Abstract: A method of applying a thermally insulating coating to a pipe (10) or the like, comprises the steps of applying a thermally insulating foam material (14) to the pipe in a plurality of discrete segments over the surface area of the pipe, and applying an outer protective coating of water-proof elastomeric material (18) which bonds to the pipe between said segments, fills the gaps therebetween and forms an outer layer encapsulating the thermally insulating foam. The foam may be applied as annular bands extending around the circumference of the pipe, applied by ribbon pouring. The encapsulation of the foam (14) by the elastomer (18) allows the use of foams such as polyurethane foam having poor resistance to water ingress under hydrostatic pressure, since any ingress will be limited to individual encapsulated foam segments. Additional coating layers may include an anti-corrosion coat (12), a high temperature barrier layer, an impact shock absorbing coat or intermediate elastomer layers.