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Insulation Challenges in Metal Buildings
Metal buildings have unique challenges that properly installed building insulation can address. The benefits of metal building insulation include:
Heat flow control
Unfortunately, like most metals, steel is a very good conductor of heat. In hot weather, steel framing and sheeting rapidly transfer the sun's heat into a building, and in cold weather they rapidly transfer heat out. Building insulation acts as a barrier to slow down the movement of heat, keeping it inside the building in winter and outside the building in summer. By controlling the rate of heat transfer through the building, insulation reduces energy consumption, resulting in lower fuel bills and a cleaner environment.
Noise control
Metal insulation greatly reduces the level of both exterior and interior noise. Use a fiberglass or rigid foam insulation in conjunction with reflective insulation for greater noise control.
Increased lighting efficiency
Metal building insulation is frequently installed with surfaces that are visible from the inside. Reflective building insulation provides a bright, attractive wall and ceiling treatment that acts as a reflector to increase lighting efficiency. Aluminum foil reflects light, making it easier to illuminate the building interior. Installing insulation with a white facing makes it even easier to illuminate the building interior as white reflects light very efficiently. In addition to light reflectivity, a white facing can provide an aesthetic appearance. A nice example of a white faced reflective insulation is Foil-Fiberglass-Vinyl. Using a multipurpose product like this combines insulation, radiant barrier, and vapor barrier in one making it ideal for either commercial or residential applications alone or in conjunction with fiberglass.
Condensation prevention
Condensation can be a more significant problem in a metal building than temperature control. Moisture from rain, groundwater, humidity and human activity like washing, cooking and breathing creates the potential for several problems in metal buildings. First, the presence of water or ice in the insulation seriously degrades both the thermal performance and service life of fiberglass, paper, wool and other traditional insulation materials. Second, water in contact with metals contributes to corrosion and lowers the service life of the building. Third, collection of water can lead to dripping, staining, mold, mildew and odors.
All of these problems can be solved with a properly installed insulation/vapor barrier system. Even in only moderately humid climates, condensation can cause serious problems in an unprotected metal building. To avoid this problem, adequately ventilate the building and install a vapor barrier even if you do not plan to insulate.
Use reflective foil insulation - it will never get wet and have to be replaced like fiberglass batts. Reflective insulation acts as a vapor barrier or vapor retarder by limiting the passage of water vapor thereby preventing condensation within the insulation or on the interior surfaces of the building.
Follow this link to a comprehensive article on the problems and solutions to condensation in wood frame homes.
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