Metal Garage Ventilation: 6 Ways to Promote Better Airflow

Airflow and You

If you're purchasing a metal building to use it as a workshop, metal garage, or living space, one of the most important aspects will be your indoor air quality. Maintaining vehicles or working with specific tools and equipment can release many harmful chemicals and particles into the air. Additionally, closed spaces can have extremely high temperatures in the summer months.

To solve this problem, many metal building owners will design their structures to include several different forms of ventilation. After all, proper ventilation can do wonders for making your workshop safe and comfortable to inhabit year-round.

So, if you’re interested in learning more about how to provide even airflow for your new steel structure, stick with us! We’ll dive deeper into these structures and cover several methods for ensuring better airflow.

The Importance of Quality Airflow

When it comes to any workshop or production space, maintaining proper airflow is paramount. Many activities, such as woodworking or crafting, will expel harmful fumes into the air. These fumes will undoubtedly enter your lungs, where they can cause a litany of breathing issues and complications down the line. And if your workshop is attached to your home, these same fumes can enter your living area.

Another common issue with the lack of airflow is the generation of mold and mildew. And though metal structures are naturally resistant to these problems, they can still occur. Mold spores can be incredibly troublesome if inhaled, leading to respiratory issues and severe illnesses.

This is why ensuring that your building has adequate ventilation and airflow is especially important. By keeping a current of air moving through the structure, you'll greatly eliminate the presence of aerosolized chemicals or mold.

Additional Reasons for Ventilation

Staying safe and healthy is just a portion of the reasons you’ll want a suitable level of airflow in your garage or metal building. Let’s take a look at just a few:

1. Ambient Temperatures

Closed-off spaces are notorious for significant temperature fluctuations. By creating the right level of ventilation, you can encourage a more even ambient temperature- without having to resort to AC or HVAC equipment.

2. Reduces Air Pollutants

Chemicals and pollution in the air will typically travel along with the flowing air. And if your building is closed up, that air has nowhere to go. But by ventilating your workspace, you'll significantly reduce the total amounts of pollutants in the air.

3. Reduces Fire Risk

Loose rags and chemicals in some workshops can ignite if not exposed to sufficient airflow. But with the correct ventilation system, you can reduce the chances of this happening.

4. Prevent Mold Growth

Mold thrives on still, stagnant air, and warm temperatures. Add in moisture, and you have the perfect recipe for developing mold issues. And while metal buildings are designed to minimize this, you'll still want to reduce the chances of mold development by promoting internal airflow to your structure.

5. Promotes Fresh Air

Everyone could use a nice breath of fresh air. And if you have the proper ventilation, you won't have to run outside to get it! Appropriate ventilation methods will reduce contaminants in the air, eliminating many chemicals that cause headaches, respiratory issues, and disease.

Read More: The Importance of Ventilation in Metal Building Construction

Garage Ventilation Options

There are several options available when it comes to seeking out suitable ventilation for your structure. Usually, these choices are separated into passive and active ventilation measures.

1. Windows

Tried and true, windows are an excellent passive means of promoting internal airflow. Luckily, many steel structures and metal garage kits are highly customizable, allowing you to add as many windows as you need.

2. Doors

Like windows, doors are an incredibly effective way to increase airflow into and out of your structure. The more open doors you add to your structure, the better the airflow will be.

3. Floor Fans

Floor fans are an active means to introduce air into your workshop. They're relatively cost-effective and are the go-to solution for many folks that work with hazardous fumes or contaminants. However, when it comes to maintaining interior temperatures, floor fans can only do so much.

4. Exhaust Vents

Another active method, exhaust vents, are typically added to your structure during the design process. They're a great way to increase the quality of the air you breathe.

5. HVAC

Air conditioning and heat pumps are a great way to promote airflow and reduce your structure's ambient temperature. And while more expensive than passive ventilation methods, metal buildings are still some of the most energy-efficient designs around.

6. Garage Door Vents

Choosing a garage door with small vents is a great option to improve your building's air quality without breaking the bank.

Factors to Consider When Designing Metal Garages

When choosing the right ventilation system for your building, several factors will come into play, including:

1. The Size of Your Garage

As one can imagine, promoting airflow in a smaller structure is a lot easier than in a larger industrial-sized building. So, you'll want to consider your building's size when choosing your ventilation method.

2. Climate Control

If you're going through an effort to improve your airflow, it might be more cost-effective to handle your building's climate simultaneously. By using air conditioning or HVAC systems, you'll improve overall air quality and ensure that you're always comfortable, no matter the weather outside.

3. Insulation

Every permanent metal building will need insulation. Not only will this insulation reduce the presence of moisture, but it will do wonders for promoting a more even internal temperature. By adding the right kind of insulation to your building, you can ensure that it's always cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Probuilt Steel Buildings Is Your Number One Metal Building Provider

If you're tired of looking around for the right metal garage for sale, you've come to the right place. Probuilt Steel Buildings has years of experience delivering quality steel structures to folks nationwide. Our buildings feature superior engineering and quality materials, resulting in a product that's designed to provide years of unyielding service.

So, give us a call at (877) 754-1818 if you're in the market to purchase garage kits or metal buildings! Our building specialists are ready to help you design a structure to fit all your needs, from the ventilation down to the color scheme. Start your metal building journey today with Probuilt Steel Buildings!