Since the summer of 2005 when Ag-Tite was first developed by Sealant Technologies, there have been many tests performed which demonstrate creating an air seal in a poultry barn will not only save energy, but also increase productivity of the flock. This web page highlights one project which demonstrates how to air seal a poultry barn. Several scientific tests have been conducted by Auburn University and the University of Georgia. The results were conclusive as stopping air leakage should be the number one objective of any farmer if they have poultry barns that are least 5 years old.
The data shows significant and immediate energy saving results. In most cases, an application of an air barrier shows energy savings for broiler barns in the area of 25% – 40%. That does not included but that does not include many other benefits that come with having an air barrier sprayed onto a broiler barn as moisture is reduced too because you seal air.
In the case of the Auburn study, a return on investment of perhaps 2+ years is now a very real possibility, especially with propane cost near or at the $2.00/gal range. As important as those returns are, this particular study also showed exceptional darkling beetle control because of the program which was put into place by Ivesco. It is very important for the farmer to remember that once the houses are sealed up, then it will be even more important than ever to have a good farm management program, which includes the control of darkling beetles and rodents.
Before The Project Started
This photo shows the 12 house poultry farm which was used for this test. Six of the houses were selected receive the AgBarrier and the other six houses were not energy retrofitted. All of the houses were the same age, about 20 years old and each house had a separate gas meter with a very good track record of previous useage.
Starting To Spray The Sealant
In this photo, you can see the condition of the walls prior to the AgBarrier being applied. Each house was built with 2″x4″ boards which were very warped and had very large gaps between the boards. Only the south side of each house still had a curtain opening, and that was 3′ wide. The static pressure of each house had a range of .10 – .12
Finishing Sealing An Entire Wall
Ag-tite can be applied over the entire wall. The objective was to a make sure that the individual joints were sealed and that the boards had a thin coat covering. In most cases, there was an average of between 1/4″ and 1/2″ of coverage. This photo shows that the Ag-tite works as an air barrier that can adhere to any material, including lumber, metal, concrete or other plastics. Because of the density of the product, a thin coat is all that is necessary to get the energy savings that you are looking for. More importantly, with a smooth hard surface, Ag-tite cures in minutes, which means that there is much less of a chance that darkling beetles will find a way to harbor into the material. In fact, after many years of Ag-Tite on the walls of this project, there has been very little darkling beetle damage, even though Ag-Tite was sprayed down to the litter line.
An Entire House Is Sprayed In One Day
You are looking a finished wall, after a coat of Ag-Tite has been applied. The surface is hard and very smooth. All of the loose joints and cracks have been filled and the wall is also now much more stable because it is one solid piece. In the case of these particular houses, static pressure doubled and went to a range of .20 – .24. Energy savings are tracking at 30%-35%. Live production numbers have improved and the houses now have much better moisture control and ventilation. The darling beetles are under control because of the Ivesco program which was put into place. Overall, there has been significant savings to the farmer who in this case wants to keep his houses in production for another 15 – 20 years. .
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