Thermal breaks are playing a vital role in revolutionising the future of construction by addressing critical issues in energy efficiency and sustainability.
Thermal breaks specialists, Armatherm, champions this by manufacturing innovative products that significantly reduce energy loss within building envelopes. While thermal breaks are still often overlooked in building design, they play a pivotal role in enhancing the thermal performance and longevity of structures.
Conductive materials
Thermal bridging occurs where conductive materials create paths for heat to escape or enter via the building envelope. This phenomenon can lead to significant energy inefficiencies and comfort issues for building occupants, including fluctuations in interior temperatures, condensation and mould.
Armatherm's thermal breaks serve as a strategic solution to mitigate these challenges, ensuring that thermal bridges are minimised and the full potential of other energy-efficient solutions like cladding is maximised.
By incorporating materials with low thermal conductivity, such as Armatherm's high-compressive strength thermal breaks, buildings can mitigate thermal bridging effects by up to 80%.
Engineered with low thermal conductivity and high compressive strength, Armatherm thermal breaks are ideal for application such as at building envelope penetrations like balconies, cladding attachments, and structural connections such as column bases.
In today's construction landscape, the industry is working towards achieving energy efficiency certifications like B certification for non-domestic buildings by 2030.
While advancements such as composite cladding offer environmentally friendly options, the effectiveness of these materials can be compromised if thermal bridging is not properly addressed during installation.
Needs to become standard practice
As building regulations become stricter, and sustainability goals more ambitious, the integration of thermal breaks needs to become standard practice. These components not only meet current energy performance standards but also pave the way for future advancements in building science. By incorporating thermal breaks into construction designs, both the environmental and economic sustainability of projects can be enhanced.
Achieving continuous insulation is a goal thermal breaks can be pivotal for. This method of building insulation refers to a layer of insulating material applied in an uninterrupted manner across all structural components without thermal bridging, typically on the exterior of the building. This method significantly improves energy efficiency by reducing heat loss and gain, leading to more consistent indoor temperatures and lower energy costs.
Continuous insulation also helps in mitigating moisture issues, enhancing building durability, and contributing to better indoor air quality, making it an essential element in modern sustainable building practices.
Armatherm's thermal breaks play an instrumental role in achieving continuous insulation by preventing thermal bridging and ensuring consistent thermal performance across the building envelope.
As the construction industry continues to prioritise energy efficiency and sustainability, integrating Armatherm's innovative solutions into building designs will remain essential for optimising building performance and reducing environmental impact.