How To Insulate A Steel Frame Building

An insulated temporary or semi-permanent building is an ideal solution for any business that needs additional space for storing sensitive stock or to increase its workspace capacity. These structures offer durability, flexibility and a cost-effective alternative to a traditional brick-and-mortar building.

To ensure optimal protection of your assets and staff, insulation is essential. Insulation helpsregulate temperature, reduce energy consumption and create a comfortable working environment.

In this blog, we dive into the process behind the installation of an insulated steel frame building.

The insulation process

The insulation process begins once the steel frame has been built on the ground, lifted into position and bolted securely together. After the frame is fixed, the outer canvas cover can be lifted and pulled over the steel frame, to be tightened to fit against steel pipes

Choosing the right material

Choosing the right insulation material is crucial. While there are several insulation materials suitable for steel frame buildings, blown wool is a popular choice. It’s cost-effective, easy to install, and helps to control humidity levels. In comparison to other materials, blown wool is also fire and melt resistant.

Insulating the roof

When applying insulation, the main area to be considered is the roof as this is where most heat from the building is transferred. Once the outer canvas cover is fitted, the insulation can be installed on top of the inner liner.

Blown wool is installed using a blown-in or loose-fill technique which involves blowing the material in through a long, flexible hose. The advantage of using this method of insulation is that the fibres can be blown into spaces that would have otherwise been difficult to fill, such as tight corners and crevice

The inner liner of a steel frame features PVC stoppers, positioned in a vertical direction which secures the wool and stops it from sliding down.

Insulating the walls

Once the insulation of the roof is complete, it’s time to move on to the walls. Again, choosing the right material is imperative. Rock or mineral wool is a perfect material to use for the insulation inside the walls.

Rock wool is made from a selection of materials including stone and glass. It repels water and is naturally resistant to mould and mildew. Similar to blown wool, it’s an ideal solution for fire protection, as well as acoustic control to limit excess noise. Rock wool can be installed in blocks on wooden frames.