ThermConX - Structural thermal break connection

Steel is well known for it's ability to conduct heat and when a metal member is required to run from inside the building envelope through the insulation cavity and on to the outside of the building, it creates a pathway (a cold bridge), which is very efficient at conducting heat energy out of the building and conducting cold back into the building.

Until NOW no satisfactory solution to this problem has been available.

ThermConX, a structural thermal break connection for the construction Industry, combines the very latest high technology ceramic alloy materials with leading edge computer aided design, this combination has negated any requirement for continuous steel connection though the connection.

The new ThermConX Type A11-F66 from Archtechnik not only solves the problem of thermal bridges at source but also retains the connections ability to take load in compression, tension, and shear, and also cantilever moments, and twisting torsion.

The thermal effectiveness of the high technology materials used in the ThermConX connections give them a thermal efficiency of conduction of 0.035 W(Km) compared with a normal conduction efficiency of steel of 47.5 W(Km) and with no loss in their ability to transmit load.

Due to the efficiency of the ThermConX to halt heat energy transferring both ways, the problems of cold spots forming in the walls and ceiling of the building, immediately around where the members protrude through the insulated envelope, are not created.

This eliminates the age old problem of mould and mildew forming on the internal surfaces of the building in these areas as the colder outside temperatures are conducted via the cold bridge back into the building creating sections of internal surface areas known as cold spots, when these areas come into contact with the warmer moist air of the inside of the building the warmer, moist air gives up its water in the form of condensation on the surface of the cold spot, this in turn forms mould etc This unique invention allows the designer the continued freedom to attach items to the outside (or externally) of a the building envelope or structure, while at the same time securely fixing back these items to the building structure of frame work which is contained within the insulative envelope of the building, with out creating a cold bridge, in compliance with Part 'L' of building regulations.

This unique invention: * Enables cold bridging and the associated problems to be designed out of the building, improving the living environment for the occupiers and reducing the carbon foot print of the building.

* It is unique because it affords a structural load bearing connection to be made between 2 or more members, these members could be any material but are mostly likely to be metal, concrete or wood or any combination of these materials.

* It affords the transmission of mechanical loading from one member to another, through the thermal connection with no loss of efficiency of loading.

Although the Thermally broke connection allows the efficient transmission of forces through the connection it does not allow the transmission of the thermal energy or sound waves or any type of electrical current.