What It Means

Thermal bridges are areas in a building envelope where heat flows more easily due to a break or weakness in the insulation layer—typically at junctions like wall-to-floor connections, window frames, or structural penetrations. These spots reduce overall thermal performance and can cause condensation or mold.

Why It Matters

Even small thermal bridges can significantly impact a building’s energy efficiency and indoor comfort. Identifying and minimizing them helps reduce heat loss, lowers heating and cooling costs, and supports the delivery of high-performance, airtight, and sustainable buildings.

Best Practices

• Use continuous insulation to minimize interruptions across the envelope.
• Design thermal break solutions at key junctions (e.g., balcony connections, parapets).
• Model potential bridge areas during early design using thermal simulation tools.
• Follow Passive House or LEED guidelines for acceptable thermal bridge performance.

Real-World Use

Architects and engineers model thermal bridges in façades, curtain walls, and slab edges to avoid hotspots in otherwise high-performance buildings. Addressing these details early can improve energy modeling outcomes and support compliance with zero-energy or low-carbon building standards.

Limitations

• Can be difficult to detect without simulation or field experience.
• Solutions (like thermal breaks or high-performance connectors) can add cost.
• Trade-offs between structural, aesthetic, and thermal goals must be carefully managed.

In Simple Terms

Thermal bridges are like leaks in your building’s thermal coat—they let unwanted heat in or out and make it harder to stay comfortable and efficient.

How D.TO Helps

The D.TO platform helps designers detect and address thermal bridges early in the design process. By analyzing geometry and material performance within your BIM model, D.TO identifies thermal weak points and suggests design adjustments—supporting better envelope performance without disrupting design flow.