Parametric Study on the Impact of Thermal Bridges on the Heat Loss of Internally Insulated Buildings

Abstract

Internal wall insulation as energy efficiency retrofit measure could considerably help to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of more than 6 million solid wall buildings in the UK. However during retrofit, junctions that are hard to reach are often left uninsulated, increasing heat loss and surface mould growth risk at thermal bridges. This paper presents a parametric study on the impact of thermal bridges on the total heat loss of an internally insulated mid-terrace house. Findings showed that heat flux through junctions occurred mainly at reveals and that the total heat flux at junctions per unit of exposed area was often higher than the default value used in the UK.