Insulating an Airplane Hangar: Guide for Peak Efficiency

Flying planes sounds like an amazing hobby, but it’s also a very demanding one. Not only is having and maintaining a plane and a hangar for it expensive, but it is also time and energy-consuming. Still, if you are in love with aviation, you will know it’s all worth it.

If you’ve recently got a plane of your own, you would want to make sure you are keeping it somewhere where it will stay safe, dry, and cool. Airplane hangars are usually huge metal buildings that are hard to cool down or warm up, and that’s why they must be built and insulated well.

What Can You Expect?

One of the facts that you need to accept is that big metal buildings are hard to heat up or cool down. Airplane hangars are going to be hot in the summer and cold in the winter, and balancing out the temperature inside won’t be so easy.

If you keep your airplane in a metal hangar, in a region where there are big temperature changes between day and night, you’ll need to think about condensation and preserving your plane from moisture, especially if you don’t have a good air conditioning system installed.

That’s why you need to pay attention and choose the right insulation for this kind of building, to save your plane from damage and your money from unnecessary repair work.

Invest in Insulation

No matter what type of air conditioning you have in your hangar, it will always work better combined with the right insulation. The good news is that this is the most affordable option, too.

Getting the right insulation at the start will be a one-time investment and will work to preserve your valuables inside of the hangar and prevent damage caused by heat, cold, or humidity.

Choose the Type of Insulation That Works Best for Your Hangar

You’ve probably heard of several good options for insulation, but what you really need to think about is what insulation works for which type of building.

One of the most known options for insulating steel buildings is fiberglass, as it can well prevent heat from passing through the walls. This insulation method can also be quite economical, and flexible to be adjusted to your needs. It has different R-values (a measure of how insulation reduces heat flow), and you can make it as thick as you require.

However, there are some downsides to glass wool (or fiberglass), like the fact that contact with it can cause health issues and irritations, for example. Besides that, fiberglass can still allow some air to go through alongside moisture, and pests. It won’t prevent condensation which means it will get wet and lose its R-value. Moist that can get into the fiberglass can make the insulation cover crack, damage the metal structure and surfaces of your walls or a roof, and collect mold.

Prodex Total Plus is an insulation option specially designed for metal buildings and pole barns. It is stronger, safer, and provides a higher R-value. Not only that it completely stops the heat flowing in and out of your hangar, but it is excellent to prevent condensation as well as any air transfer, while it’s resistant to pests and mold.

Although spray foam insulation could be a good option for a metal hangar, we wouldn’t recommend it because it can release toxic elements while being applied and possibly later on, as well. It loses its R-value slightly with time, and it doesn’t completely stop the heat transfer as it can shrink if not applied under perfect conditions. Spray foam is almost impossible to use with other insulation methods, too.

Another insulation that often gets recommended for metal buildings is bubble insulation, and that is not a bad option. However, compared to the Prodex Total insulation, it’s still not the best as it can lose its shape under pressure, and its core which is full of air won’t have such a long-term consistency as the Prodex Total will.

Prodex Total is made of cell polyethylene foam covered with reflective reinforced foil. Because of its high-quality core, it keeps its shape even under pressure and provides the best insulation to your building including a vapor barrier, air barrier, and radiant barrier.

Install the Insulation

Airplane hangars are usually custom-made according to aircraft properties and needs. Insulation is one of the most important parts of its construction as it is absolutely crucial for creating and preserving a balanced climate inside the hangar.

With Prodex Total insulation it is also very easy to install. There are different methods for insulating a metal building, so before you start, it’s important that you determine how you will go about it and what you will need.

First of all, measure your hangar properly, seal any possible leaks, and make sure all surfaces are clean and ready for installation. After that, choose the insulation material depending on:

• If your hangar is brand new - take Prodex 10M, 48 inch, 72 inch, Fast Action, White, or alternatively, insulation like Reflective Bubble or Foil Fiberglass Vinyl.
• If your hangar isn’t new and you are retrofitting it with insulation, check what you already have at your disposal. If the building is already insulated, you may need to use only some of the thinner products like Prodex 24 or 16 inches.

Besides the insulation material itself, you’ll probably need other useful products such as reflective tape which is useful for sealing the insulation seams. This tape effectively helps at extreme temperatures to improve insulation performance. Reflective tape is much different from the usual duct tape, as it makes a vapor barrier and resists the UV-rays. Besides, it won’t break down and peel off with time.

During the installation, remember to use double-sided tape which will help you attach the insulation material to the roof and walls without falling off or being blown away.

A Super Metal Sealant is something you will need when insulating a metal building. This glue will make the insulation stick to almost any surface, especially aluminum, steel, metals, wood, fiberglass, or concrete. It will immediately hold the insulation even on a vertical surface without fasteners or nails.

Other recommended tools that you may need in the insulation process are a utility knife, for cutting the insulation, a screw gun and screws, and a heat gun that is used for sealing the seams of Prodex Total insulation.

Benefits of Prodex Total Insulation on Aircraft Hangars

Prevents Condensation

When warm and moist air touches a somewhat cold surface, the contrast in temperatures creates moisture that condensates inside a metal building. This is something you would definitely like to avoid in a hangar where you will be keeping your plane and other valuable equipment.

Prodex Total insulation will keep your hangar without moisture and any possibility of condensation forming inside. This insulation material will balance the temperature out on the walls and the roof of the building by making a shield that will keep the warm air from touching the cool exterior metal surface.

Stops the Heat Going In or Out

Metal walls of a hangar easily transmit heat or cold into the building creating an unbearable climate inside of it. Here the insulation comes in, and you need a good one that doesn’t lose its protection properties in such extreme conditions.

Prodex total does not get affected by humidity as fiberglass does, for example, and it also provides a complete air and vapor barrier. That’s why it is one of the best possible solutions for insulating an airplane hangar or similar metal buildings.

Makes a Radiant Barrier

One of the most important features that you should look for in insulation is that it makes a radiant barrier. Prodex Total will prevent heat transfer from inside and outside of the building due to the reflective foil covering its core.

The foil reflects the radiated heat that comes from the sun on the roof of your hangar, reflecting it back and stopping it from entering lower into the building. In regions with hot climates, this element of insulation is very important as it can considerably reduce the costs of cooling the building.

Stops Rodents, Bugs, and Birds

Prodex Total insulation doesn’t provide a nest for any pests, rodents, bugs, or birds, as they are not able to get inside or digest the material it is made of. It differs from fiberglass insulation which can take moisture and air, and therefore possibly also pests.

Prevents Mold

Similarly, Prodex Total is resistant to mold and prevents the growth of any kind of fungi in or on its surfaces. As the material doesn’t get damp, it doesn’t create the conditions in which the mold could appear.

Easy Installation

Besides its quality, installation of this insulation material is very easy, it doesn’t take much time nor leave any mess and debris with installation.

The rolls of Prodex Total insulation are light and easily installed on either new or retrofit constructions.

Eco-Friendly

Knowing that the insulation you are selecting is above all else eco-friendly and produced consciously is a big plus.

Prodex Total insulation is surely there to help you reduce energy consumption and therefore the carbon footprint, too. The manufacturers of Prodex Total are also taking steps in waste reduction and offer the customers to send back any unused material or leftovers for reuse and recycling.