If you bother to check out the manufacturer specs on Reflextic, you'll notice that the stuff is only rated for +180=B0F. All steam systems run higher than that temp by at least 32=B0 (at phase change), and even more depending on the pressure that you run you system at. And yes, I realize that if you take a temp reading off of an uninsulated steam pipe (especially in an uninsulated crawl space) that the surface temp of the pipe could be less than 180=B0. The surface temp of the steam pipe is only the equalibrium temperature of the steam inside the pipe and the heat loss by conduction through the pipe wall. By insulating the pipes you are, by definition, raising their surface temperature. Ideally you raise their surface temperature to the same temperature as the steam inside in the pipe. The better this Reflextic works, the more you are raising the application temperature above the product rating. Don't be surprised if the Reflextic needs to be replaced (resulting in increased costs) due to significant degradation over a much shorter time than a standard application.