Should I Insulate My Steel Building?

Unless you are lucky enough to live in a locale where the temperatures are consistent and pleasant year-round, chances are, you’ll need to consider adding insulation when designing your pre-engineered steel building. Insulating your metal building can accomplish two important goals – first, it allows your building to stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter, enhancing year-round functionality, energy efficiency and comfort, and second, it can help prevent the formation of condensation, keeping potentially damaging moisture away from your building.

Not all metal building insulation is created equal, however, but you can get an idea of just how much thermal resistance insulation offers by examining its R-value, which is essentially a measurement used to determine insulation effectiveness. The higher the insulation’s R-value, the better its overall performance, so if you plan to erect your building in an area where extreme temperatures are the norm, you will probably want to opt for an insulation package with a high R-value. You may, too, want to consider designing a building with a double-layer insulation system, depending on the climate considerations you’re facing at your build site.

The Role of the Vapor Barrier  

While high R-value insulation will substantially reduce energy costs and improve interior comfort for anyone who uses your pre-engineered steel building, installing a vapor barrier can help you combat moisture and associated damage even further. Vapor barriers, which are essentially thin layers of a certain kind of film, help prevent moisture from making its way into your building, which can compromise structural integrity and cause additional problems with mold and energy efficiency.

Benefits of Insulating Your Prefabricated Steel Building

Adding roof or wall insulation, or both, to your pre-engineered steel building offers a notable return on investment, both by lowering energy bills associated with the property or business and by increasing the overall functionality of the space. In addition to a substantial reduction in your building’s energy costs, adding insulation offers the following benefits:

• Noise control. Insulation makes a great sound barrier, and it can help muffle outside noises, such as traffic or industrial operations.
• Year-round usability. Unless you insulate your steel building, odds are, you will not be able to use it during certain times throughout the year.
• Condensation reduction. Moisture and condensation are arguably your steel building’s biggest enemies, but a quality insulation system will keep them at bay.
• Pest protection. Birds, squirrels and other critters can often make their way into un-insulated buildings and cause damage, but insulation covers these exposed areas, keeping critters out and preventing nesting.

In summary, adding insulation to your pre-engineered metal building is an essential step for most buyers and is necessary for just about anyone looking to use their buildings year-round. Ultimately, your exact insulation needs will vary alongside your geographic location and the nature of your building or business. However, adding an insulation package can you save you substantial money over time while giving you a comfortable, noise-and-temperature-controlled environment in which to work, store goods, house animals, meet with clients or what have you.