Reduced Thermal Bridging - It’s Official!
The SCI has assessed and verified thermal modelling work carried out by Fusion Building Systems for the various junction details of their light steel framing system. Results from the thermal modelling has shown that heat losses through the junction details in the Fusion system are significantly lower than generic thermal bridging data for light steel construction suggests.
In order to assess the thermal performance of a building it is necessary to calculate the amount of heat loss through the building envelope which includes heat losses through thermal bridges that exist at the various junction details as well as heat losses through the planar elements such as walls, roof, windows and doors. Heat loss at a thermal bridge is measured by the linear thermal transmittance (also known as the psi-value).
Wall corner junction detail Wall corner thermal model
The assessment of 12 different junction details for the Fusion system was undertaken through the ‘SCI Assessed’ scheme which has verified that appropriate procedures and methods have been followed and that the linear thermal transmittance values and temperature factor values have been calculated correctly.
The Fusion linear thermal transmittance values are significantly lower than those published for generic light steel construction (e.g. Accredited Construction Details). Hence, the thermal modelling and its verification has been extremely beneficial to Fusion as building energy performance models can use accurate and improved psi-values. Thereby, producing better results when buildings are assessed for; The Code for Sustainable Homes, Building Energy Performance Certificates and Building Energy Ratings.
For further information, please contact:
Andrew Way
Manager of Light Gauge Construction
Email: a.way@steel-sci.com
Tel: 01344 636577
See also:
www.sci-assessed.com
www.fusionbuildingsystems.com