Thermal Building Physics for Facades

Thermal building physics connects the facade build-up with the building’s energy and building-physics requirements.

• Priedemann investigates thermal protection, glazing, solar control, insulation, thermal bridges and condensation risk.
• Relevant performance values and material build-ups are determined from local and project-specific requirements.
• Where commissioned, values from the facade and building services also contribute to the overall energy balance of the building.
• Priedemann assesses the thermal performance of facades and develops suitable component and layer build-ups.
• This can include calculating U-values and g-values, insulation thicknesses, isotherms, two- or three-dimensional thermal bridges, surface temperatures and condensation risk.

• Depending on the appointment, component catalogues are prepared and values from the facade and building services are combined for the building’s overall energy balance.
• The findings support decisions on thermal protection, materials, glazing, solar control and technical detailing.

Facade performance and building energy

• Thermal assessment does not always stop at an individual facade component.
• Depending on the appointment, values from the facade and building services can be combined when considering the building’s overall energy balance.
• Isotherms, thermal-bridge calculations and surface temperatures can also show where construction details become critical and where condensation risk may arise.
• Thermal building physics therefore connects individual material and detailing decisions with the wider energy performance of the building