kylmäsiltaefekteihin

Kylmäsiltaefektit, often translated as cold bridge effects or thermal bridging, refer to areas in a building's envelope where heat flows more readily than in surrounding areas. These areas typically occur where materials with lower thermal resistance, such as structural elements like concrete, steel, or wood, interrupt the insulation layer. This creates a pathway for heat to escape from the interior during cold weather and to enter during warm weather.

The consequence of cold bridges is a reduction in the overall thermal performance of the building. This can lead to increased energy consumption for heating and cooling, as the building's systems must work harder to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature. Furthermore, cold bridges can cause localized areas on the interior surfaces to become colder than the surrounding wall. This temperature difference can lead to condensation, which in turn can promote mold growth and material degradation, potentially compromising the building's structure and indoor air quality.

Identifying and mitigating cold bridges is an important aspect of energy-efficient building design and construction. Common methods for addressing these effects include ensuring continuous insulation, using thermal breaks in structural elements, and carefully detailing junctions between different building components. Advanced building science tools and thermal imaging can be used to detect existing cold bridges in a building.