Details
 

Researcher:	Richard Harris
Funded:	DETR 50%, industry 50%
Total value:	£51,550
Lead partner:	CWCT
Status:	Completed

Background/Justification

Stick system curtain walls use insulated panels (typically 40% of the facade area) to reduce heat loss. The edge of the panel is usually reduced to the same thickness as the edge of a glazing unit, to simplify the framing design. However, thin edges coupled with the common use of aluminium sheets to form the skins of the insulated panel, can form a significant thermal bridge, and the actual panel U-value can exceed the design value by a factor of 5, yet there is currently no requirement to assess the true heat loss through these panels.
 

Objectives

To propose standard edge details for insulated panels, which offer acceptably low levels of thermal bridging; to present simple guidance for the design of insulated panels, with respect to their edge details, to ensure that poor edge detailing does not compromise the thermal performance of curtain walling installations and demonstrate reliable ways to assess the true heat loss through insulated panels in stick system curtain walling.
Insulated panels are generally fabricated by companies with a low technical understanding of the performance requirements, and the guidance will be targeted at these companies.
 

Outputs: