Roof Ventilation - Steel Shed

[Zebe]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this..

I am having a steel shed built at the moment with internal stables. i don't know how to attach a photo and can't seem to find a link of an example.

Sorry I haven't all the correct vocab for this but gonna try and explain so please bear with me.

Basically this shed has concrete walls from ground going half way up, with ventilated steel sheeting the top half. Sliding doors are at either end. The roof sheets are not ventilated. Along the center of the roof is raised up allowing air out. Sorry can't remember what this is called. My problem is that it seems quite high and directional rain when windy blows comes in. I did suggest that they lower it and they said that this was low the other option would be to remove it but I would have to check the regs. Has anyone else got this problem?

sorry if it sounds a bit confused

 

[Skipadeedooda]

I think I have the same it's like the 2 sides of roof have a slight gap in middle with a raised runner overlapping the middle so it's ventilated but in theory should keep weather out? If this is the case then yes really bad directional rain/snow can blow in but it's just a strip down central aisle (stables remain dry). I would live with this rather than limit the ventilation (close roof in completely) as the condensation can be crazy in winter and like an oven in summer. If you are at the build stage might be worth looking into lining with insulation to try and minimise condensation and keep slightly cooler in summer.

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

To improve ventilation between the sheets you can fit thick washers, condensation is more likely problem than a bit of weather.
Personally I would have wooden yorkshire boarding on sides which will also absorb noise, my boy was frightened by the metal shed. Metal is always prone to condensation and heat/cold fluctuations

 

[amandap]

I wonder if they are complying with regulations for this type of structure? I believe there were lots of problems with cattle getting chest infections in closed buildings so air flow regs might be strict? Just a guess.

 

[Dry Rot]

I actually qualified as an agricultural surveyor but that was a long time ago and I have forgotten most of it!

Ventilation of farm livestock buildings is an important subject and the correlation between side ventilation and ridge ventilation needs to be worked out carefully.

If the company who erected your building are experienced and reputable I would trust them. As others have said, a little rain or snow entering at the ridge will be the least of your problems.

When I got my first job in an estate office, the clerk of works was specifying livestock buildings with little 9x6 ventilators at ground level and farmers were wondering why they were losing stock to pneumonia. The important thing is to get the correct changes of air without draughts. It sounds as if your stables are correctly designed to achieve that but you are right to check.

 

[amandap]

Dry Rot, is there an inspection process for Agricultural buildings, such as signing off a new build house?

 

[Dry Rot]

Dry Rot, is there an inspection process for Agricultural buildings, such as signing off a new build house?

I'm in Scotland and I don't remember any. I have erected a new barn and timber stables here, both of which needed Planning but only a site plan. I didn't bother for a 15x30ft field shelter. But I am in the Highlands where things are a bit different!

Your best solution is probably to ask a firm in your area that erects farm buildings. If they think you might be buying a new building from them (no need to let them know you already have one!), I am sure they will be very helpful.

 

[amandap]

I'm in Scotland and I don't remember any. I have erected a new barn and timber stables here, both of which needed Planning but only a site plan. I didn't bother for a 15x30ft field shelter. But I am in the Highlands where things are a bit different!

Your best solution is probably to ask a firm in your area that erects farm buildings. If they think you might be buying a new building from them (no need to let them know you already have one!), I am sure they will be very helpful.

Thanks, I was just wondering. I've already got buildings. I have just put up a large lean to open shelter in the yard though, no airflow problems with that!

 

[Zebe]

Thanks all, your very good to take the time to give advice.
skip: yes the rain was just down the centre, a bit did come down a wall through the sheeted vents but it was very bad weather verging on storm... i agree and after the hot summer we had would have really needed ventilation.
Mrs D: great idea thank you
amanda: Just interested to know is your lean to for bales if so what floor surface did you put down? Thats my next mission.
DR: yes i do believe they have got a lot stricter, he works along side an engineer & double I checked they are complying with regs and even though it seems high to me he said that it is as low as it can go according to regs. Yep the last thing i want is sick horses, I think a lot of the big cattle farmers around here do it much higher.
What he said today was that when the rain comes down at a direction it bounces on the roof and then in through the vent gap so he will put a kind of L shape lip all the way along the roof so the rain when it bounces will hit that and instead of going in 90% will roll back down the roof, so Im Happy now I can put up with a bit of rain and sounds like from you all that is better than not having ventilation. It's just been such a tough last few winters and i am very high up so get more extreme weather i am trying to make it as comfortable as possible for me and horses without effecting their health.

Thanks again everyone, it's great to be able to come on here and ask questions! All this building leveling etc etc etc is way out my comfort zone but I'm learning very quickly;-)