Interlocking Furring Strips to Reduce Cladding Thermal Bridging
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for affixing cladding materials to building facades are inefficient, require multiple workers, lack thermal insulation, and do not address thermal bridging, especially in harsh environments, and there is a lack of clear guidance on hardware components needed for installation.
Innovation Solution
An interlocking furring strip with adjustable lengths, interlocking tabs, predrilled holes, and optional insulation, made of various materials, which provides secure attachment, reduces thermal bridging, and enhances aesthetic appeal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If multiple furring strips are installed to provide connection points for cladding boards, then structural stability and drainage are improved, but installation complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The furring strip is divided into modular sections with interlocking features (tabs and slots) that allow individual segments to connect. This segmentation enables the system to provide multiple connection points for cladding boards while maintaining manageable installation complexity through modular assembly rather than requiring complex continuous structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The interlocking tabs fit into corresponding slots on adjacent furring strip segments, creating a nested connection pattern. This nesting mechanism allows the furring strips to interlock and form a stable grid structure that provides multiple connection points while simplifying installation through a straightforward interlocking process.
2Ease of operation
If metal furring strips are used for cladding installation, then ease of installation is improved, but thermal bridging increases heat load on the building
Solution Approach 1:
An insulation layer is introduced as an intermediary between the metal furring strip and the building facade. This insulation layer breaks the thermal bridge by providing thermal resistance, preventing direct heat conduction through the metal strip while maintaining the ease of installation benefits of the metal furring system.
Solution Approach 2:
The furring strip system combines metal components with insulation materials to create a composite structure. The metal provides structural stability and ease of installation, while the insulation material attached to the metal strip prevents thermal bridging, achieving both ease of operation and energy efficiency through material composition.
3Ease of manufacture
If standard length furring strips are used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different installation scenarios decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The furring strip system incorporates adjustable-length segments that can be configured to different lengths based on installation requirements. This dynamic adaptability allows the same basic furring strip design to accommodate various cladding board sizes and spacing requirements while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through a modular adjustment mechanism rather than requiring multiple specialized products.
Solution Approach 2:
The interlocking tab and slot design provides universal compatibility across different furring strip lengths and configurations. This universal connection mechanism allows the same basic furring strip unit to be adapted to various installation scenarios, including different cladding board sizes and spacing requirements, while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through a single standardized component design.
4Reliability
If vertical furring strips are installed for drainage and ventilation, then functional performance is improved, but aesthetic appearance deteriorates due to visible reflective surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The furring strip incorporates localized features such as tabs and slots at specific positions to maintain drainage and ventilation functionality. These localized functional elements are integrated into the overall structure in a way that preserves aesthetic appearance, allowing the vertical strips to perform their drainage and ventilation functions while presenting a clean, uniform visual profile.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an entirely new metal or other material furring strip based on a “hat channel” design that incorporation a new interlocking feature that helps installers use these strips on vertical (cladding) applications. The hat channel design is any shape that comprises a cross sectional shape of an upside down u-shape with flaps on the bottom extending outwardly similar to the outline of a hat.