Heatshield 101: Understanding Heat Shields

Heatshield 101

Before buying any heat shield, exhaust wrap, header pipe wrap, or other insulation, it is imperative to educate yourself about the product and the application. For anyone who is new to heat shields or wants more info about our range, we have put together this information page to answer all of the common questions like “What is a heat shield?” and “Which type do I need?” If you don’t find the answer to your question below, please get in touch and we’ll be happy to help you out!

What Is a Heat Shield?

Put simply, a heat shield is any kind of barrier that stops or limits heat from getting through. For example, if you have a television near your fireplace, the heat from the fire can be absorbed by the television case and damage both the case and the internal components. By placing a heat shield barrier between the heat source and the television, you can protect the television from the heat while still enjoying a warm fire and your favorite TV shows.

There is another type of heat shield called an “insulator” that has the job of keeping heat in rather than keeping it out. What is an insulator heat shield used for? This kind of heat shield is used in automotive and industrial settings to make the system more efficient by keeping underhood heat trapped at the source.

How Do Heat Shields Work?

Before you can choose which heat shield works best for you, you need to first find out whether your heat issue is a conductive, convective, or radiant heat issue.

Conductive heat transmits heat from one object to another by direct contact.
Convective heat occurs when heat is transferred between a solid and a moving fluid and/or gas.
Radiant heat is heat that radiates from a heat source to a component that is not in direct contact with the heat source.

The tyf insulation and heat barrier you need will ultimately depend on the type of heat you are dealing with. There are three different “solutions” or ways a heat shield product can mitigate these varying types of heat problems.

Dissipation: Dissipators are special fabrics or coatings that are extremely efficient at displacing thermal energy. Heat solutions that use dissipation help protect the object on the other side of the shield by reducing the amount of heat that passes through the shield or barrier. Dissipators are a specialty category and are generally more rare in their availability and usage.
Reflection: What is a reflective heat shield then? Reflective heat shields are the most common products utilized in heat mitigation. These types of products act as barriers by causing the heat to bounce off the shield’s surface away from the protected area or object.
Insulators: Finally, products like our exhaust heat shields use heat shield insulation to help trap heat at its source. Trapping heat at the source is the most efficient way to improve performance and protect components.

What are Intermittent and Service Temperatures?

When you’re trying to figure out what a heat shield is and how it works for you, it is important to remember that advertised intermittent temperatures and service temperatures are two very different things. Intermittent temperatures are the max temperatures an exhaust wrap or other insulation can handle for 30 seconds or less before being compromised. Service temperature, on the other hand, is how much heat the product can withstand for long, routine periods of time.

Many companies will advertise the intermittent temperatures and not the service temperatures to make their products seem more sturdy and reliable than they are. Do your homework — ask for the service temperature and intermittent temperature of a competitor’s product. Heatshield Products will always show both temperatures to ensure you get the best product the first time around.

What is a Heat Shield Made Of?

The materials we use to make our heat barriers and insulators vary but generally include:

Fiberglass and fiberglass yarn
Aluminum
Stainless Steel
Basalt (volcanic rock)
Silica

Making effective heat shields requires heavy-duty materials. At Heatshield Products, we make sure that all of our materials are top quality and asbestos free for your health and safety.

What Is a Heat Shield Used For?

Heat shields can be used for a variety of beneficial reasons in/on vehicles, motorcycles, boats, and in various industrial and military settings, and in the home.

Vehicles

Heat shields have multiple uses in (and on!) automobiles, motorcycles, and water vehicles like motorboats. In fact, it was the heat issues we ran into on the racetrack that inspired us to make heavy-duty heat shields in the first place!

The most popular kinds of heat shields for vehicles are exhaust-pipe wraps. These wraps reduce the amount of heat escaping from the exhaust system which helps to make your vehicle more efficient, responsive, and powerful.

What is a heat shield used for under the hood? For the hoses and lines under the hood of your vehicle, we sell special insulator sleeves to protect these delicate connections from heat damage and reduce evaporation.

Industrial

Most factory and power-plant machines produce large amounts of heat that can damage sensitive electronic components and increase worker fatigue. Our heat-shield covers, curtains, sleeves, shields, and tape can help to protect electronics and workers from excessive radiant heat by keeping energy trapped at the source which can help increase power and plant efficiency. Our line of personal heat shield protective wear can also protect workers against heat sources at close contact.

Military

What is a heat shield used for in the military? Firearms used in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard generate a lot of heat, which can injure military personnel and damage accessories. Our heat shield covers isolate the heat generated by automatic weapons—protecting those operating the weapons and reducing downtime.

Military heat barriers can also serve a strategic purpose by reducing the thermal signature of tanks and other weaponized deployments effectively hiding and securing your location.

Home

Ovens and fireplaces in the home create radiant heat that can damage other furniture and appliances, such as refrigerators, cabinets, mantels, and televisions. By placing effective heat barriers over these delicate surfaces, you can increase the life of your products and prevent unnecessary damage. Our stick-on barrier sheets also work well in commercial hospitality environments.

What’s the Perfect Heat Shield for Your Situation?

To select the right heat shields for your needs, first work out whether the heat problem you’re dealing with is conductive (a direct transfer), convective (passing form a solid to a fluid or gas), or radiant (affecting objects at a distance). Then measure the temperature of the heat. With this information, you will be able to work out which kind of heat shield solution will be the most effective for your heat issues. Wondering how much exhaust wrap you really need to get the job done? Input your measurements into our exhaust wrap calculator or give us a call, and we’ll help you choose the right product for your needs.

What is Heat Shield Installation Like?

Installation techniques largely depend on the size and nature of the area to be protected. For home ovens and fireplaces, we have designed our adhesive shields for easy, DIY installation. Our heat shield products for cars, moto sleeves, and tape can also be installed easily by the customer. For industrial covers, curtains, and sleeves, please get in touch to ask us about professional installation.

What Heat Shields Do You Sell?

At Heatshield Products, we manufacture a comprehensive range of heat barrier, shield, reflective shields, and insulation solutions. You can browse our American-made products, including:

Automotive Heat Shields

Motorcycle Heat Shields

Marine Exhaust Insulation Wrap

Heavy Duty Insulation

Industrial Insulation

Welding Heat Shields

Home-DIY & Fireplace Heat Shields

Military Heat Shields

What is the charge for a custom heat shield? If you or your business requires a special heat barrier product or a custom size, we can give you a free quote on our standard products or work with you to design a customized solution.

Trust Heatshield Products for Your Heat Barrier Needs

At Heatshield Products, we have been manufacturing heat barrier solutions since 1985. With over 40 years of experience in the industry, our design professionals create products that are durable, reliable, and always racetrack tested. All of our product descriptions are honest and detailed so you always know what you’re getting.

If you have a question about what a heat shield is or are interested in a custom made solution, our customer service team is here to help. Contact us today to get started.