Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Profile of barn on
page 87
. Note loft for hay storage and hay chute to lower level.
Translucent panels in south-facing short wall are formed at the junction of the two
roofs
.
Closed barns can be uninsulated, insulated, or insulated and heated. Heated barns are
expensive and an unnatural environment for horses, tending to result in more respiratory
illnesses, and therefore are not recommended. Insulation prevents condensation by keeping
the temperature of the interior walls and the ceiling surface the same as the temperature of
the air inside the structure. Insulation is placed in the space between the inner and outer
walls. It can include blanket, rigid, sprayed-on, and foamed-in-place products. Blanket type
is usually foil-backed or kraft-paper-backed and comes in rolls or in short lengths called
batts.
Rigid insulation is usually a sheet of pressed fibers or molded foam, often with a
vinylcoated side that can serve as the inside surface of the building. Spray-on cellulose
fibers, though inexpensive, can absorb moisture in a humid climate and cause condensation
and corrosion problems. Spray-on plastic foam can be useful for both roofs and walls but,
according to most building codes, must be covered.
A vapor barrier prevents or minimizes the flow of water vapor into the walls. The vapor
barrier should be applied on the warm side of the insulation, usually between the insulation
and the inside wall covering. Special paints or waterproof membranes such as treated pa-
per, plastic, and aluminum foil are commonly used for vapor barriers.
