Safety is the first and foremost criterion when it comes to insulating wires for an enthusiast motorboat owner. What better way in such cases than to use heat shrinks tubes for the insulation! The dual properties of toughness and flexibility as in the case of materials like polyolefin provide the necessary security required by the boat owners.

Tubing of the heat shrink variety can withstand high temperatures better than the electrical tape. The factor of flexibility enables it to be wound very easily to the cables and wires and therefore is normally a preferred alternative for electronic and electrical projects. Surface scratches on equipment are prevented by their use in boats and this is an added factor in their favour. Beauty of the equipment is not marred due to hanging wires. Heat shrink tubing is available in assorted a colour which gels with the colour of the recreational vehicle. It also helps in giving an organized look to the room as all the wires can be wound separately and marked properly with different colour options. It provides identification of the various wire groups very easily and at the same time does away with the mess and clutter in the room.

There are however, some projects wherein this form of tubing cannot be used. This can become quite frustrating to the contractor or plumber. The need to use some other unfamiliar substitute in place of a heat shrink tubing can become a time-consuming or cumbersome task.However, in such cases, the heat shrink tape comes to the rescue of the contractor or plumber.Though the term ‘tape’ is attached to it, no adhesive material is present behind it. It needs heat to be applied on it for its effective functioning. When heat is provided to it by means of an open flame, it shrinks to almost three-fourths of its original size. This tape comes in several colours such as blue, black, yellow and green and therefore blends easily into the item on which it is applied. The tape proves very useful in cases of patching a hole that may be there in an existing tubing; thus eliminating the need to replace the entire tubing.

In some other projects, the heat shrink sleeve proves most appropriate. This is so especially in case of industrial situations where the pipes are continuously exposed to extreme heat and corrosion. The sleeve acts as a protective cover and ensures the longevity of the pipes. In industrial setups where the temperatures rises dramatically, say for example, in an oil refinery there are chances that the pipes lose shape on getting overheated and this way the entire pipeline can be destroyed. The sleeve also protects the pipes from being corroded by water or dirt in their day-to-day use. Another application of the heat shrink sleeve is its use in the underground pipes which have to bear tremendous pressure of weight. The sleeve provides added strength to the pipes and ensures that the heavy pressure causes lesser damage to the pipes.

Truly, the heat shrink tubes, heat shrink tape and the sleeve are indispensable items in all industrial setups.