I have a 32' x 85' x 17'(h) metal building in southern AZ. It has insulation that's between the panels and girts/purlins. 2 14' doors. In the summer, it gets really hot with our AZ temps of 110, and takes a long time to cool down. I neglected to install any type of roof venting and wonder if it would help to cool it off quicker? I've seen vents that are 10' in length that can be opened/closed for natural convection. Or would exhaust fans be better? I've also had the thought of installing heavy duty plastic vertical curtains and HVACing a bay, but that's a totally different conversation.
Metal Building Venting
- Thread starter bfr57
- Start date
billconner
Well-known member
What is the "insulation that's between the panels and girts"?
Besides adding venting and trying to let some of the Hotter trapped air at the ceiling out, I think I would look into possibly adding some Solar powered Ceiling fans to keep the air moving inside of the Building! With all that Sunshine at your disposal it's kind of a no brainier to me. In my Attached Garage home, 50' x 36', in Ohio, as it heats up in the summer I have a wall mounted exhaust fan on the last high bay nearer the ceiling to remove stagnant hot air, fumes, weld smoke, etc..............It works well and with the summer warmth at times I'll kick on the two high mounted fans just to create a cross breeze. I do have A/C in the Garage as needed, I just don't like elevating the Electric Bill!
IMHO.
LtF
IMHO.
LtF
jack stand
Well-known member
Conventional roof ventilation depends on 2 things, intake venting (low) normally at the soffits, and exhaust (high) at the ridge or very close to it.
This is usually full time natural convection with no user input.
A good alternative is big louvers high in each gable end.
This is usually full time natural convection with no user input.
A good alternative is big louvers high in each gable end.
billconner
Well-known member
I like this approach but it's only going to be as cool as the outside, which ar 104 isn't too cool IMHO. But hey, I lived living in artic circle and -40 for all of January.
billconner: See my pic. The insulation is rolled on before the sheeting is installed.
bb29510: I've thought of exhaust fans at each end. I have enough space between the 2 upper girts (right above the Texaco sign). How big is your building? That might be the way to go as I also do welding, painting, exhaust fumes, and do powder coating that sometimes creates smoke when I pre-bake parts; fans would help get that stuff out quickly. I have 2 14' rollup doors that would give plenty of intake air. If fans cool things down quickly, that's also a plus when the sun goes down and cools off; my garage will still be 110 inside and 90 outside!
bb29510: I've thought of exhaust fans at each end. I have enough space between the 2 upper girts (right above the Texaco sign). How big is your building? That might be the way to go as I also do welding, painting, exhaust fumes, and do powder coating that sometimes creates smoke when I pre-bake parts; fans would help get that stuff out quickly. I have 2 14' rollup doors that would give plenty of intake air. If fans cool things down quickly, that's also a plus when the sun goes down and cools off; my garage will still be 110 inside and 90 outside!
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billconner
Well-known member
Struggling to see how ventilation will cool it below exterior temp, but no doubt it gets hotter in loft area than exterior, so maybe that's good enough?
dcg9381
Well-known member
Push/pull fans with louvers as high up on the building ends as you can get them. Neighbor has a 4k shop, no AC, this is how he does it.
I have an "attic fan" in our 3-car garage. There is an apartment over the garage. I have the fan setup on a thermostat, so if I park cars in there (heat soak), the fan comes on and vents the garage to the outside.
I have an "attic fan" in our 3-car garage. There is an apartment over the garage. I have the fan setup on a thermostat, so if I park cars in there (heat soak), the fan comes on and vents the garage to the outside.
billconner
Well-known member
Exhaust fan high and open a boot or window? Neat if there was a thermostat control that turned it on when loft was hotter than outside.
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