2023-09-22 14:02:19
The “soul” of the Steel Frame are the galvanized steel profiles. Steel, within construction materials, is one of those with the highest resistance/mass ratio, but at the same time it has a very high thermal conductivity and makes it an excellent temperature conductor.
The reduced weight of Steel Frame profiles represents a great advantage, as it allows the weight of structures to be reduced while preserving resistance to external loads, resulting in lighter and faster structures. But when it comes to thermal insulation, its high conductivity works once morest it.
In the external panel of a residence, the profile will function as a thermal bridge, that is, it will conduct both heat from the interior to the exterior in the winter, and from the exterior to the interior in the summer, generating energy losses or gains that harm the energy efficiency of the house. building.
“Steel Frame is one of the most effective constructions in relation to thermal-acoustic insulation. They prevent the infiltration of wind and rain, as well as the formation of humidity. At the same time, they reduce heat loss to the outside and its input, significantly increasing the energy efficiency of the works. They also minimize the passage of sound between environments”, explains André Luiz Rossi, development and new business manager at Barbieri do Brasil, an industry dedicated to the manufacture of galvanized steel profiles for drywall and light steel framing in Latin America.
Having thermal insulators inside the panel, generally glass wool, the thermal bridge effect is still present in the profiles and reduces the thermal resistance of the panel. To avoid this effect, the ideal is to place an external thermal insulation layer, which contains the entire construction. This insulation can be made from various materials, although EPS (expanded polystyrene) is the most common. As it has a very low conductivity, it will notably reduce the effect of heat loss/gain through the profile. The thickness of the insulation will depend on the desired degree of thermal insulation.
Breaking the thermal bridge is advisable, depending on some particular cases and conditions, it is not essential, but it is always desirable.
“With the appropriate design of the envelope, it is possible to limit the effects of the thermal bridge in Steel Frame, obtaining equally high levels of energy efficiency in the home. It is important to keep in mind that optimizing the thermal resistance of the envelope is one of the most important factors when it comes to improving the energy efficiency level of a home”, concludes André Luiz.
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