Heat Transfer

Effectively controlling temperature in a steel building requires insulation to be present along exterior walls and roof. When a temperature differential is present in an enclosed steel building, heat will work from warmer areas to colder areas until the temperature in the building has stabilized. At the point of thermal stabilization, the cooler (and heavier) air will be present at lower elevations and warmer air will be present at the roofline. The function of insulation is to help stabilize air temperature at more desirable levels. When it is hot outside, preventing heat from transferring into the building is the goal, and of course in the winter we want heat to remain inside.

Heat transfer occurs in three ways:

Conduction : Occurs in a solid or liquid when heat from one object is transferred by touch to another object. An example of this occurs when a pot on a stove will heat up by conductive heat transfer from an electric coil.

Convection : Occurs with the physical movement of air. There are two types of convectional heat movement. The first is natural, where hot air rises displacing the cold air and moving it down. The second type is forced or mechanical convection. This occurs when an object, like a fan, physically moves or "forces" the air to move.

Radiation : Occurs when an object is warmer or hotter than the air around it. For example, the sun, which is hotter than everything around it, radiates heat waves that travel through the air and is either absorbed by or reflected by the surface it comes in contact with.

Steel Buildings Are Economical

A steel building is an economical choice and will save you money in construction costs. We make it easy for you to design the building that's just right for you. We have implemented years of steel building design and engineering experience into our system, and you can be confident in your design requirements without worries. The "design it yourself" concept was designed to reduce costs. When you design your own steel building, we use the information you submit online to detail your steel building, just as you designed it. You can design endless steel building combinations without anyone trying to sell you a thing or make a commission. Take all the time you need, making changes to your building configurations are a snap. And of course, we are here to help you, when and if you need it. You can speak to a customer service representative, designer, engineer or project administrator at your convenience. We have no commissioned sales personnel, just experienced steel building professionals waiting to serve you.

Surface Air Film Coefficient (F)

The amount of heat flow in BTU's per square foot per hour between an exposed surface of a material and the adjacent air. It is the measure of the conductance of heat through the air film that clings to all surfaces.

RESIDENTIAL

Your decision to build is an important one. You have pictured yourself owning your own building, built just the way you want. You have imagined every detail, inside and out. It is a treasured vision, a promise you have made to yourself. And because your business operation is different from any other, your ideas about what you and your company want in a facility are unique. Your dealer, who is backed by a team of professional engineers, can help you turn your dream into a reality. Dealers have worked with a multitude of owners and developers to design efficient, economical structures that reflect the appropriate image for their operations. Architects and engineers will work with your dealer to design a building to meet your individual requirements. We can also work personally with you, your architect's plans, through your dealer to engineer a building system which uses practical, sensible, quality materials to achieve and complete your objective.

Using only the highest quality materials available, factory trained craftsmen use sophisticated Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) equipment to fabricate your building materials. Our commitment to excellence, attention to detail, and high quality workmanship assures you ease of construction, saving you money in time and labor. You have worked and planned to build a building that you can be proud of, and will serve your needs through the years to come; a place which is uniquely yours, a facility that is just as you imagined it. An establishment that brings your special ideas to life. It is an approach that lets you save money, yet build exactly the type of establishment you have always dreamed would be yours someday. This type of approach has pleased thousands of owners just like you. It is a concept that lets you use the pioneer spirit of people working together - you, your dealer, and Metal Building Depot, Inc. - to fulfill your own special vision of the American Dream . . . to build the building of your dreams today. Our steel frame load bearing wall systems with steel partitions provide attractive secure units. The use of fluted block, brick, wood, stucco, or steel can enhance the overall appearance to help attract even more customers.

Recommended Installation Methods of Insulation

Roof insulation rolls are cut to lengths that will cover the distance from eave to eave, leaving a one-foot overhang on each side of the building.

1) Start at the end of the building and temporarily secure one end of the roll by attaching the insulation to the eave strut with double-faced tape.

2) Pull the insulation across the purlins with the vapor barrier toward the building interior. Double-faced tape attached to the opposite end of the insulation will keep tension on the roof roll while the metal panels are being attached over the insulation.

3) Install the next roll in the same manner, making sure the rolls are stretched tight, aligned properly and closely butted.

4) Fasten tabs using one of the methods described on the following page. Any rips or tears must be covered with matching facing tape to ensure a tight vapor seal.

5) Trim excess insulation flush to prevent it from acting as a wick and moving water into the building.