Avoid Condensation Problems in Steel Frame Building Design

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Avoid Condensation Problems in Steel Frame Building Design By: Nikunj Patel - Hi-Tech Engineering Services

Condensation is a stubborn and often misunderstood problem. Homeowners at times think that their windows are defective, when they discover condensation on them, but it’s actually the high humidity in their homes which plays a major role in condensation issue. It has been observed that there are two forms of leaks in steel frame building design: weather-related leaks infiltrating from the external source and condensation leaks forming on the inside. Water leaks and condensation that are not properly defined can have a tremendous effect on the steel frame building foundation which could lead to: 

Nasty aromas

Increase in evolution of mold and allergens in some building environments

Shrinkage in the overall interior air quality for people or animals in the structure

Reinforces insect infiltrations

Destruction of the building with the aid of rust, corrosion and pre-mature aging, plummeting the value or re-sale vale of the asset

Experts claim that waterproofing and condensation are mostly ignored during the construction procedure while developing steel frame buildings foundations. Note, it is very important to deal with the waterproofing and condensation problems upfront to ensure that you eradicate the likelihood of leaks and condensation in the course of construction. In this write-up; we have discussed about different ways you can dodge condensation glitches in steel frame building design. Various Statistics Showcasing the Importance of Steel Frame Building Design: 

Unswerving quality connotes the fact that scrap is radically abridged i.e.; 2% for steel versus 20% for weed. These savings can be utilized in other things that can be used in steel frame building design.

Steel is considered to be green as it consists of a small portion of recycled steel i.e.; 25% and it is 100% biodegradable.


Steel frame building foundations are easier to manage as the steel consists of weight that is one-third less than wood studs and can be installed anytime at the center.

Steel frame building foundations can prove to be cost-effective in terms of construction. Furthermore, assured call-backs are curtailed due to the fact that steel does not shrink, fragment, or distort.

Solutions to Dodge Condensation Glitches in Steel Frame Building Design: Construct the steel frame building foundations correctly at the outset: Approximately 25% of architects perceive that constructing the steel frame building foundations correctly at the outset can help in dodging condensation glitches in steel frame building design. A perfect technique to avert leakages and condensation in pre-engineered steel buildings is to attain eminent metal building system in the first place. If you can utilize water-tight building system you will face fewer problems. These water-tight building systems are intended to avert moisture glitches. There are two techniques to curb the probabilities of leakage. Eradicate the archetypal trails of leaks and condensation, and retain the humidity quotient to as low as possible in the building. Condensation snags in the course of cold weather construction: About 20% of architects are of the belief that condensation snags happen due to cold weather construction, figures also support that most of condensation problems happen on the onset of winter season. An apt example for this is when creating farm buildings, from time to time building is erected initially and then the concrete floor is pushed in the integral structure. There are times when constructors use propane heaters to warm the building and swiftly complete the process of hardening of concrete during winter construction. This is not a great idea, as the fact still remains that roughly 24 gallons of water vaporize for 100 square feet every time with an overall thickness of 4” concrete. Now one can imagine of a scenario of a 50,000 square foot area with 4” thickness will vaporize 12,000 gallons of water inside the building. If the humidity crosses 35% then the uninsulated buildings snares moisture inside. This moisture upsurges in the heated air, condensing on the colder ceiling. Hence, it is also better to have pre-engineering steel building instituted on an already completed concrete foundation. Eradicating condensation in steel buildings housing livestock: It has been observed that 65% of ranch or farm buildings occupied by livestock are much more humid than an ordinary structure. These livestock buildings are jam-packed with filled water, ejected moisture from breathing, urine defecation, and indoor humidity as a result of animal’s sweat. It is observed that on an average one horse sweats approximately two gallons of moisture daily. Due to ailing ventilated buildings there is poor indoor quality which leads to fungal and respiratory impediments for workers or livestock. Hence; it is necessary to have the agricultural buildings for livestock meticulously aerated. Ventilation the answer to condensation: Round about 15% of architects perceive that ventilation can resolve the concerns of condensation in steel frame building design. Ventilation is a sure-shot lucrative way of eradicating condensation glitches in all structures. In order to avert moisture from entering the structure it is very important to maintain the air to circulate in the building structure. An alternative is to utilize fans to enhance the air flow. To take this a step further you can even set up vents when the building is constructed. Note that vents are most operative ways to get ventilation flowing in the entire metal building.


Insulating a climate-controlled steel building: Nearly 30% of architects are under the impression that insulating a climate-controlled steel building will dodge condensation glitches in steel frame building design. While you are still in the planning stage of a pre-engineered steel building it is very important to integrate tolerable insulation along with heating and air conditioning. Remember that an out-of-sort insulated and ventilated metal buildings may experience momentous sweating snags in some locations – specifically if they are climate controlled. Good quality insulation will prove to be costeffective throughout the building span and curbing the utility bills by 50%. It also decreases outside noise and assists in shielding against condensation. American Institute of Steel Construction provided a list of constructions that were in 2013 IDEAS2 winners list for steel frame building design. These buildings earned huge reputation for implementing steel frame building foundation projects successfully. In order to start off with the steel frame building design for these buildings the project’s design team tried to find out that expert technology and understand its architectural form. Aforesaid recommendations may help construction companies dodge condensation glitches in steel frame building foundation. Hi-Tech Engineering Services is a complete engineering design, drafting and rendering services provider in India. The overall experience of the company with outsourcing has enabled them to understand the requirements of international customers and constantly provide reliable engineering services for a wide spectrum of industries. Company Address: Hi-Tech House, Near Gurukul Tower, Gurukul, Ahmedabad-380 052 Voice (India): +91-794-000-3252 Fax

(India): +91-794-000-3202

Website: http://www.hitechengineeringservices.com Email: info@hitechengineeringservices.com The Original Article Posted on: http://www.hitechengineeringservices.com/news/avoid-condensation-problems-in-steel-frame-building-design/ Copyright @ 2014 Hi-Tech Engineering Services. All Rights Reserved.


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