Cladding Attachment Devices Managing Thermal Bridging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cladding attachment systems for buildings face challenges in efficiently managing thermal bridging and load distribution across varying insulation thicknesses, leading to increased energy losses and higher costs.
Innovation Solution
The development of modular cladding component attachment devices and anchors that can carry both axial and bending loads, featuring adjustable lengths and materials with low thermal transmittance, allowing for optimized attachment to exterior walls with different insulation thicknesses and load requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If traditional cladding attachment systems are used, then cladding can be fastened to building walls, but thermal bridging increases and energy losses rise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary attachment device between the cladding and the building wall. This device includes a base plate that attaches to the wall and a support member that extends through the insulation to the cladding. The support member acts as a thermal break, reducing thermal bridging by interrupting the direct thermal path from the cladding to the wall, thereby minimizing thermal energy losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment device utilizes composite construction combining different materials with complementary properties. The base plate is made from a material suitable for wall attachment, while the support member is designed to provide both mechanical support and thermal break properties. This composite approach allows the device to simultaneously achieve structural function and thermal insulation, reducing thermal bridging effects.
2Adaptability or versatility
If cladding attachment devices are made longer to accommodate varying insulation thicknesses, then adaptability improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements adjustability in the attachment device through a mechanism that allows the support member length to be modified. This dynamic feature enables the device to adapt to varying insulation thicknesses by adjusting the support member length, while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. The adjustability mechanism provides versatility without significantly increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment device is divided into distinct segments: a base plate portion for wall attachment and a support member portion that extends through the insulation. This segmentation allows the support member length to be independently adjusted to accommodate different insulation thicknesses, providing adaptability while keeping each segment's design simple and the overall structure manageable.
3Strength
If heavier attachment devices are used to carry bending loads, then load-bearing capacity improves, but weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment device employs composite material construction where the base plate and support member are made from materials optimized for their specific functions. The base plate provides anchoring strength, while the support member provides both load-bearing capacity and thermal break properties. This composite approach achieves necessary strength without requiring excessive weight, as each component is sized and material-selected for its specific functional requirements rather than using uniformly heavy construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed to pre-establish proper load distribution paths through its structural configuration. The base plate is positioned to engage with the wall structure, and the support member is oriented to carry both axial and bending loads from the cladding. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures that loads are efficiently distributed to the building structure without requiring the attachment device itself to be excessively heavy, as the structural system works together to bear the loads.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
These devices and anchors reduce thermal bridging, lower weight and cost, and enhance energy efficiency by providing flexible attachment solutions that meet diverse load and insulation thickness conditions, thereby improving the overall thermal performance and cost-effectiveness of building cladding systems.
Implementation Method 1
materials with low thermal transmittance
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, systems, and associated methods for attaching materials girts, rails, cladding, and/or other cladding components to an exterior wall portion (e.g., an insulated exterior wall portion) or other substructure of a building are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the system includes cladding component attachment devices and cladding anchors, each configured to extend between the exterior wall portion and the cladding component. Each cladding anchor can have a base configured to be attached to the exterior wall of the building and a rod attached to the base and projecting outwardly therefrom and having a distal end portion configured to be attached to the cladding component. One or more of the cladding anchors can be positioned between adjacent cladding component attachment devices.