In the field of industrial and building energy conservation, insulation nails (Also Known as Fastening Pins for Insulation) are a small but critical type of hardware that undertakes the mission of firmly fixing materials such as rock wool, glass wool, ceramic fiber, and phenolic board to the substrate. According to different application scenarios and stress conditions, insulation nails can be divided into five categories: marine, power plant, wind tube/steel structure, exterior wall insulation nails, and exterior wall expansion nails. The following content combines industry standards and frontline construction experience to clarify the technical points and selection ideas of various products for you.
1. Marine insulation nails
Core working conditions: hull interlayer, cabin insulation, and fire partition, requiring reliable anchoring under vibration and a salt spray environment.
Structural features: commonly known as "Xiao nails" or "bump nails", usually made of corrosion-resistant stainless steel 304/316; the nail rod is hardened, with a tensile strength of ≥400MPa, and equipped with a high-temperature resistant ceramic ring.
Selection suggestion: Φ3.2mm～Φ4.8mm × 25–65mm is recommended to meet the requirements of rock wool thickness of 30–60mm.
2. Insulation nails for power plants
Core working conditions: boiler body, desulfurization flue, outer wall of storage tank, continuous high temperature, and accompanied by acid and alkali flue gas.
Structural features: L-shaped hook nails and steel belts are combined, and the hook end is used for hanging nets or winding wires; common diameters are Φ5–Φ6mm, and the shear force of a single nail can reach 1.2kN.
Advantage highlights:
Strong bearing capacity: suitable for high-temperature insulation layers with a density of ≥160kg/m³.
Corrosion resistance: The surface can be optionally chromium-free passivated or hot-dip galvanized, with a service life of 15 years+.
3. Insulation nails for air ducts/steel structures
Core working conditions: central air conditioning ducts, refrigerated compartments, and light steel workshops.
Structural features: Aluminum glue insulation nails are composed of a tinplate base plate and an aluminum wire nail rod. The base plate is commonly 22×22mm to 50×50mm; the nail length is optional from 30–200mm.
Construction process:
Apply quick-drying glue or acrylic foam double-sided tape on the outer wall of the wind tube.
Paste the base plate and cure.
Hang the rock wool board.
Bend the nail rod after pressing with a round cap.
Applicable temperature: Maintain peel strength ≥0.5kN in the range of -40℃ to +90℃.
4. Insulation nails (anchor bolts) for exterior walls
Core working conditions: EPS/XPS, rock wool board exterior wall insulation system (ETICS)
Structural features: modified nylon expansion tube + galvanized steel nails, anchor foot expansion ≥40mm; pull-out bearing 0.5–0.9kN (concrete C20/25 conditions).
Product advantages:
Weather resistance: -40℃～+70℃ no brittleness;
Insulation bridge cutoff: plastic sleeve thermal conductivity λ ≤0.033W/(m·K).
Construction parameters: drilling depth ≥70mm; commonly used anchor bolts Φ8mm × 120–180mm.
5. Expansion nails for exterior walls (heavy-load curtain wall/decoration connection)
Key points: Unlike the aforementioned anchor bolts, expansion nails usually refer to metal mechanical expansion anchors, which are used to carry the load of curtain wall keels and decorative panels.
Material specifications: stainless steel A2/A4 or high-strength carbon steel grade 8.8; radial expansion ≥1.5mm to ensure safe stress diffusion in concrete and solid bricks.
Recommended configuration: Φ10mm × 100mm sleeve type can be selected for exterior wall decorative strip connection; Φ12mm × 120mm internal thread expansion nails can be selected for stone dry hanging.
6. Selection tips and quality control
| Application scenarios | Recommended materials | Key standards | Inspection points |
| Ship | 316L stainless steel | IMO FTP Code Part2/5 | Salt spray ≥720h No rust |
| Power plant boiler | Carbon steel + AlZn coating | ISO15614-1 | Weld metallography, bending test |
| Duct/steel structure | Aluminum 5052 | SMACNA HVAC | Shear ≥0.3kN |
| Exterior wall insulation board | Modified nylon/galvanized steel | ETAG014 / GBT 36691 | Pull-out, impact, freeze-thaw resistance |
| Curtain wall keel | A4 stainless steel | EN1090 / GB50017 | Pull-out ≥1.5kN |
Tip: No matter which type of insulation nail is selected, you should pay attention to the safety factor of "pull-out design load ≥2×calculated load" and complete a 5% random pull-out test before delivery.
7. Why choose IKING insulation nails
Full chain traceability: raw materials - cold pier - heat treatment - surface coating - finished products, with each batch of QR code traceability.
Customized service: support any length of 10mm~300mm, bottom plate logo laser engraving.
One-stop matching: matching glue, round cap, and insulation board anchoring solution to reduce your procurement communication costs.
Industry certification: passed ISO9001 & CE EN14566 system audit, in line with EU CPR requirements.
Conclusion
Today, energy conservation and emission reduction have become a global consensus. High-quality insulation nails are not only related to the durability of the insulation layer, but also directly affect the safety and operating costs of buildings and equipment. Relying on 30 years of accumulation of materials and molding processes, IKING can provide professional anchoring solutions that can withstand rigorous tests for multiple scenarios, such as ships, power plants, HVAC, and curtain walls. Contact us now to get technical support and sample testing for your project!