Product category:
Walls
News Release from: Schock | Subject: Thermal break range
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 18 June 2007
Thermal break range in landmark project
A landmark apartment scheme by Redrow Homes, comprised of 344 fashionable apartments and penthouses arranged around a secure inner courtyard, uses thermal breaks from Schock.
Hemisphere is a landmark apartment scheme by Redrow Homes, barely a mile from central Birmingham and overlooking Edgbaston Cricket Ground The development is part of a larger mixed development and comprises a mix of 344 fashionable apartments and penthouses arranged around a beautiful lush fully landscaped, tranquil and secure inner courtyard
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 29 Jun 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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Schock counters thermal bridging at 417 Riverside
The only thermal break system offering concrete-to-concrete, concrete-to-steel and steel-to-steel connections.
Structural thermal break module from Schock
Isokorb is the only product of its type that allows thermally efficient connections between concrete-to-concrete, concrete-to-steel and steel-to-steel.
It has a simple and clean design, being restricted to just the four materials of render, brick, terracotta rain-screen and timber panels.
Render has been chosen as the base material for the external surface, wrapping around the whole of the building, to which the other materials are added in a layering methodology.
This simple facade creates a perfect backdrop which links the whole perimeter of the building and allows for elegant and piercing elements of 'visual incident' in the form of balconies, large window openings, coloured glass panels and external feature lighting.
Further reading
Schock thermal break module BBA Certification
Schock thermal break module first to be awarded BBA Certification.
New Schock specifier handbook on thermal bridging
New 16 page, full colour handbook, on thermal bridging solutions for concrete and steel construction is now available from Schock.
Schock system helps minimise heat and energy loss
The Schock system is unique, being the only range of thermal break units that allows thermally efficient connections between concrete-to-concrete, concrete-to-steel and steel-to-steel.
Brian Scally, director for Hemisphere's architects, Capita Architecture, says: "The overall design concept takes much influence from the development name 'Hemisphere' as in a 'meeting of two halves'.
Supplemented by the benefit of both parkland and city living from this unique location, the elevations have been designed as a series of views rather than external facades." Many of the flats have the benefit of a walk-on balcony, and connectively this is also a case of a 'meeting of two halves' - very much a critical connection in fact - as balconies and other cantilever construction elements which project through the building envelope and break the insulation layer are notorious for creating thermal bridges.
There are not too many counter measures that can be taken, but one particularly effective solution that can claim a number of unique dimensions is the Isokorb thermal break range from Schock.
Over 10 million of these innovative, high performance thermal break modules have been installed throughout Europe and they are specifically designed to help architects, designers, structural engineers and contractors meet the Building Regulations Part L.
in England and Wales and Section 6 in Scotland.
These indicate that "The building fabric should be constructed so that there are no significant thermal bridges or gaps in the insulation layer(s) within the various elements of the fabric...and that provision should be taken to avoid condensation and mould formation" There are basically two types of thermal bridge.
Geometric thermal bridges, where part of the structure projects through the building envelope and material thermal bridges where materials with different conductivity are used in combination.
In the case of non-insulated balcony slab connections, the combination of the geometric thermal bridge ("cooling fin" effect of the balcony slab) and the material thermal bridge which is created due to the material used (reinforced concrete slab with good thermal conductivity) protruding through the insulated facade, result in substantial energy loss.
This means that a non-insulated balcony connection is one of the most critical thermal bridges in the building envelope.
Text Box: Project architect, Mark Appleyard of Capita Architecture, is enthusiastic about the benefits offered by the Isokorb...Project architect, Mark Appleyard of Capita Architecture, is enthusiastic about the benefits offered by the Isokorb: "Due to their thermal insulation properties, the Schock Isokorb modules allow us to explore the architectural language and achieve high quality and robust, yet elegant form of detailing around building interfaces such as balconies to external envelope.
At the same time they work to dramatically reduce thermal energy loss in connective areas by guaranteeing the homogeneity of the thermal envelope between cantilever structures and the internal floor".
In addition, they also transfer load and maintain full structural integrity, while at the same time enable inner surface area temperatures to remain well in excess of those likely to cause mould formation and condensation - both of which are completely eliminated in room areas adjacent to the balconies.
In fact, the Isokorb complies with the regulation stipulating that in the UK, the temperature factor used to indicate condensation risk (fRSI), as described in BRE IP1/06, a document cited in Building Regulations Approved Documents Part L1 and L2, must be greater than, or equal, to 0.75 for dwellings.These requirements will be comfortably exceeded by incorporating the Isokorb into the design.
Then there is compliance with the Government Standard Assessment Procedure, SAP 2005, concerning CO2 emissions from buildings, and respectively heat losses through non-repeating thermal bridges.
Here, the andlambda;-values of the Schock Isokorb will enable the energy losses through balconies, canopies and other cantilever parts of the building to be reduced by as much as 84% to 91%.
The Isokorb designed into the Hemisphere project is the type KS 14.
It enables a thermally insulated, load bearing connection to be made between reinforced concrete and steel construction components and at the same time provides a clean and unobtrusive connection detail.
The module can be fitted easily by one man in a matter of minutes and fine-tuning, with adjustment to optimise fitting tolerance, is possible on site.
The units are made from stainless steel components to ensure corrosion protection and to minimise thermal conductivity.
There are more than two hundred and fifty standard solutions available in the Schock range and modules can be tailored to suit practically any application, with different types enabling the transmission of shear, bending moment and tension, as well as compression.
In addition to its exceptional thermal performance ratings, the Schock Isokorb range is also unique on two counts.
It is the only range to offer thermal break solutions for connections between concrete-to-concrete, concrete-to-steel and steel-to-steel - and it is also the only product of its type able to provide BBA Certification for the concrete-to-concrete and concrete-to-steel ranges.
It is an extensive range too.
With over 250 standard solutions it enables accurate compliance with the structural requirements, giving complete freedom of design in the planning and construction phases of thermally efficient private or public sector buildings.
Most Isokorb modules can be tailored to suit practically any application.
Schock has produced a thoroughly comprehensive 236 page reference document which clearly displays the complete range of thermal break applications for all construction types - concrete-to-concrete, concrete-to-steel, steel-to-steel and concrete-to-timber. Request a free brochure from Schock ...
There is a newly designed table of contents which provides effortless navigation and prompt access to all key details, along with helpful checklists to simplify and make planning easier.
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