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Thermal Bridging and Junction Design in Building Envelopes Guide

This guide explains thermal bridging and its impact on energy efficiency, comfort, condensation risk and building durability.

It outlines how careful junction design and continuous insulation can reduce heat loss in new-build and retrofit projects, with practical details showing how Spacetherm® solutions can address challenging areas such as roof abutments, window reveals, recessed walls and service penetrations.

The Retrofit Academy has reviewed this guide and considers it a useful resource for retrofit professionals looking to understand thermal bridging, its implications and approaches to mitigating its effects.

View the Full Review Here

Aerogel Explained

Aerogel is the world’s lightest solid material; in its raw form its composition is over 90% air.

A highly effective insulator, it has the lowest thermal conductivity of any solid known to man, and has broken over 15 world records. Aerogel was first created by scientist Samuel Stephens Kistler in 1931, the result of a bet with a colleague over who could replace the liquid in “jellies” with gas without causing shrinkage.

It has been used in thousands of applications since its invention, for example NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration discovered that in its raw form, aerogel was capable of collecting stardust from space.

The history of aerogel is pretty fascinating, but what’s amazing is how it is used in everyday life to solve real problems for people everywhere.

The name ‘aerogel can be misleading however, as it is in fact, a dry, rigid solid. The name stems from the fact that aerogel is derived from a wet gel, the liquid component having been replaced by a gas in most cases.

The result of this process is a solid with extremely low density, and crucially, very low thermal conductivity. The conductive insulation properties of aerogel are unrivalled.

The A. Proctor Group Ltd. Group’s Spacetherm® Aerogel combines a silica aerogel with fibres to produce a flexible blanket solution.

We have a range of Spacetherm® Solutions for retrofit and new builds.

Why Customers Choose Spacetherm

Grade II listed Georgian townhouse in Bath

“I obtained planning permission to insulate the top floor of my Grade II listed Georgian townhouse, which was very thermally inefficient.

The original insulation specified would have taken up around 100mm of internal space and required alterations to door frames and window reveals.

Spacetherm® Multi offered much better thermal performance at a far slimmer build-up, allowing us to retain the existing features and minimise disruption.”

Mike Mower, Property Owner

Private House in Sutton Coldfield

“The simplicity of the product was key. Spacetherm® Multi could be installed directly to the external wall and window reveals.

As long as the wall was reasonably level then there was no need to use timber battens, which would have negated the space-saving benefits of aerogel.

I swapped a few emails with the technical and sales teams and they were very responsive. Every time I submitted a different U-value calculation, I got a prompt reply.”

Ian Hurst, Retrofit Coordinator

Traditional Farmhouse in Inverness

“I’m trying to respect the traditional building fabric and take a sympathetic approach to modernisation. I don’t want to take away elements of the house that can’t be reproduced

The Proctor Group technical team were supportive throughout the process and recommended Spacetherm® Multi as the right solution.

The installation made an immediate difference. The floors feel much more comfortable underfoot, and there’s no moisture build-up or mould risk.”

Gregor MacKinnon, Balloch Farm Owner

Victorian home in London

“Living in a Victorian house, we have a lot of original features that could easily be affected by conventional internal insulation.

I chose Spacetherm® WL because I didn’t have to remove the marble fireplaces, reinstate radiators or alter the window surrounds, while still improving the thermal performance of the solid external walls.

It is also straightforward to install, so I can complete the work myself and insulate one room at a time, making the retrofit much more manageable.”

Sean Crawford, Property Owner

Does Cold Bridging Matter?

How the Changes to Part L Affect Airtightness and Thermal Bridging - Image - 2

Whether we call it thermal bridging, cold bridging the result is the same potential cold areas in buildings where heat leaks out easier than other well insulated areas.

If it is only localised, do we need to worry if we have the rest of the building well insulated? Unfortunately, yes, not only will the building lose heat but the bridge could lead to condensation and even mould on the inside surface. Even window reveals have shown that not insulating the reveal can have dramatic effect eg a study showed that using 140mm of insulation on the walls only and not the reveals could be compensated by only 60mm insulation in the walls with the reveals insulated.

It is not just reveals that need to addressed. As buildings become increasingly more energy efficient the smaller cold bridges are highlighted even more, we are all becoming aware of the effects of airtightness and we treat that appropriately but we need to be addressing the cold bridges to have a more holistic thermal performance.

Thermal Bridging and Junction Design in Building Envelopes Guide

Aerogel Explained

Why Customers Choose Spacetherm

Grade II listed Georgian townhouse in Bath

Private House in Sutton Coldfield

Traditional Farmhouse in Inverness

Victorian home in London

Does Cold Bridging Matter?

Products

Spacetherm® A1 – Non-Combustible Aerogel Insulation

Spacetherm® – Thin and High Performance Aerogel Insulation

Spacetherm Cold Bridge Strip – Aerogel Insulation Strip

Spacetherm Window Reveal Board – Ultra-Thin Thermal Insulation Board

Spacetherm Wallboard – Aerogel and Plasterboard Thermal Laminate

Spacetherm Directfix – Aerogel, Plywood and Plasterboard Thermal Laminate

Spacetherm Multi – Aerogel and Magnesium Oxide Thermal Laminate

Wraptherm® – Airtight Insulated Membrane

Spacetherm Wall Liner – Aerogel and Magnesium Oxide Wall Liner

Profloor Dynamic Batten – Acoustic Flooring Battens

Profloor Micro Deck 17 – T&G MDF and Open-Cell Foam Laminate

Profloor Dynamic Deck 26 – T&G Chipboard and Open-Cell Foam Laminate

Profloor Solo Deck 23 – T&G Chipboard and Composite Foam Laminate

Profloor Solo Batten – Acoustic Floating Floor Batten System

Profloor Excel Batten – Acoustic Floating Floor Batten System

Ravatherm™ – High-Performance Thermal Laminate

Plusboard – Extruded Polystyrene Insulated Plasterboard

Plusfloor – Extruded Polystyrene Insulated Chipboard Flooring

Recent Projects

How Can Aerogel be Used to Insulate Existing Concrete Floors?

Spacetherm® Multi bathroom retrofit

Spacetherm WL – Paris

Spacetherm® WL – London SE22

Spacetherm WL – SE London

Spacetherm WL – London

Spacetherm Wall Board – Historic Building

Spacetherm® Multi – Bath

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