How to Keep Your Agricultural Buildings Cool During Summer

As summer temperatures continue to rise, managing heat in agricultural buildings is more important than ever. Whether you’re housing livestock, storing feed or operating machinery, excessive heat can impact animal welfare, spoil resources and even pose risks to worker safety.

Without proper cooling systems, farm operations can suffer. Fortunately, there are practical solutions that can make a big difference. From insulation and cladding to thoughtful design features such as ventilation and open layouts, there are many ways to keep your agricultural buildings cool.

Why Temperature Control Matters in Agricultural Buildings

Hot buildings can cause serious issues in the agricultural sector:

• Overheated livestock will eat less, produce less and can suffer from illness or heat stress. 
• Farm machinery and feed degrade faster in extreme heat.
• Working in hot buildings is uncomfortable and a potential danger for workers.

Why Choose Steel Agricultural Buildings

Steel agricultural buildings are a great choice when it comes to keeping your farm cool in the summer. Steel naturally reflects the sun’s rays, helping to block out excess heat. This makes a big difference in maintaining a comfortable environment and is especially important for the health and welfare of your animals.

Another key benefit of steel is its energy efficiency. Because it helps reduce heat build-up, there’s less need for artificial cooling, which lowers your energy costs.

Plus, steel buildings are easy to adapt with additional features such as insulation, ventilation and concrete panelling. These customisations make it even easier to regulate temperature and protect your livestock, feed, equipment and workers from the heat.

Insulation

When you own an outdoor agricultural building, such as a livestock shelter or farm equipment storage, temperature control is key.

Insulation involves using materials to create an airtight barrier in the building’s walls and roof, helping to keep the internal temperature stable. An insulated farm building reduces heat stress and creates a healthier environment during summer heatwaves.

Benefits of Insulated Farm Buildings

Staying well protected from seasonal temperature fluctuations, means the internal environment can help to improve:

• Livestock health by reducing stress and preventing disease
• Food and crop quality through consistent temperature control
• Energy efficiency, cutting heating and cooling costs
• Protection against condensation, mould and moisture damage
• Environmental impact by lowering greenhouse gas emissions

Insulating agricultural buildings is a smart way to conserve energy by reducing the need for constant heating or cooling. This not only helps lower energy bills but also supports more sustainable farming by cutting down on carbon emissions.

That’s why it’s important to consider insulation right from the design stage. This is something we prioritise here at Kit Buildings. For added protection, we can also supply concrete panels around the base of our livestock buildings to boost insulation and durability.

Ventilation

One of the most effective ways to keep your agricultural building cool in the summer is by ensuring it’s properly ventilated. Without a functioning ventilation system, heat can quickly build up indoors. 

Stale, humid air not only reduces air quality for workers but also increases respiratory issues in animals. It can even promote the spread of bacteria and parasites, posing a serious threat to livestock health. 

That’s why it’s essential to install adequate ventilation in your farm building. 

Benefits of Ventilated Farm Buildings:

Proper ventilation will help:

• Keep a steady flow of fresh air circulating.
• Maintain a safe, comfortable temperature for animals and workers.
• Reduce heat stress in livestock, improving their productivity and wellbeing.
• Remove harmful gases such as ammonia and carbon dioxide.
• Minimise moisture and condensation buildup.
• Protect machinery, feed and structural components from moisture damage.
• Prevent the growth and spread of bacteria, mould and parasites.
• Improve working conditions and overall safety for farm workers.

The way your agricultural building is laid out can have a big impact on ventilation. If the space is too small or overly cluttered, it can restrict airflow, making it harder to keep the building cool and comfortable.

Steel buildings are ideal for this because they don’t require internal support columns. This creates a large, open floor plan that naturally allows air to flow more freely.

At Kit Buildings, we go a step further. While we typically use fibre cement roof sheeting to let in natural light through dedicated roof lights, we also design our roofs with strategically placed air gaps. These allow fresh air to circulate without creating excessive draughts in colder months.

This kind of thoughtful design is especially important for agricultural barns. Temperature and airflow directly affect the health of livestock, the condition of stored goods and overall farm efficiency.

Cladding

Cladding is another effective way to keep your agricultural building cooler during the summer. It acts as a protective outer layer that helps slow down heat transfer, keeping the inside of your building cooler for longer on hot days. As well as improving temperature control, cladding also strengthens the structure of your building and improves durability.

Some cladding systems are designed to work alongside ventilation, allowing air to flow between the outer layer and the internal structure.

Our Cladding Options Include

At Kit Buildings Direct, we offer a range of cladding options that not only protect your building but also help regulate indoor temperature. These include:

• Castle boarding
• Yorkshire boarding
• Fibre cement roof sheeting

These materials are ideal for improving airflow and reducing heat gain.

Choose Smart Designs from Kit Buildings Direct

At Kit Buildings Direct, we specialise in designing and installing steel-framed agricultural buildings that keep your farm efficient and cool. Through insulation, ventilation, cladding and concrete panelling, we ensure your building is built for performance, year-round. 

Our team works closely with you to design and install bespoke steel structures that meet your unique needs.

Our livestock and agricultural barns are competitively priced and we use only top-quality materials to deliver the highest standard. Contact us today to learn more about our steel agricultural buildings and explore our previously completed agricultural projects.