Thermal bridging overview
The use of cast in situ concrete elements, such as balconies or parapets, can create significant thermal bridges, reducing the wall U-value by up to 50% and compromising the building envelope. As modern building envelopes become more insulated and airtight, solutions like concrete balcony thermal breaks and effective thermal break concrete slab details are crucial to minimise heat loss and address issues at connection points.
Armatherm™ Cast-In SituKey Features
- 3” imperial or/ 75mm metric thick insulation body made from Armatherm™ 500-280 with a total R value of 5.7
- American 2304 Grade 75 stainless steel rebars for maximum structural performance and corrosion protection
- Standard ASTM bar sizes
- High-performance concrete compression modules
- Available with fire protection dependant on project requirements
The Solution
Enhancing the thermal performance of the building envelope and addressing thermal bridging are key priorities in modern construction. Increasing standards in local building regulations, CIBSE guidelines, and sustainability programmes like BREEAM emphasise this focus.
Armatherm™ thermal breaks, including structural thermal break concrete solutions provide thermal break insulation for concrete slabs, effectively reducing thermal bridging.
The use of Armatherm™ CIS in concrete connections helps to:
- Prevent condensation and mould growth.
- Effectively stop heat loss across the connection
- Significantly improve the effective R-value of the building envelope
- Increase thermal comfort on the inside of the building
- Ensure compliance with building envelope standards
Advantages of the Cast-In Situ thermal break
- Effectively reduces thermal bridging and its impact in cast in situ concrete walls and slabs
- Simple range, making design and installation straightforward
- Durable construction for easy transport and on-site handling
- Rigid structural insulation body allows for secure nailing to formwork and cutting on site
- Quick installation with a step-by-step process
- Fully adaptable to meet specific project needs
- Designed for the construction market, available in both metric and imperial sizes, suitable for concrete-to-concrete thermal break applications
