Thermal bridging occurs when materials with higher thermal conductivity allow heat to bypass insulating layers in a building‚Äôs envelope, facilitating unwanted heat transfer. This phenomenon undermines the thermal integrity of the structure, leading to increased energy consumption and reduced comfort levels. Commonly occurring at junctions between walls and floors, around windows, and in areas where insulation is absent or discontinuous, thermal bridging can significantly impact a building’s energy efficiency.
In construction, strategies to mitigate thermal bridging include the use of thermal breaks—insulative components designed to reduce conductivity at critical points. Materials such as expanded polystyrene or extruded polystyrene are typical choices for these applications. Design considerations also play a crucial role; aligning insulative layers continuously across all building elements minimises the chances of heat leakage. Advanced architectural designs often integrate comprehensive thermal modeling to predict and address potential bridges early in the development process.
Effective management of thermal bridging is necessary for achieving stringent energy performance standards, such as those required by Passive House certifications, which demand an almost complete elimination of thermal bridging to optimise building envelope performance.
