Thermal Bridging Solutions

Effective Solution

Composite materials have been used as a thermal break in bolted, steel connections for over fifteen years in Europe and nearly eight years here in North America. How effective can they be? What are the structural and fire property considerations? Exterior wall assemblies must be designed to meet code required structural support, continuous insulation, moisture management and fire resistance criteria. What you should know when incorporating thermal breaks in steel connections.

Equivalency of Thermal Break Materials

What to know about substitution requests for thermal break materials in bolted steel connections. The purpose of this article is to clarify some common misunderstandings and offer some assistance with the substitution request approval process for all parties. How do you determine equivalency of thermal break materials?

Performance

Structural thermal break materials are used to reduce the heat loss associated with thermal bridging in steel connections that pass through exterior insulation. They can also reduce the risk of condensation forming within the wall as the heat loss cools material surfaces below the dew point. How efficient are thermal breaks in steel connections? Discussion points: Thickness, Thermal Conductivity and Heat Flow Transmittance and R Value