CREATING CLIMATE CONTROLLED STEEL BUILDINGS

Aside from structures meant for human habitation, such as office buildings roll forming machine suppliers and homes, there are other reasons to create climate controlled steel buildings although with less stringent temperature requirements. For example, you may wish to offer climate controlled units at your self-storage facility where a temperature range from 50 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit is acceptable.
Controlling the internal climate of a steel structure is a function of an array of design elements that work together to moderate the temperature, and often the humidity, of the interior space of the building to protect the contents.

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BENEFITS OF CLIMATE CONTROLLED METAL STORAGE BUILDINGS
Climate control provides several benefits beyond human comfort or survival.

Climate controlled self-storage spaces bring in more revenue than non-climate controlled units due to ability to charge higher rent.
Certain climate control methods can help save on energy costs by passively reducing heat from entering the facility or keeping it from leaving.
Products such as electronic equipment, art work, wine, and paper can be maintained longer in a climate controlled environment.
Placing certain types of equipment, such as motors, compressors, and computer servers in a climate controlled environment improves their efficiency and lengthens their productive life cycle.
By spending more up front on design, material, and labor costs, your investment is returned over the decades a steel building can last by increasing revenue and decreasing energy costs while lengthening the working life of machinery and other products.

Let’s take a look at the different methods and components for creating climate controlled steel buildings.
The direction the structural walls and roofing face can have a significant impact on the interior temperature. Southern and western exposures receive much more heating from the sunlight that comes in through windows and doors than one that faces primarily north or east.

Morning sunlight may heat a building quicker in the morning but the southern face of a structure remains in the sunlight longer while the west sun adds heat to a building that is already warm from a daytime of sun. If you have a multiple story facility, the upper floor can buffer the lower one from the outside environment.

On the other hand, a roof with a southern or southwestern exposure is best for solar energy harvesting.


The interior layout of a building also impacts climate control. A large door purlin roll forming machine for sale or multiple openings in a structure full of climate controlled units can increase energy costs because the system must labor to return the temperature and humidity to the optimal setting. Every time the door is opened, cold air enters and heat escapes in the winter and vice versa in the summer.
Energy loss can be reduced by:

Decreasing the number of openings
Using a smaller door
Creating an entry way with two sets of doors
Creating short corridors running between enclosed spaces. (Shorter corridors also create more efficient zoning for heating and cooling.)
Short corridors also make moving property in and out of storage easier.

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INSULATION
Insulation is a crucial part of any climate control scheme. A mechanical engineer or architect can help you determine the requirements for your specific facility. Adding insulation to the walls, exterior doors, and roof will not only help moderate the indoor temperature but also ease the burden on the heating and air conditioning equipment.

In certain cases, you may also want insulation beneath the flooring.

Steel building frames easily accommodate batt and blanket insulation, which can be installed between the primary frame columns and rafters. Irregularly shaped spaces can be insulated with spray foam insulation that expands to fill all the empty space around protrusions and other irregularities.

The R value of insulation indicates its thermal performance. A higher R value equates to better thermal resistance. Also, the thicker the insulation, the better the thermal control. Some insulation comes with a vapor retarder to prevent or reduce the flow of moisture into the insulation.

Using fire-retardant insulation increases the fire protection of the structure. Steel buildings are highly fire-resistant but if the insulation is not also fire retardant, the flames will spread and damage the contents of the building. Keeping all your clients’ belongings safe from fire is one of the biggest reasons for building with steel. Using fire-retardant insulation increases the likelihood that everything will survive intact in case fire breaks out within the facility.