Yesterday’s post talked about retrofitting new or additional insulation as a viable option when the current insulation materials of steel buildings are already damaged or have paid for themselves through accumulated savings in energy costs.

Just like the initial installation, additional insulation on steel buildings will pay for itself in the long run. And, what’s worth mentioning about this endeavor is that it does not require technical or skilled labor for it to succeed. The only precaution that must be strictly observed is the use of proper equipment and safety gear, which is a strict requirement from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Wall Installation

When installing insulation on walls, take note that girt spacing is dependent on eave heights and wind loads of steel buildings. Girt is the horizontal structural member that supports vertical loads. The first girt from the floor is typically 7 feet 4 inches above it, while the next ones are spaced 6 feet or less. When girt spacing is less than 6 feet, the insulation material is factory pre-cut to the proper size then laminated to the fiberglass.

Fiberglass blankets are installed vertically on the walls of steel buildings. To provide an attachment point for the vinyl facing, a base angle must be installed at the floor within the perimeter of the area to be insulated. This will also help seal the bottom of the insulation as well as provide a moisture barrier.

Stick pins can be used to hang the fiberglass blankets. These are applied to a clean steel surface and a friction washer is placed over them once the insulation is installed to keep the insulation in place. For a finished look, the pointed pin tips are then cut off with a wire cutter. When done, this method of application gives a quilted look to the walls of steel buildings.

Roof Application

The standard size for fiberglass blankets is 5 feet, since that is the typical distance between purlins of steel buildings, Anything other than this width can be pre-cut at the factory prior to lamination. The spacing of the bays determines the pre-cut length.

The banding system of application is the most common method of adding insulation to roofs of steel buildings. The system makes use of steel bands, which are typically 1 inch wide. These steel bands are screwed 30 inches apart to the underside of the metal purlins then the fiberglass blankets are fed through and secured. This system creates a grid that acts as support to the fiberglass blankets.