As steel frames are made of a highly conductive material that allows for significant heat loss when compared to timber frames, additional strategies are required to ensure that the steel frame remains warm and as unexposed to the exterior as possible.
NZS 4214:2006 provides a basic methodology for the undertaking of thermal bridging assessments, which is a secondary reference within AS/NZ 4859.2: Thermal insulation materials for buildings.
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The best strategy for reducing the thermal transfer of steel-framed systems is to apply a continuous external insulation layer exterior to the frame itself. As new products come onto the market, they are likely to increase the viability of steel frame systems to achieve high-performance levels that are currently uncommon.
A secondary strategy that is also helpful is the application of thermal breaks at the exterior face of the frame. Applied horizontally and/or vertically, thermal break products provide a significant uplift in the Total R-value performance of a Wall System.
Read More: Thermal Bridging and Thermal Bridging on Speckel