Thermal bridges: minimizing weak spots with an adverse effect on energy performance

Figure: InfraTec

Thermal bridges cause heat losses and damage to the building fabric – this is why they should be minimized at the early design stage

Figure: InfraTec

Figure: Rowa-Soft/Lignadata

Thermal bridge software helps identify and minimize weak spots in the building envelope as early as in the design phase

Figure: Rowa-Soft/Lignadata

Figure: Visionworld

Areas vulnerable to condensation and mold formation can also be located and prevented

Figure: Visionworld

Figure: Rowa-Soft/Lignadata

Typical weak spots can be detected and optimized in terms of energy performance, such as in the base/foundation area …

Figure: Rowa-Soft/Lignadata

Figure: Kern Ingenieurkonzepte

… or in the roof zone

Figure: Kern Ingenieurkonzepte

Figure: Solar-Computer

The program should provide various options to add thermal bridges

Figure: Solar-Computer

Figure: Sommer Informatik

Accurate, high-resolution calculations, such as of the window profile shown in this image, provide added reliability down to the tiniest detail

Figure: Sommer Informatik

Figure: BKI

More complex relationships exist, for instance, in structural components in contact with the ground …

Figure: BKI

Figure: Blocon

… or three-dimensional thermal bridges

Figure: Blocon

Figure: BKI

Reporting templates can be used to compile comprehensive reports and comparisons of various options

Figure: BKI

Figure: Infomind

FEM grids provide the advantage of more accurately capturing and calculating any conceivable shape, including round, free-form or oblique structural components

Figure: Infomind

Figure: Visionworld

Thermal bridge software is of great help, particularly when it comes to complex spatial relationships and boundary conditions

Figure: Visionworld

Thermal bridges cause heat losses and may potentially lead to issues, such as damage due to mold formation. Specially designed software helps detect and minimize these weak spots in the building envelope prior to construction, such as at the precast element design stage.

Thermal bridges are problematic for several reasons: they adversely affect the energy consumption of buildings, hygienic conditions and living comfort. Thermal bridges may cause up to 50 % of heat losses in buildings. The importance of preventing heat losses becomes even clearer when also considering the fact that about 40 % of total energy consumption are attributable to buildings according to several studies, including those published by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). However, the more effective the insulation of buildings, for instance as specified by...