction and payback for each improvement.
- Report: you receive a clear report setting out the opportunities, ranked so you can see which ones give the best return.
What a TIPCheck usually finds
On most sites, the same issues come up again and again:
- Uninsulated valves, flanges and fittings left bare after maintenance
- Damaged, wet or crushed insulation that has lost most of its performance
- Missing insulation on lower-temperature lines that were never considered worth insulating
- Insulation that’s too thin for today’s energy prices
- Hot surfaces that create a burn risk for staff
According to the EiiF, around 75% of TIPChecks lead to insulation investment, and in most cases the payback on those projects is two years or less. In one case study published by the EiiF, insulating valves and flanges at a steel plant was estimated to save over €28,000 a year with a payback of around eight months.
Why it’s worth doing
Lower energy bills
Every watt of heat lost through poor insulation has to be made up by your boiler or heating system. Fixing the worst areas first can deliver quick, measurable savings.
Lower carbon emissions
Less wasted energy means lower CO2 emissions. A TIPCheck report gives you clear figures you can use in carbon reporting, net zero plans or ESOS compliance.
A clear business case
Because a TIPCheck puts a cost and payback on each improvement, it makes it much easier to get budget signed off. You’re not asking for money for insulation, you’re presenting a project with a proven return.
Safer working conditions
Insulating hot surfaces reduces the risk of burns and lowers temperatures in plant rooms, making them better places to work.
TIPCheck or a standard insulation survey?
A standard insulation survey records the condition of your insulation and what needs repairing. A TIPCheck goes further by calculating the energy and financial impact of each issue, using a recognised European method. If you need to justify investment, report on energy savings or prioritise a limited budget, a TIPCheck is usually the better option.
How AIC can help
AIC carries out TIPCheck insulation energy audits on industrial and commercial sites across the UK. Because we’re also an insulation contractor, we can take you straight from audit to action: making flexible insulation covers for valves and flanges, repairing damaged lagging and upgrading insulation where it will pay back fastest.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a TIPCheck take?
It depends on the size of the site and the scope agreed. A focused audit of one area may take a day on site, while a full site audit takes longer. We’ll give you a timescale before we start.
Do you need to shut down the plant for a TIPCheck?
No. The survey is carried out while the plant is running, which is actually better, because we can measure real operating temperatures and heat loss.
What do I get at the end of a TIPCheck?
A clear report showing where you’re losing energy, how much it’s costing, the recommended improvements, and the savings and payback for each one.
Is a TIPCheck only for large sites?
No. Any site with heated pipework, steam, hot water or process heat can benefit, from small manufacturers to large process plants.
Talk to AIC about your site
Want to know how much energy your insulation is wasting? Contact AIC to book a TIPCheck insulation energy audit and get a free, no-obligation quote.
Find out more about our TIPCheck, thermal insulation and flexible insulation covers services, or read our guide: Pipe Insulation Survey UK.
Contact AIC for a free, no-obligation quote or call 01642 689587.
