Thermal breaks play a critical role in insulated panel design by reducing heat and cold transfer. They’re a key component in helping your building maintain more consistent indoor temperatures.
You already know how important it is to insulate your building properly. You want to keep heat and cold from escaping or entering through your walls.
However, even with high-quality insulation, you can still have seepage. Thermal breaks provide an added layer of protection and reduce the unwanted transfer of heat and cold. You’ll get a more energy-efficient building that feels comfortable no matter the temperature outside.
What Is a Thermal Break?
Insulated panels typically contain an insulating core between metal surfaces, with well-designed systems minimizing thermal bridges at joints, connections, fasteners, and other meeting points to maintain a continuous thermal barrier.
Thermal bridging is a shortcut that allows heat to move through areas where the insulation is interrupted. Thermal breaks help limit this transfer by reducing the path through which heat can travel in these areas. If your building has issues with thermal bridging, thermal breaks are one important part of the solution.
Our 4” ISOWALL panels are R-16.1, and our 6” ROCKWALL panels are R-24.1. R-value measures a material’s resistance to heat flow, so a higher R-value means greater resistance to heat moving through the panel. That can make it easier to maintain consistent indoor temperatures and is an important part of what makes these panels valuable.
Of course, thermal performance should not reduce the structural integrity of your building. Thermal breaks don’t make your building structurally stronger, but they work as part of the overall system to give you an efficient building. You need durable walls and a strong building envelope that minimize unwanted heat transfer, and thermal breaks are an important part of the overall system.
Other Benefits of a Quality Insulated Panel System
Thermal performance is only one part of the equation. You have a lot to consider when choosing building materials. Our IMPs offer a variety of additional benefits, including:
Fire Resistance
Our ROCKWALL panels feature an optional mineral wall core that passively boosts fire resistance, so if a fire breaks out, it has a lower chance of spreading throughout the building.
Temperature Control
Many buildings are divided into different spaces, and in some cases, they feature a blend of commercial and industrial spaces. This means that different spaces require different levels of temperature control. Our IMPs allow you to customize temperature control in different areas of your building.
Flexible Layouts
Businesses change over time and in many cases, these changes require building reconfiguration. Our IMPs allow for this. Our wall systems let you add or move doors and windows, and remove and relocate panels as needed.
What to Look for in Insulated Panels
If you think IMPs might be right for your structure, what should you consider when choosing your panels?
- R-value and overall thermal performance
- Ability to handle thermal bridging
- Thickness and construction
- Fire-resistance and local requirements regarding fire safety
- Panel connection and installation
- Intended use of building
- Long-term flexibility needs
- Local climate
Choosing Canadian-Made Panels
You have a lot to consider when choosing which IMPs you’ll use for your building, and whether panels are Canadian-made is one of the most important considerations.
Your building experiences extreme temperature variations throughout the year in Canada. Our weather includes extreme temperatures, snow, and humidity. You need products designed and constructed by people who understand the challenges of Canada’s climate.
Working with a Canadian manufacturer means you get a company that is also familiar with Canadian building requirements, climate conditions, and product standards.
Insulated Panels Built for Your Building
Insulated panels with well-designed thermal breaks can help control how heat moves through your building’s walls while providing the durability and flexibility you need. Our IMPs combine thermal performance, structural integrity, fire resistance, and flexibility into a single solution. They’re a comprehensive option you won’t regret.
If you want to make a smart building choice that includes a complete wall system, our insulated metal panels offer durability, insulation, and long-term thermal performance. For more information or for assistance choosing the right building materials for your structure, reach out to Structural Panels Inc. today to discuss your options.
