Insulating a Building

Does Every Steel Building Need Additional Insulation?

One of the best things about steel structures is the fact that they are naturally insulated just by virtue of how steel is as a material. It does a great job on its own of keeping the temperature inside regulated to an extent, keeping warm air at bay in the summer and the same for colder air in the winter months. Adding some “extra padding” can be confusing for some who might not know if it’s 100% required or not. It can end up being an unnecessary cost for some, depending on what you’re using the structure for; but vital to other projects. So the question is, does every steel building require additional insulation?

Types of Uses

When making this type of decision, you have to think about what you’ll be using your building for in order to determine if adding insulation is entirely necessary. While most items that are housed inside will benefit even a little from insulation, there are some uses that truly don’t need it. Obviously for any type of main or additional residential use, you will need extra insulation to make it comfortable for anyone inside. The same goes for commercial, retail or recreational spaces – really any area where people will be inside for long periods of time. In agriculture, buildings where livestock will be kept should be outfitted with extra insulation, and the same for structures that will be holding food or plant products that are perishable. Steel structures used for storage are tricky, since the need for additional insulation will depend entirely on what it is that you’re storing. Consider if the items stored inside would ever be affected by heat or cold in any considerable way and go from there. This will always help you figure out what type of insulation is best

Types of Insulation

It’s also important to remember that there are a few different types of insulation that you could use to get the job done, and that may have a profound effect on whether or not you decide to add it to your structure – and how. From loose-fill, to blanket to spray-foam, the type you ultimately choose will depend both on your structure and your budget, as no two insulation types are created equal.

Benefits of Insulation

This is the most persuasive part of deciding whether or not you’ll need extra insulation for your steel structure. There are a whole host of benefits that you’ll have to decide are useful to you or not – as some may not be. The most obvious of the benefits is that extra insulation amplifies steel’s ability to keep the indoor temperature stabilized. In warmer months, it will assist in keeping the temperature from getting too humid, and it will do wonders in keeping out cold air in the winter. If you have some type of heating device or furnace in your steel building, having extra insulation will play an important role in keeping it energy efficient and splitting the “share” of the temperature regulation work.  Your appliances won’t have to work overtime in order to keep the temperature where you need it to be. In the long run, a well-insulated steel building will save you money on utility bills that use a furnace. Another benefit of extra insulation is the noise control that it provides. Having this often softer material actually absorbs sounds and dampen its effects on the inside as well as how far it travels on the outside as to not disturb any adjacent buildings. The same is also true of noise coming from other locations, as the insulation acts as a block to prevent noise from bleeding in too much. Good insulation also provides protection moisture, condensation and mold; something that can wreak havoc on your stored items no matter what they are.