Metal building — office insulation
Architectural details indicate insulation at 16-18′ ceiling heights and vertical walls with methods typical of metal buildings. Offices being built inside much like a story and a half home due to headroom at eaves verses the center of the building. Heating units and distribution is hung from roof structure above 8′ suspended ceiling.
I’m of the opinion that a raftered ceiling at 10′ or so with drywall and blown cellulose insulation will: -Provide a tighter envelope.
-Reduce the amount of conditioned space.
-Provide more convenience of service with access from second floor rather than through ceiling grids.
Architect states that the steel frame above will likely have condensation issues if entire space is not conditioned as proposed.
Arguments please.
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Replies
Sauder,
Your explanation is sketchy, but I understand what you are driving at.
The problem with insulated rooms built inside steel warehouses is that steel buildings often lack a good air barrier.
If you want to insulate the interior of a steel building, you have to consider all of the usual issues. You need a continuous air barrier, of course. That might be spray foam insulation, or drywall, or taped plywood -- but it has to be continuous.
If you are using fluffy insulation like fiberglass or cellulose, it's best to have an air barrier on both sides of your wall, not just one side.
Assuming that your room or rooms are built with attention to airtightness, there shouldn't be much warm, humid air escaping from the room to contribute to condensation problems on cold steel components. But weather conditions vary from day to day, and it's always possible to get condensation on the interior of steel panels when the panels are cold. That condensation has to be dealt with (or anticipated), whether or not you have an insulated room inside the steel building.