Research Information System
4th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality, Ventilation and Energy Conservation in Buildings (IAQVEC 2001), Changsha, China, 2 - 05 October 2001, pp.1959-1966
In buildings with a reinforced concrete (r.c.) skeleton structural system, components of the structural system like, beams, columns or cantilevered slabs in the external envelope mostly break the continuity of the thermal insulation layer or the self-insulated wall, causing "thermal bridges". In addition junctions between the exterior wall and other building elements like other walls, roofs, slabs, windows or doors are creating areas where the heat transfer is higher than a part of a wall free from thermal anomalies. Such "thermal bridges" not only increase heat transfer but also are potential cold surfaces for moisture accumulation. Different architectural details for the intersection of building elements and the structural system are resulting in different thermal performance.