Facade Retaining Profile Recesses Break Thermal Bridges

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fastening devices for facade systems, particularly those with metal profiles, create thermal bridges that lead to undesirable heat loss and moisture penetration issues, compromising the insulation and integrity of building facades.

Innovation Solution

A retaining profile with a second contact surface featuring step-like recesses and webs, reducing the contact area by at least 30% and incorporating notches to guide fasteners, which minimizes heat transfer and supports panel-shaped cladding elements while preventing moisture penetration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a metal retaining profile is used for fastening facade elements, then the structural strength and fastening capability are improved, but thermal bridges are formed causing heat loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefastening capabilityVSAvoidheat loss
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

An intermediary layer (air gap created by recesses) is introduced between the metal retaining profile and the facade panel to break the direct thermal contact path. The recesses create discontinuities in the thermal bridge, allowing the metal profile to maintain its fastening function while reducing heat transfer to acceptable levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The retaining profile incorporates a porous or discontinuous contact surface through recesses, transforming the solid continuous contact into a fragmented contact pattern. This porous contact surface reduces thermal conductivity while maintaining mechanical support capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If the contact surface area between retaining profile and cladding element is increased, then the support and stability are improved, but heat transfer and moisture penetration increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport stabilityVSAvoidmoisture penetration
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous contact surface is segmented into multiple discrete contact points through recesses. This segmentation maintains adequate support stability through distributed contact points while creating air gaps that prevent continuous moisture pathways and reduce overall heat transfer area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of energy

If recesses are added to reduce contact surface area, then heat loss is reduced, but the complexity of the profile increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat lossVSAvoidprofile complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The recesses are integrated into the extrusion process of the retaining profile, merging the thermal break feature with the profile manufacturing. This combining approach adds minimal complexity to the overall system while achieving the thermal reduction goal, as the recesses are formed during the base profile production rather than requiring separate components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Significantly reduces heat loss and moisture penetration, ensuring effective insulation and preventing material damage, while facilitating easy assembly and maintaining a visually appealing facade.

Implementation Method 1

the recesses reducing the total area of the second contact surface by at least 30%, preferably by at least 50%, more preferably by at least 60%... the contact surface lying against the panel-shaped wall or ceiling cladding element... heat transfer in this area is prevented or at least significantly reduced

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

Such a recess causes an air-filled space between the retaining profile and the panel-shaped wall or ceiling cladding element, so that heat transfer in this area is prevented or at least significantly reduced

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP2446094B1Support section for a facade system
Publication Date: 2016.10.12 STO SE & CO KGAA
  • EP2446094B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a support section for a facade system, for directly or indirectly fixing at least one essentially panel-type wall-covering or ceiling-covering element to a support structure of a building, comprising a first contact surface (1) for attaching the support section to a support element which is directly or indirectly fixed to the support structure, and a second contact surface (2), for attaching an essentially panel-type wall-covering or ceiling-covering element or a further support element to the support section, lying essentially perpendicularly to the first contact surface. According to the invention the second contact surface (2) has several recesses (3) which are designed in a step-like manner and which run in the longitudinal direction of the support profile. The recesses (3) are separated by ridges (4) which form at least a part of the second contact surface (2), and the recesses (3) reduce the total surface of the contact surface by at least 30%, preferably by at least 50% or 60%. Furthermore, the invention relates to a fixing device for a facade system comprising such a support section and a facade system comprising such a fixing device.