A thermal insulation system is analysed that consists of a cold tube insulated with a porous material faced with a vapour retarding foil. Water vapour will diffuse through the vapour retarding foil and condense on the cold tube. To avoid build-up of water in the insulation a hydrophilic wicking cloth is wrapped around the cold tube and extended through a slit in the tubular insulation and a slot in the facing to the ambient so that condensed water can evaporate into the air. Some of the moisture in that part of the wicking cloth situated in the slit in the tubular insulation will diffuse backwards to the cold pipe and contribute to the heat uptake of the cold tube. This part is calculated for the stationary case and compared with the sensible heat transfer through the tubular shaped insulation material, using measured dry lambda values and measured fictitious moist lambda values. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.