Insulation

There are a number of important roles that insulation plays in metal buildings. In addition to offering resistance to pesky heat transfer, insulation works to reduce condensation buildup in the building and minimizes the amount of external noise audible from within. Spending a little more money on good insulation will save you lots of money in the long run if you plan on keeping the structure climate controlled.

Before explaining the various kinds of insulation and the advantages of proper insulation, it’s critical to know what the R-Value stands for. In simple terms, R-Value is the measurement used to determine to what extent insulation prevents the transfer of heat. The lower R-Value rating, the less effective insulation is at reducing heat transfer.

Bear in mind that fiberglass blanket insulation isn’t the best choice for steel buildings. In reality, the best choice is going to be a combination of reflective and fiberglass insulation. For example, Solar Guard and eFoil is a good combination.
There’s no shortage of options when it comes to insulation material. Furthermore, new forms are being produced every year as energy savings and thermal resistance become hot topics in the green building community. The graph below shows the R-Values for some of the most popular forms of insulation for metal buildings.

Fiberglass Blanket

Fiberglass blanket insulation is the most popular form of insulation to be used in PEBs due to the material’s quick installation process and cheap price tag. There’s the added advantage of fire retardation and sound resistance. This type of insulation is usually provided with a vapor retarder and receives tests for fire safety, mold, moisture, and odor resistance.

Rigid

Rigid or foam board insulation works by keeping air trapped in single cells of specifically designed foam. This type of insulation costs more to install and manufacture when compared with fiberglass blanket options. Furthermore, rigid insulation loses the ability to insulate over time. The sound resistance offered by fiberglass blanket insulation is also nowhere to be found in the rigid insulation. However, this form of insulation is very thermally efficient and vapor retardant. It also offers a lot of versatility when it comes to changing the appearance to match your overall aesthetic preference of the structure.

Spray-On Cellulose

Spray-on cellulose insulation is perhaps the form with the least number of advantages. It’s essentially a paper product that has a few fire retardant capabilities. This product should always be applied by an experienced and skilled laborer. Although it can successfully absorb noise and comes at an affordable price, there are many reasons not to go with spray-on cellulose. It absorbs oils and moisture quite easily which can lead to the corrosion of various metals. It also develops a rough look due to its collection of dust.

Loose-Fill

Loose-fill insulation is a combination of fiber pellets and loose fibers. Cavities are filled with this insulation through the use of specialized equipment. You’ll have to pay a little extra for loose-fill insulation, but you gain the advantage of having your structure prevent air leakage a bit better. It also works as an improved barrier to sound. This type of insulation is typically used in floors, attics, and walls through an application process that uses a dry-pack or moist-spray process.

Minimizing Condensation

Steel and metal buildings are quite susceptible to damage through too much condensation. Rusting and other common issues are a normal occurrence. With proper insulation, the negative side effects of too much condensation can be greatly reduced. Insulation acts as a barrier to the vapor that keeps the condensation from taking place right on the structure’s panels. Furthermore, concrete foundations that aren’t cured properly can exacerbate the problem of humidity. In reality, the proper installation of insulation is typically more important than the type being used.

Controlling Temperature

Selecting the proper type of insulation for your PEB can work to reduce the amount of energy consumed through the climate control systems. Furthermore, some states make it possible for owners to reduce the amount of taxes owed by being eligible for “green” tax incentives. Alone, a steel panel doesn’t offer any protection from external temperatures. This means that the internal temperature will always be subject to the outside weather unless the right insulation is chosen and installed properly. When chosen properly, you’ll have a structure that is comfortable throughout the year without spending too much money on climate control.

Additional Advantages of Proper Insulation

• Prevents bugs, birds, and rodents from building nests
• Very easy to install
• Provides a barrier to vapor
• Has a high R-Value
• Helps to prevent the growth of mold

Facing

Facing is a term used to describe the side of the insulation that is facing the interior of the structure. It’s important to choose the right facing material if you’ve decided to leave it exposed. When this is the case, facing insulation isn’t just insulation. It’s also the inner wall and should be reinforced through the use of scrim layers. Nylon mesh or fiberglass added to the facing insulation helps to increase the inner wall’s durability and protects against scratches, dents, and, punctures. Roof facing insulation doesn’t experience the same vulnerability due to its location. However, there are also some “bird proof” additions that can be added to the facing insulation.

Keep in mind that the lighting within your structure will be greatly dependent upon the color of the facing insulation. Reflective or white facing, you’ll need fewer sources of light. However, darker atmospheres can also be achieved.

Linear Panels

Full-height and partial linear panels are options from most manufacturers. These work to boost the aesthetic appearance of the interior of the structure while also protecting the insulation. A general contractor could be hired for the purpose of adding walls as well. The facing’s durability is drastically increased when protected and covered.

Permeability

In order to reduce condensation transfer, it’s important to use insulation facing that has a low permeation rating. Plain vinyl isn’t considered robust enough to protect against harmful condensation with a rating of only 1.0. However, anything with a rating that’s less than 0.1 is going to be sufficient for protecting against condensation transfer.

Workability

There are certain kinds of insulation that can’t be installed or shipped during the colder parts of the year. It’s important to speak with your manufacturer to determine if the chosen materials are workable given your location and the time of year.