BU564 Trombe walls (2013)

A Trombe wall is a glazed external wall with thermal mass that absorbs heat from the sun during the day and releases it inside the house at night. During summer, Trombe walls need to be shaded and the house interior well ventilated so temperatures do not become too high.

This bulletin covers the key considerations to bear in mind when designing and constructing a Trombe wall to maximise its benefits.

This bulletin covers:

• benefits of Trombe walls
• orientation and solar access
• glazing
• thermal mass wall design and construction
• venting for heat flow
• design to avoid summer overheating
• finishing and maintenance.