Proper ventilation is necessary in all buildings and especially important in metal buildings, which are extremely susceptible to condensation and heat transfer (also see the section on insulation). STEELBUILDING.COM offers the three most common accessories used to ventilate metal buildings without HVAC systems -- ridge vents, circular vents, and louvers. Each is described in more detail below.

The optimum amount of ventilation for a building depends on its size, shape, location, and purpose. A very general rule of thumb for a typical steel building is that one 10' ridge ventilator will serve 2400 square feet of space. However, large buildings that are occupied by lots of people, animals, or valuable materials demand more precise evaluation, and we have worksheets and formulas that will help you get accurate figures. Remember also that a good system requires cross ventilation. For example, a ridge vent on the roof needs a louver near the floor to become really effective.

STEELBUILDING.COM offers 10' ridge ventilators with 9" and 12" throats. Roll-formed from 26-gauge structural-quality GALVALUME®, the vents are available in mill finish or Polar White. Each comes complete with rain cap, bird screen, and continuously-adjustable damper as well as the connector bar and gutter splices needed for installing multiple units in a continuous run. The base is preformed to the proper roof pitch (1:12 up to 4:12), and we provide instructions for their simple installation.

STEELBUILDING.COM's 20"-diameter circular vents are also made from 26 gauge GALVALUME® and available in mill finish or Polar White. Each vent includes a bird screen and features a spring-loaded butterfly damper which locks securely open until released. Our flat-base vents can easily be field modified to fit the appropriate roof slope for a weather tight installation.

Although best used to generate cross flow for larger devices, louvers often provide the only ventilation in smaller buildings. STEELBUILDING.COM offers fixed 3'x3', 3'x4', and 4'x4' or adjustable 3'x5'and 4'x4' GALVALUME® louvers in Polar White or mill finish, each with bird screen, 18-gauge frame, and 20-gauge fins.

Note: Like windows and walk doors, louvers can be placed on any unobstructed section of a wall. However, because people often want to put them high on the wall, the number of potential obstructions is even greater. If the precise location of louvers is important, call and discuss it with one of our representatives before you buy a building or as soon as possible afterwards.