Promoting Ventilation in Steel Buildings

According to the World Health Organization, more than 40 percent of the world’s buildings provide unhealthy air quality for occupants. A major part of the problem, especially in steel buildings, is poor ventilation. While ventilation is important in any kind of structure, it’s especially important for steel buildings.

Why Good Ventilation Is Essential in Steel Buildings

Pre-fabricated metal buildings are custom-engineered to fit very tightly together. The best steel buildings are weather-tight and practically airtight. That means that air transfer between the indoors and outdoors is nearly non-existent. Healthy air quality is dependent upon good ventilation to remove impurities and refresh the air inside the building. Since the buildings themselves allow so little air transfer, it’s essential to provide devices to promote good ventilation and air movement in steel buildings.

Air Circulation Systems for Metal Buildings

There are many ways to promote ventilation inside a steel building They include air conditioning, fans and other electrical ventilation systems that force air through a filter, remove moisture and re-introduce it into the building. Fans and air conditioners use a lot of energy, however, and can quickly become prohibitively expensive. In addition, unless they are properly maintained and the filters changed on a regular schedule, air conditioning units can become as much a problem as they are a solution.

There are, however, a number of ways to promote natural ventilation and air circulation inside steel buildings.

Design for Ventilation

High ceilings and open interior spaces allow for more air circulation than smaller, more enclosed spaces. Buildings can be designed specifically to promote air circulation, and including accessories whose primary purpose is ventilation.

Windows

Don’t overlook the obvious when considering ventilation for your metal building. Windows are the most common and simplest method to provide both natural light and air circulation, at least when the temperatures allow for them to be opened. Your metal building supplier will generally offer a wide range of window styles from which you can choose.

Louvers

Louvers and louver fans are designed to encourage and promote ventilation inside metal buildings. The louvers can be designed to operate automatically or via manual operation, or with a combination of the two. The engineers that design your building will ensure that the louvers are placed in the optimal positions for maximum air circulation and interior ventilation.

Ridge Vents

Vents placed in the roof of a steel building will allow hot air and moisture to escape. When combined with louvers and vents placed lower in the building walls, ridge vents provide an excellent means of ventilating steel buildings.

By using a combination of vents, fans and other devices, you can promote ventilation and good air circulation in steel buildings, ensuring that the air quality remains healthy and breathable.