A thermal bridge is a highly undesirable building defect that leads to unnecessary energy losses. In the worst case, it can even cause massive damage to buildings. It is usually caused by a lack of expertise in the planning or construction of a house. Müller TB Technologies AG, which has more than 30 years experience in manufacturing machines for the window industry, offers rolling systems that reduce thermal bridges on windows, doors and façades to a minimum.

How do thermal bridges work?

Thermal separation interrupts the heat-conducting connection from the inside to the outside. This heat transfer can affect any building component with a direct connection from the interior to the exterior of the shell, including cantilever slabs for balconies, damaged or missing insulation or poorly constructed windows. Müller Technologies systems combine various aluminium profiles with insulating strips that act effectively as thermal separation. These are usually made of glass-reinforced polyamide. Contact us  

Consequences of a thermal bridge

Depending on its characteristics, a thermal bridge can lead to high heating costs eespecially if caused by poorly insulated windows or balcony cantilever slabs. The latter can be imagined as a cooling fin on an air-cooled engine. The interior heat heats up the window pane or balcony slab, air passing by dissipates the heat and a permanent cold spot is created in the interior. However, a thermal bridge does not only lead to increased heating costs. Much worse is the fact that condensation water permanently precipitates at the cold spots. Unwanted humidity in the interior leads to increased mould and rot formation, which can endanger the residential function of a building.

Measures against a thermal bridge

Thermal bridges must be broken with insulating materials. In the case of construction elements, this is done using hard foam, rock wool or bulk insulation. Special constructive measures are required in windows, especially when aluminium windows are involved. This type of window, with its double or triple glazing and hollow profiles, is already designed for a good insulating effect. On the downside, aluminium window frames are particularly susceptible to the effects of thermal bridging. This can be avoided by dividing the frame into an inner and an outer frame and installing an insulating plastic profile between the two frame halves. This solution provides a high-quality, maintenance-free and sustainable window with good insulating properties.

Why aluminium profiles for window construction?

Admittedly, a wooden window is usually more attractive than an aluminium frame. But as a natural building material, wood always has only a limited durability. It must be regularly sanded and repainted. Particularly in cold humid or coastal regions, wooden windows therefore have a very limited service life. Plastic windows are widely used as an alternative to wood or aluminium. But even these very inexpensive solutions have their limits: The plastic will weather over time and the frames may warp. Then the window no longer closes properly and valuable heating energy escapes to the outside. Then the ability of wood and plastic to offer protection against thermal bridges is impaired. An aluminium profile, on the other hand, cannot be surpassed in durability. It performs without a hitch for decades and can be 100% recycled at the end of its service life.

How does the insulation against the thermal bridge get into the aluminium profile?

Rolling machines are tools used to incorporate the insulation against the thermal bridge into an aluminium profile. Only with thermal separation does the aluminium window have its full technical capacity. Müller TB Technologies AG offers a wide range of rolling machines that give thermal bridges no chance.