Advantages of fibre cement roofing on agricultural buildings
When designing and constructing agricultural buildings, particularly livestock housing, farmers need to consider their long-term strategies and objectives. Our Agricultural and Equine Building Specialist, Stuart Daniell explains “farm buildings are going to have a multi-generational economic impact on agricultural businesses and need to be built for that impact to be a profitable one.”
Ensuring a successful and profitable investment starts with choosing the right materials. Farmers need to ensure the building material properties are fit for purpose and provide the most efficient levels of performance. “These components work hand-in-hand,” says Stuart. “If materials aren’t able to last long enough to justify the investment, or they don’t have the properties needed for a healthy, productive environment for animals, they are going to end up leading to significant extra costs over time.”
Low humidity, minimal sound reverberation and stable temperature are integral for animal welfare, making Eternit semi-compressed fibre cement profiled sheeting a suitable roofing material for livestock housing.
Advantage: reduced condensation drips
“Eternit fibre cement profiled sheeting is weathertight but is able to absorb up to 25 percent of its dry weight in moisture. This reduces condensation drips caused by livestock respiration meaning lower humidity levels and dryer bedding materials” explains Stuart.
Advantage: thermal conductivity
“Thermal performance is another factor in the wellbeing of the animals” says Stuart. Steel sheets have a high thermal conductivity, becoming cold to touch in the winter and hot in summer which can cause temperature swings within the building. A building clad with Eternit profiled sheeting will remain cooler in summer and warmer in winter. As the sheets are warmer to the touch compared to steel, there are fewer instances of condensation forming on the sheets on cold nights.
Advantage: noise reverberation
The acoustic properties of Eternit semi-compressed fibre cement profiled sheeting also helps reduce reverberation from rain and hail by absorbing the impact sound. A recent study by the Research Institute for Animal Production Nitra found noise to have a damaging effect on the health of cattle, poultry and sheep, reducing the animals’ production outputs.
Investing in endurance and durability
Rust, rot and corrosion resistant, Eternit fibre cement provides long-term durability, enhanced performance, and a life expectancy of at least 50 years – it can outlast some other materials used for farm buildings upwards of 25 years.
Advantages:
- Reduced condensation drips
- Thermal performance
- Reduced noise reverberation
The longevity of Eternit fibre cement makes it a good investment and helps avoid excessive replacement costs. However, the properties of fibre cement make it ideal for agricultural buildings and animal welfare and productivity thanks to its reduced reverberation properties, durability, excellent moisture absorbency and thermal properties.
“All of these components help make Eternit fibre cement profiled sheeting the ideal investment for the long-term profitability of a farm,” concludes Stuart.
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