Thermal Breaks

A thermal break is a material with low thermal conductivity placed in an assembly to reduce or prevent the flow of thermal energy between the inside and outside of a building. The two key functions of a thermal break are to insulate the building to reduce heat lost (through thermal/cold bridging) and to reduce the likelihood of internal condensation.

The thermal performance of the building envelope is a key design consideration in meeting today’s stringent energy efficiency standards such as Part L of the Building Regulations and other NHBC and BRE requirements which are fulfilled by way of reducing heat loss and the risk reduction of internal condensation.

Thermal or cold Bridges occur where the insulation layer is penetrated by a material with a relatively high thermal conductivity. Balcony connection points can cause a cold bridge from the cold balcony to the warm inside, so a thermal break must be specified to reduce heat loss and the risk of condensation forming at cold points inside the building.