ARMATHERM™ FRR STRUCTURAL THERMAL BREAK
Introduction
Armatherm™ Fabric Reinforced Resin (FRR) Thermal Break Pads deliver high performance thermal insulation between interior and exterior steelwork and / or concrete to prevent thermal bridging. Cutting out thermal bridging stops conduction heat loss and prevents surface condensation from forming inside the building that can be due to cold transfer meeting warm air. Armatherm™ Has been independantly evaluated and approved by the SCI (Steel Construction Institute.)
Specifications of Armatherm™ FR Structural Thermal Break
| Metric | Imperial | |||
| Ultimate Loading Pressure | 290 N/mm2 | 42,000 PSI | ||
| Strain at Maximum Pressure | 5% | 5% | ||
| Compressive Modulus | 4640 N/mm2 | 670 KPI | ||
| Shear Strength | 110 N/mm2 | 16 KPI | ||
| Standard Thickness |
|
13mm, 15mm, 20mm 25mm and 50mm |
|
1/2", 3/4", 1", & 2" |
| Density | 1350 Kg/M3 | 84 Lbs/Ft3 | ||
| Thermal Conductivity | 0.30 W/m°K | 0.173 Btu ft/ft2h°F | ||
| Min Operating Temp | -51°C | -60°F | ||
| Max Operating Temp | 90°C | 220°F |
For comparison, the thermal conductivity of Mild Steel is 56 W/m.K
Industry Accreditations for Armatherm™ FR Thermal Break material.
Armatherm™ has been assessed by the SCI (Steel Construction Institute) and the NHBC (National House Builders Council) To avoid substitutions be sure to insist on some independant certification when specifying Thermal Break material.
Washer and Bushing
With a bolt through insulation pad there is the possibility of a slight thermal transfer along the connecting bolt.
For the majority of installations this can be ignored, however this effect can be reduced with the addition of Insulation washers and bushing.
In extreme applications (e.g. Swimming Pools), to prevent condensation on the bolt head, a polyurethane nut cap can be supplied to effectively screen this cold surface from the internal environment.
Bushing Details
| Bolt Size | Hole in Pad | Bushing ID | Bushing OD | Hole in Structure | Bushing Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M12 | 14 | 14 | 20 | 20 | 10 |
| 1/2" |
0.55" |
0.55" |
0.78" |
0.78" |
0.375 |
| M16 | 18 | 18 | 24 | 24 | 13 |
| 5/8" |
0.70" |
0.70" |
1.0" |
1.0" |
0.50" |
| M20 | 22 | 22 | 28 | 28 | 13 |
| 3/4" |
0.86" |
0.86" |
1.10" |
1.10" |
0.50" |
| M24 | 26 | 26 | 32 | 32 | 17 |
| 1" |
1.05" |
1.05" |
1.25" |
1.25" |
0.625" |
For added thermal breaking, bushes and washers can be used on the warm face of the structure.
Washer Details
| Bolt Size | Washer ID | Washer OD | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|
| M12 | 14 | 30 | 6 |
| 1/2" |
0.55" |
1.18" |
0.25" |
| M16 | 18 | 40 | 6 |
| 5/8" |
0.7" |
1.57" |
0.25" |
| M20 | 22 | 47 | 6 |
| 3/4" |
0.86" |
1.85" |
0.25" |
| M24 | 26 | 50 | 6 |
| 1" |
1" |
2.00" |
0.25" |
Thermal Break Diagrams
Armatherm™ Thermal Break Pads are often called, Thermal Bridges, balcony isolators, structural thermal breaks, cantilever steelwork thermal bridging, cold bridge isolation, thermal partitions, steelwork thermal break, thermal bridging, cold bridging pads, cold bridging solutions.