HOW TO INSULATE A METAL BUILDING ?
In most applications, the primary feature of thermal insulation material is its ability to reduce heat exchange between a surface and the environment; or between one surface and another surface. The general rule is the lower a material’s thermal conductivity, the greater its ability to insulate for given material thickness and set of conditions.
Before buying an insulation system for your metal building, you need to understand insulation R-value.
At its simplest, insulation R-value indicates the amount of heat flow through an insulation product.
The higher the R-value number, the greater the product’s resistance to heat transference.
The more effectively the insulation works, the greater your energy savings.
However, just buying thicker insulation and stuffing it into a wall does not increase energy efficiency. The more air pockets in insulation, the better the insulation works.
Why Insulation R-Value is so important
Steel buildings have many benefits over other framing materials. However, steel has one weakness: thermal transference. In an uninsulated metal building, summer heat and winter cold can follow through the framing, affecting interior comfort.
Nevertheless, insulating metal buildings with a first-class insulation system renders steel’s thermal transference moot.
For example, Tekmetsan’s insulation panels breaks heat and cold transfer through the steel, creating a comfortable, cosy inside interior.
Starting with a Tightly Sealed Structure
Even the best metal building insulation is only part of the energy efficiency equation.
If the structure leaks air, it consumes too much energy in spite of a high insulation R-value.
As an organic material, wood framing twists, warps, creeps, and sags with changing humidity. As lumber-framed buildings age, nails start to pull out and loosen, creating air leaks and drafts.
On the other hand, a pre-engineered steel building creates a very tight building envelope.
The steel framing will never move or change in shape. The high-strength bolts and screws used in a TEKMETSAN metal building hold tightly. Consequently, our metal buildings stay tight and draft-free for the lifetime of the structure.
Insulating Metal Buildings during Construction is the Smart Move
Customers sometimes consider cutting corners by eliminating steel building insulation from their order. They think they can add insulation to the building later.
Insulating metal buildings at a later date is possible. However, it is much more labour-intensive to add steel building insulation to an existing structure than to install insulation during construction.
In delayed insulation installation, some of the structure will require disassembly.
In addition, removing and replacing steel panels could cause leaks, if screws are not placed in exactly the same locations.
Conclusion
You need to consider how to insulate a metal building for maximum efficiency right in the early phase of the project design. Tekmetsan steel buildings come with great options of medium and high R values to provide an energy efficient insulated environment for your building.