How to Install Ceramic Fiber Wool Blanket in Furnaces and Kilns

Ceramic fibre blanket is straightforward to install compared to rigid refractory, but a few details determine whether it actually performs to its 1260°C rating in practice.

Safety precautions before you start

Ceramic fibre products can release fine airborne fibres when cut or handled, particularly when disturbed after service (post-use crystalline silica exposure is a recognised concern). Wear gloves, eye protection and a suitable dust mask when cutting or fitting Ceramic Fiber Wool, and ventilate the work area.

Step 1: Plan the layer thickness

Multiple thinner layers, installed with staggered joints, insulate better than a single thick layer with a straight-through seam — the staggered joint is what actually stops the direct heat path a single-layer straight seam would create.

Step 2: Fix with the correct anchoring system

Blanket is normally held in place with ceramic or metal anchors welded to the shell before the blanket goes on, spaced according to the manufacturer’s pattern for the furnace size — anchors spaced too widely let the blanket sag and compress unevenly over time.

Step 3: Compress slightly, don’t stretch

Fit blanket with a slight compression (typically 10–20%) against the anchors rather than stretching it flat — stretched blanket loses density and therefore insulating value exactly where it was pulled tightest.

Step 4: Stagger every joint, including layer-to-layer

Just as with braided packing joints, stagger blanket seams both within a layer and between layers — a straight-through joint at any point is a heat-loss path through the whole lining.

Step 5: Seal edges and penetrations

Use Ceramic Paper to fill gaps around penetrations, burner ports and expansion joints where blanket alone can’t conform to the shape.

Frequently asked questions

How much compression should ceramic fibre blanket have when installed? Typically 10–20% — enough to seat firmly against anchors without stretching the fibre thin.

Can ceramic fibre blanket be installed over old, worn lining? No — remove old lining first; installing over degraded material traps inconsistent insulation value and anchors won’t seat properly.

Tell us your furnace dimensions and target temperature and we’ll confirm the right blanket thickness and layering plan.