Thermal breaks within a structure with integrated insulation

Abstract

A structure with integrated insulation. The structure with integrated insulation includes a foundation. The foundation is configured to support the structure with integrated insulation. The structure with integrated insulation also includes a steel frame attached to the foundation which includes a first support beam and a second support beam. The structure with integrated insulation further includes an assembly with integrated insulation which includes a building panel with integrated insulation, the building panel with integrated insulation being attached to the first support beam on the first surface of the building panel with integrated insulation and is also attached to the second support beam, wherein the attachment between the first support beam and the second support beam and the building panel with integrated insulation includes adhesive over the entirety of the web of the first support beam and the second support beam in contact with the building panel with integrated insulation. The structure with integrated insulation also includes a thermal break, the thermal break including an uninterrupted portion of the building panel with integrated insulation.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed on Feb. 5, 2014 (Attorney Docket No. 10457.1), and entitled, “STRUCTURE WITH INTEGRATED INSULATION”, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety (hereinafter “first related application”).[0002]This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed on Feb. 5, 2014 (Attorney Docket No. 10457.2), and entitled, “ATTACHMENT COMPONENTS FOR SECURING PORTIONS OF A STRUCTURE WITH INTEGRATED INSULATION TO ONE ANOTHER”, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety (hereinafter “second related application”).[0003]This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed on Feb. 5, 2014 (Attorney Docket No. 10457.3), and entitled, “ATTACHMENT COMPONENTS FOR SECURING PORTIONS OF A STRUCTURE WITH INTEGRATED INSULATION TO ONE ANOTHER”, which application...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a structure with integrated insulation that includes a foundation, a steel frame, and an assembly with integrated insulation. The structure with integrated insulation includes a first building panel with integrated insulation attached to the first support beam and a second building panel with integrated insulation attached to the second support beam. The assembly with integrated insulation includes a thermal break. The technical effects of the patent include improved insulation, reduced weight, and improved thermal performance.

Problems solved by technology

While the amount of energy loss due to thermal bridging may be significant, not many U.S. structural engineers are currently considering in their building designs.

The lack of thermal bridging considerations appears to be due to fundamental misconceptions about the level of impact that a structural engineer's everyday design decisions can have on the thermal efficiency of a structure.

Second, there does not seem to be a compelling argument to do things differently.

How could a wood or a steel plate that extends through the insulation plane of an exterior wall cause very much heat loss?

Also, colder interior surfaces can make people feel colder than the ambient air temperature, causing them to raise the temperature of the room or plug in an electric heater to feel comfortable.

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