Facade Cladding Fixing System Thermal Bridge Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing façade cladding fixing systems face challenges in reducing thermal bridging while maintaining structural integrity and fire resistance, especially in high-rise buildings.
Innovation Solution
A façade cladding system that includes a rigid insulation material body and a cladding fixing system with a base plate and load-bearing fixings, where the total cross-section of thermally conductive elements extending through the insulation material is minimized to reduce thermal bridging and enhance fire resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional brackets extend fully through the insulation layer to secure cladding to the load-bearing wall, then structural integrity and load support are improved, but thermal bridging increases due to the thermally conductive path through the insulation material
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is divided into two distinct parts: a first portion that extends through the insulation layer and a second portion that is positioned within the cladding zone. This segmentation allows the bracket to maintain structural function while the second portion remains isolated from the insulation material, breaking the thermal bridge path.
Solution Approach 2:
The cladding zone acts as an intermediary barrier between the bracket and the insulation material. By positioning the second portion of the bracket within the cladding zone, the system creates a thermal break that prevents direct thermal conduction from the bracket through the insulation layer to the load-bearing wall.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the cross-sectional area of thermally conductive elements is reduced to minimize thermal bridging, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but the load-bearing capacity and structural support may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is designed with different functional qualities in different portions: the first portion is optimized for thermal performance (minimal cross-section) while the second portion is optimized for structural function (adequate cross-section). This local differentiation allows each portion to perform its specific function effectively without compromising overall system performance.
3Stability of the object's composition
If multiple brackets are used per square metre to secure façade cladding, then structural stability is improved, but the number of thermal bridges through the insulation layer increases
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful thermal conduction path is extracted from the bracket structure by positioning the second portion within the cladding zone rather than allowing it to extend through the insulation layer. This extraction eliminates the thermal bridge at its source while preserving the bracket's structural function.
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
The proposed system effectively reduces thermal bridging and maintains the structural integrity and fire resistance of façade cladding systems, particularly in high-rise buildings, by minimizing the cross-sectional area of thermally conductive elements within the insulation material.
Implementation Method 1
the total cross section of thermally conductive elements of the cladding fixing system extending from the insulation abutting surface of the base plate 100% or more of the insulation material body thickness is less than 500 mm2 per square metre of insulation material
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein is a cladding fixing system for affixing a cladding structure to a load-bearing substrate of a building having an insulation material, the total cross section of thermally conductive elements of the cladding fixing system extending from the insulation abutting surface of the base plate 100% or more of the insulation material body thickness is 500 mm2 or less per square metre of insulation material when installed, a cladding system including the cladding fixing system and an insulation material body, a method of attaching a cladding structure to a load-bearing substrate of a building using the cladding fixing system and system described herein and a building with a cladding system installed.