Red Iron Building Insulation - Install Guide for New Construction

Congratulations on your new red iron building! You're in the right place if you're looking for a vapor barrier and radiant barrier for your installation. When you add BlueTex™ to a new red iron style building you can use it as a vapor barrier only (scroll to the bottom for a note on this) or, by adding a small spacer on your exterior, you can also gain the benefit of using it as a heat shield, a vapor barrier, and a means of condensation control.

Using BlueTex™ as a Radiant Barrier (Heat Shield) & Vapor Barrier for Heat and Moisture Control on a Red Iron Style Building

The biggest mistake we see in the metal building construction industry is spending a ton of money on insulation when you really don't need it. If you're not  heating or cooling your red iron building regularly, you don't need to worry about traditional insulation products for R-value. Why? Well you're basically building a big refrigerator but not putting a compressor in it to keep it cool... it's pointless!

Think of BlueTex™ as a light jacket it's really all you need most of the time to make these buildings comfortable enough to work in. When you use the radiant barrier benefit of BlueTex™,  you can reflect 97% percent of the radiant heat coming toward the building in summer. Think about that - 97% if the heat bounces off the building and stays away. It's like parking your car in the shade on a hot sunny day, or watching a baseball game under covered seating. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to comprehend how much cooler the inside of the building will be below the radiant barrier. 

When installed properly, BlueTex™ will serve as an internal vapor barrier inside your building, to prevent the interior warm moist air from condensing on the cold metal. The key to a proper install is to make sure your BlueTex™ seams are overlapped and taped well. Corners and transitions (from wall to roofline) can require some extra attention to detail to seal up tight. 

Supplies Needed for Installation

To install on a new red iron style building, you will need the following supplies:

• BlueTex Insulation: Use the Pro 2mm in warm/mild climates or use the Supreme 6mm in cold/wet climates.
• 3" Wide Foil Seam Tape (for your exterior seams on the foil side)
• 3" Wide White Seam Tape (for interior seams on the foil side)
• Screws/locking washers
• optional 4' HDPE Spacers (to create an air gap on the outside of the frame, before the sheet metal goes on)

Installation Step-by-Step

Step 1: Start By Installing BlueTex™ on the Roofline

When installing BlueTex™ insulation on the roof, Start on one end and install from the ridge down to the drip edge using screws and locking washers to secure it to the purlins.

You want to run a singular piece and attach it along the way with several self-drilling screws and washers (spaced about 2' apart), pulling snugly, but not drum-tight. Allow some excess to naturally hang down about an inch between the purlins, to maintain the air space that will allow the foil surface of the BlueTex™ to work as a radiant barrier. If you don't do this, you will need to utilize a spacer of some sort on the BlueTex™ before the roof goes on. This air gap is critical to the performance of the foil to act as a radiant heat barrier. 

It's important to emphasize that you want to minimize the contact between the foil side of your BlueTex™ and the bottom of the metal in order to get the full  benefit of the reflectivity quality of the foil side. If the foil makes contact with the metal (or any other material), you will lose that ability to reflect 97% of the radiant heat away from the building. 

Step 2: Overlap BlueTex™ on the Roofline by 2-3"

When you run your next strip of BlueTex™ parallel to the first piece, make sure to overlap the pieces of insulation by about two or three inches and then screw the metal roof through the BlueTex™ layers and into the purlins.

Continue this pattern until you've covered the entire roofline. Now you're ready for the next step on the roof.

Step 3: Seal the BlueTex™ Seams on the Roofline

Use the 3" foil seam tape to cover and seal all of your seams. The tape will go over the screw heads and you should press it firmly so that it bonds well. 

If your spacing is such that you will also have visible interior seams, now is a good time to seal those as well. For interior seams, use the 3" wide white seam tape to seal. This cleans up the install and aids you in your effort to make it airtight to prevent condensation.

Step 4: Create an Air Gap & Install Your Roof Panels

Now you're ready to install your roofing panels over the BlueTex™.

Remember, if you didn't sag your BlueTex™ over the purlins, now is the time to add your furring strips on the foil surface so you can maintain an air gap between the BlueTex™ foil and the sheet metal. 

Once you have the spacers (or the air gap) you can install your roof panels as normal. 

Step 5: Add BlueTex™ to the Walls

Starting at the top of the wall, fasten the BlueTex™ on the eave purlin and let it hang all the way down to the ground. 

Step 6: Overlap BlueTex™ on the Walls by 2-3"

When you run your next strip of BlueTex™ parallel to the first piece, make sure to overlap the pieces of insulation by about two or three inches all the way down the wall.

Continue this pattern until you've covered the entire sides. When installing around windows, make sure to utilize the foil tape and flashing to keep things sealed well. 

Step 7: Seal the BlueTex™ Seams on the Walls and Around Doors/Windows

Use the 3" foil seam tape to cover and seal all of your seams. The tape will go over the screw heads and you should press it firmly so that it bonds well. 

If your spacing is such that you will also have visible interior seams, now is a good time to seal those as well. For interior seams, use the 3" wide white seam tape to seal. This cleans up the install and aids you in your effort to make it airtight to prevent condensation.

Step 8: Add Your Wall Material

Now you're ready to install your roofing panels over the BlueTex™. Remember, you need the air gap on the walls too - so utilize spacers to create this gap before you add your sheet metal. You can use plastic, metal, wood, foam, etc. 

The air gap doesn't have to be vented, as long as you create a ½" minimum gap, the foil surface of the BlueTex™ is going to reflect 97% of the sun's heat away from the building in summer, and help you hold heat inside the building in winter, no matter how little heat you may use.  

Note on Using BlueTex™ as a Vapor Barrier Only (No Radiant Heat Control) on New Red Iron Buildings

For new construction of a red iron building, this is a perfect way to install BlueTex™ as a vapor barrier. Remember, when you're adding a vapor barrier only, you don't need to worry about the air gap requirement on the foil side since you won't be using this as a heat barrier.

To do this install, just follow the steps above but you can omit any step directions related to using spacers or furring strips. Then just proceed to installing the sheet metal over the seamed foil surface directly. 

If you are looking for an easy, super durable, low-cost solution for your airplane Hangar, or any non-conditioned or semi-conditioned building, BlueTex™ insulation products can help you create a comfortable space that looks good. If you have specific install questions, give us a call! We're always happy to talk details about installing our product the right way!