October 16, 20215 yr SE specified steel column in cavity wall, with an internal steel beam resting on it. Blown in bonded EPS beads will be the cavity insulation. Yet to be built. Only the steel column (100x100x5) is installed so far, but walls going up quickly. Steel beam will be 203x102x23. How to minimise thermal bridging & draughts around that area?
October 16, 20215 yr Best way is to design them out, I tell engineers where I want the structural steelwork, ie inside the thermal envelope. There is more than one wat to crack this egg
October 16, 20215 yr Sketch or photo please? You can probably fix PIR to the steel before the wall goes up.
October 16, 20215 yr Author plan view. Problem areas marked in red. Unfortunately column is in already. Cannot undo without vast expense. But can try to squeeze something in the very tiny spaces around the column. Edited October 16, 20215 yr by WWilts added pic
October 16, 20215 yr Author 1 hour ago, ETC said: Pump it. 1 hour ago, TonyT said: Wrap it in aerogel? Perhaps bonded EPS beads would help. Smallest beads are said to be 2 mm diameter. But not as effective as aerogel. Trouble is aerogel is more pricey than gold (weight for weight, literally so).
October 16, 20215 yr Author Is there a way to place a thermal break between the top plate of the column and the bottom of the beam that sits on the top plate?
October 16, 20215 yr The main thermal loss would appear to be from the beam to the column, as it appears to be exposed to the elements. Is that the case? If it can be insulated then that would be great. I don't know aerogel but it appears to be as good as PIR board but flexible with it. Whatever, wrap the column on all sides with whatever you can, and find a way to protect the beam too a Thermal break between the column and the beam will have to be very strong too...so is perhaps a bit special. but anything that is a lot better than steel will help, however thin. But do get your Engineer's approval for it. Actually, tell your Engineer that you want to insulate the steel, and what does he suggest. Edited October 16, 20215 yr by saveasteading
October 16, 20215 yr 2 hours ago, WWilts said: But not as effective as aerogel. Trouble is aerogel is more pricey than gold (weight for weight, literally so). It's quite lightweight!
October 16, 20215 yr Wouldn’t worry too much - you’ve a massive window right next to it leaking heat.
October 16, 20215 yr Author 2 hours ago, saveasteading said: a Thermal break between the column and the beam will have to be very strong too 33 minutes ago, Iceverge said: Externally insulate this wall 20 minutes ago, ETC said: you’ve a massive window right next to it leaking heat. All good points. Patio door actually, U value 1.2. Extended the wall a bit for unconnected reasons, thereby protecting the square column on another side. Only the corner of the column now abuts the brick. Might achieve improvements with a strip of insulation in the external corner (purple circle is soil stack). Plus load bearing thermal break between the top of the column and the beam (Armatherm or similar emerged during online searches). This forum is great. Is there a simple way to insulate an external corner? Red facing brick. Should have insulated the base of the column too. Edited October 16, 20215 yr by WWilts
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