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Thermal Bridge (Jargon Buster) G#9351

By 18 January 2016October 7th, 2016Code, Encyclopaedia, Entries, Jargon Buster

GBE > Encyclopaedia > Code > Jargon > Entry > T > G#9351

Thermal Bridge (Jargon Buster)

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Thermal Bridge

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    Thermal Bridge
    1 Definitions

    Thermal Bridge

    • Unwanted heat loss or gain occurs due to conduction through a material.
    • This can lead to significant energy losses and may also result in the build up of condensation.
    • An example of thermal bridging is heat loss that occurs due to metal wall ties or steel framing that is insufficiently insulated between areas of temperature differences
    • e.g. the internal and external environment.
    • (based on Ecos Renews 17)

    Thermal Bridge

    • A thermally conductive material which penetrates or bypasses an insulation system; such as a wall tie, metal fastener, concrete beam, slab or column.
    • Thermal bridging lowers the overall thermal insulation of the structure by creating areas where heat loss is greater in one area than it is for another.
    • The effect is to reduce the overall U value of the construction element.
    • The heat loss per unit length of thermal bridge is known as the Ψ-(psi) value and is measure in W/mK.
    • (GreenSpec AEP ’09)

    Thermal Bridge

    • Heat loss through a localized area where the primary insulation layer is significantly interrupted or reduced.
    • Difficult but not impossible to treat in solid wall insulation (SWI).
    • Become more significant where the building fabric has been upgraded.
    • Effects of a cold bridge:
      • Rise in heat energy demand
      • Indoor surfaces at lower winter temperatures
      • Increased risk of surface condensation
      • Risk of damages to building units, leading to vacancies & rehousing costs
      • Danger of mildew, causing serious health threats, potential litigation
      • Complaints, withheld payments, reputation damage
        (ESLtd. LB ’12)

    Thermal Bridge

    • Heat loss through a localized area where the primary insulation layer is significantly interrupted or reduced in thickness or reduced in resistance to conductivity.
    • Previously known as a cold bridge, but from the outside an ‘anomaly’ in an IRT survey will be a ‘hot spot’ and from inside it will be a ‘cold spot’, hence thermal bridge.
    • Can be a continuouse support angle or multiple ties, fixings or fastenings at close centres providing a conductivity route through an insulation layer.
    • Their impact becomes more significant when the buildings U value is improved generally but the thermal bridge remains unresolved.
    • Effects of a thermal bridge:
      • Rise in heating energy demand during heating season
      • Internal surfaces of external wall, roof or floor at localised lower temperatures in heating season
      • Increased risk of localised surface or intersticial condensation
      • Danger of mildew and mould growing in condensate causing serious health risks
      • Risk of damage to building fabric due to rot in timbers and frost damage in masonry
      • Complaints, withheld payments, rehousing costs, vacancies, potential litigation, reputation damage.
    • (GBE BRM ’16)

    © GBE NGS ASWS BrianSpecMan aka Brian Murphy
    18th January 2016

    Thermal Bridges
    2 Images/Icons

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    © GBE NGS ASWS BrianSpecMan aka Brian Murphy
    18th January 2016

    Jargon
    3 Relevance to Environmental Construction

    _

    © GBE NGS ASWS BrianSpecMan aka Brian Murphy
    18th January 2016

    Jargon
    4 Opinion

    _

    © GBE NGS ASWS BrianSpecMan aka Brian Murphy
    18th January 2016

    Jargon
    5 Examples

    _

    © GBE NGS ASWS BrianSpecMan aka Brian Murphy
    18th January 2016

    Jargon
    6 Notes

    _

    © GBE NGS ASWS BrianSpecMan aka Brian Murphy
    18th January 2016

    Thermal Bridge
    7 Sources

    • Ecological Building Systems ’09
    • Energy Star ’07
    • Enviroform Solutions Ltd. LB ‘12
    • GreenSpec AEP ’09
    • GBE BRM ’12-’16
    • NGS BRM ’09-‘12
    • SEDA Airtightness Guide definition

    © GBE NGS ASWS BrianSpecMan aka Brian Murphy
    18th January 2016

    Thermal Bridges
    9 Checklists

    GBE Checklist

    G#606 N#627 GBE New Build Checklist Navigation

    • K10 Plasterboard dry linings/partitios/ceilings
    • K11 Rigid sheet flooring/sheating/decking/sarking/lining/casings
    • K13 Rigid sheet fine linings/paneling
    • K20 Timber board flooring/decking/sarking/lining/casing
    • K21 Timber strip/board fine flooring/linings
    • M21 External Insulation with Rendered Finish
    • P10 Sundry insulation/proofing work/fire stops

    G#730 N#752: GBE EBC Checklist Refurbishment

    • K10 Plasterboard dry linings/partitios/ceilings
    • K11 Rigid sheet flooring/sheating/decking/sarking/lining/casings
    • K13 Rigid sheet fine linings/paneling
    • K20 Timber board flooring/decking/sarking/lining/casing
    • K21 Timber strip/board fine flooring/linings
    • M21 External Insulation with Rendered Finish
    • P10 Sundry insulation/proofing work/fire stops

    G#1253 N#1252: GBE EBC Checklist Refurbishment Decent Homes

    G#1438 N#1408 GBE Home Improvement Index

    © GBE NGS ASWS BrianSpecMan aka Brian Murphy
    18th January 2016

    Thermal Bridge
    10 Q and A

    GBE Q&A

    © GBE NGS ASWS BrianSpecMan aka Brian Murphy
    18th January 2016

    Thermal Bridge
    11 Defects/Solutions

    GBE Defects

    GBE Solutions

    © GBE NGS ASWS BrianSpecMan aka Brian Murphy
    18th January 2016

    Thermal Bridge
    12 CPD/Lectures

    GBE CPD

    Theme

    G#472 N#478 GBE CPD Topics Navigation

    Handouts PDF 9 slides/page for printing

    Seminars PDF for viewing

    GBE Lectures

    • N#216: (21) Masonry External Walls (P)

    © GBE NGS ASWS BrianSpecMan aka Brian Murphy
    18th January 2016

    Thermal Breaks
    15 Products

    See Tabs 16 Accessories and 17 Systems

    © GBE NGS ASWS BrianSpecMan aka Brian Murphy
    18th January 2016

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