All About Thermal Bridges (And How To Avoid Them)
If you are in the process of planning a construction project, you may have come across a term known as thermal bridging. When planning your insulation for your project, it is important to familiarise yourself with this phrase because you should do everything you can to avoid creating it.
As professional providers of wholesale insulation, we know all about avoiding thermal bridges. That’s why today, we are sharing everything you need to know about them, and our best tips on preventing them from being created.
What is a thermal bridge?
A thermal bridge is a construction problem that, when created, causes heat and energy to escape from the building. A thermal bridge can be created in a few different ways:
- When materials with low levels of thermal insulation are used together, creating a funnel of heat flow that is unobstructed;
- When there are gaps or tiny holes in between the main structures of the building, such as windows and doors, holes made for pipes and cables, and cavity walls;
- When the insulation being used has been damaged.
Why should thermal bridges be avoided?
Because heat follows the path of least resistance, having thermal bridges in your building can cause much of the heat to escape from where you need it most. Left unfixed, thermal bridges can become costly due to higher utility bills over time. This is because it will require more energy to maintain the indoor temperature at a comfortable level.
Not only will heat escape in winter, but during summer it will accumulate inside, ultimately requiring more energy to keep the home cool. For this reason, thermal bridges almost render your insulation useless. In fact, thermal bridges alone can be the major cause of up to 30% of heat loss in a building, offsetting the thermal benefits of your wholesale insulation.
As a result of poor heat retainment, thermal bridges can even increase the risk of condensation in the structure of the building. Condensation is the root cause for many other hazards, such as mould and rot. Not only can these hazards cause structural damage, they can also trigger heath issues (like asthma) for those inside the building.
Types of thermal bridges
There are a few different ways to classify thermal bridges. When trying to avoid creating them, it can help to know what kind of thermal bridging you are dealing with. There are three main ways to distinguish the type of thermal bridge you may encounter.
Repeating thermal bridges
As the name suggests, repeating thermal bridges follow a pattern that repeats throughout the building. This can be due to certain aspects of construction design, such as breaks in insulation due to timber frames. Because they repeat throughout the building, they can be responsible for significant heat loss.
Repeating thermal bridges cannot be totally avoided, as some structures within buildings are required for support and foundations. However, it is still important to consider them in the planning, design and construction of the building.
Non-repeating thermal bridges
Non-repeating thermal bridges are created when there is a break in the continuity of the building’s thermal envelope, such as around windows and doors. They can also happen when materials with different thermal conductivity meet. The best way to improve non-repeating thermal bridges is to assess these areas and see if they can be additionally draught-proofed.
Geometrical thermal bridges
These thermal bridges are primarily caused by the actual structure and design of the building. More complex geometrical shapes create more corners and junctions, which in turn can cause thermal bridging. Again, it can be difficult to avoid geometrical thermal bridges as it involves the integral design of the building.
How to avoid thermal bridges
If a building has passed its design and construction stage, the most effective and simplest way to combat thermal bridging is to use insulation. While it isn’t as simple as just installing more insulation, installing wholesale insulation strategically is the best way to stop heat escaping. If you suspect thermal bridging in your building, you should consider installing insulation:
- For external walls, under new siding
- In cavity walls
- In the roof and in the floor
- Over studs (if possible).
Wholesale insulation delivered to you
Now that you know all about thermal bridges and how to avoid them, the next step is purchasing the right type of insulation for your project. Not sure which type is best for you? We’d be happy to help you find out.
At Insulation Essentials, we’re passionate about insulation. Our experts have over 30 years of experience in the construction industry, and we are proud to be able to use that in-depth knowledge to assist our customers with any insulation needs.
Whether you want to find out more about thermal bridging, or you just want to enquire about our wholesale insulation, you can get in touch with us online or by calling us at 03 8339 7111.