BU572 Aggravated thermal bridging research (2014)

Ordinary thermal bridging in roofs occurs when a framing member connecting roof and ceiling allows heat to be lost to the outside and moisture problems to develop inside.

A more severe form of thermal bridging (aggravated thermal bridging) has been found, particularly in institutional buildings, where serious condensation occurs even though steel framing members are not in contact with the ceiling.

This bulletin focuses on BRANZ research to define the situations where aggravated thermal bridging may occur and evaluate four possible conceptual solutions.