What Is an Example of a Thermal Break?

An everyday example of a thermal break is the polyamide (PA 6.6) insulating strip that separates the inner and outer aluminum sections of a window or curtain wall frame, disrupting heat flow through the metal and reducing condensation and energy loss. More broadly, a thermal break is any low-conductivity material inserted between conductive components to cut thermal bridging, a key strategy in modern energy-efficient building envelopes and assemblies.

Why Thermal Breaks Matter

A thermal break interrupts a “thermal bridge”—a path of least resistance for heat—through conductive materials such as aluminum, steel, or concrete. By placing a low-conductivity material between these elements, thermal breaks reduce heat transfer, improve interior surface temperatures, limit condensation risk, and boost overall energy performance. In cold climates, they help keep interior surfaces warmer; in hot climates, they reduce unwanted heat gain.

Common Real-World Examples

The following examples illustrate where designers and builders most often integrate thermal breaks to improve energy performance and comfort while mitigating moisture and durability issues.

• Thermally broken aluminum window and door frames using polyamide insulating strips that mechanically join the interior and exterior frame halves.
• Structural thermal break modules at balcony or canopy slab penetrations (e.g., fiber-reinforced polymer/insulation blocks separating interior concrete from exterior slabs).
• Curtain wall systems with thermal spacers in pressure plates and thermal isolators in mullions to interrupt metal-to-metal paths.
• Insulated metal panels (IMP) in which a rigid foam core separates exterior and interior steel skins.
• Thermal break pads or shims under steel ledger angles, shelf angles, or canopy brackets (typically high-strength, low-conductivity composite or phenolic materials).
• Exterior cladding attachment systems that use thermally isolated clips and stand-offs with plastic/composite thermal separators to maintain continuous insulation.
• Door thresholds and sills incorporating PVC or polyamide isolators to separate indoor and outdoor metal components.
• Fasteners with thermal caps or sleeves, or stand-off systems that reduce direct metal penetration through insulation layers.

Taken together, these applications target the most significant thermal bridges in envelopes and assemblies, where even small conductive paths can drive higher energy use and raise condensation risks.

How a Thermal Break Works

Heat moves rapidly through metals like aluminum (roughly 160–220 W/m·K), but far more slowly through polymers and dense foams (often under 0.3 W/m·K). By inserting a low-conductivity material—such as polyamide, fiberglass-reinforced polymer, high-density polyurethane foam, phenolic composite, or aerogel-enhanced insulation—between two conductive parts, the overall heat flow drops sharply. The result is lower U-factors, warmer interior surface temperatures in winter, cooler surfaces in summer, and reduced risk of condensation and mold around cold spots.

Codes, Standards, and Performance Targets

Energy codes and standards increasingly push teams to mitigate thermal bridging to meet envelope U-factor and overall building performance targets. Frameworks such as the 2021/2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and ASHRAE 90.1 emphasize better fenestration U-factors and continuous insulation, while many high-performance programs (e.g., Passive House, net-zero energy initiatives) rely on quantified thermal bridge reductions to achieve strict heating and cooling limits. In practice, this often means specifying thermally broken frames, structural break modules at balconies, and thermally isolated cladding attachments.

Typical Specifications and Materials

In fenestration, polyamide strips commonly range from about 14 to 34 mm in width, with deeper profiles used for improved performance. Structural thermal breaks for concrete-to-concrete or steel-to-concrete connections combine compression- and shear-capable components with insulation layers to maintain structural continuity without creating a thermal highway. For cladding, composite thermal clips and spacers are selected to balance strength, corrosion resistance, and low conductivity.

Installation and Design Considerations

Designers and installers should coordinate thermal breaks early to ensure they are continuous, structurally adequate, and properly flashed, sealed, and detailed. The following steps summarize good practice during design and construction.

1. Map thermal bridges in the envelope (frames, penetrations, slabs, attachments) and prioritize high-impact locations.
2. Select thermal break materials with proven structural capacity, durability, and appropriate thermal conductivity.
3. Detail continuity: align thermal breaks with continuous insulation, gaskets, and air/water barriers to avoid gaps.
4. Coordinate with structural and envelope consultants to validate load paths and minimize point thermal bridges.
5. Inspect during installation for complete contact, correct fasteners, and intact seals to prevent air and water leakage.

By treating thermal breaks as integral components rather than add-ons, projects achieve more reliable energy performance and durability with fewer condensation callbacks.

Bottom Line

An insulating polyamide strip in an aluminum window frame is a clear, widely used example of a thermal break. Across buildings and products, similar low-conductivity inserts—at frames, slabs, cladding attachments, and connectors—interrupt heat flow, improve comfort, and help meet increasingly stringent energy targets.

Summary

A thermal break is a low-conductivity barrier placed between conductive parts to reduce heat transfer. A common example is the polyamide strip separating inner and outer aluminum frame sections in windows and curtain walls. Other applications include balcony slab break modules, thermal spacers in curtain walls, insulated metal panels, thermal break pads for steel connections, and thermally isolated cladding attachments. Correctly designed and installed, these measures cut thermal bridging, enhance comfort, and support compliance with modern energy codes and high-performance standards.

What can be used as a thermal break?

Thermal break materials, such as reinforced thermoset resins, high-density foams, and fiberglass composites, are insulating barriers with low thermal conductivity used in building construction to reduce heat transfer through structural components, preventing thermal bridging and improving energy efficiency. Common examples include Armatherm FRR (a reinforced thermoset resin) and Fabreeka-TIM RF (a rigid polyurethane foam), used in structural steel connections and façade attachments to minimize heat loss, condensation, and energy consumption.
 
What is a Thermal Break?

• A thermal break is an insulating barrier placed between two conductive materials, like steel or concrete, to interrupt the direct path of heat flow. 
• It’s crucial for reducing thermal bridging, which occurs when a highly conductive material creates a shortcut for heat to escape or enter a building. 

Common Thermal Break Materials

• Reinforced Thermoset Resins: Opens in new tabMaterials like Armatherm are durable, high-strength composites used in structural connections to carry heavy loads while providing excellent thermal insulation. 
• High-Density Foams: Opens in new tabClosed-cell rigid polyurethane foams, such as Fabreeka-TIM RF and Armatherm 500, offer high compressive strength and are suitable for non-moment and harsh-environment applications. 
• Fiberglass Composites: Opens in new tabPultruded fiberglass materials are used for cladding attachments and other components to reduce heat loss at metal building connections. 

Key Benefits of Thermal Break Materials

• Improved Energy Efficiency: Opens in new tabBy minimizing heat flow, thermal breaks significantly reduce a building’s heating and cooling energy consumption. 
• Reduced Condensation and Mold: Opens in new tabThey help maintain stable indoor temperatures, preventing moisture buildup on surfaces, which can lead to mold and corrosion. 
• Enhanced Structural Integrity: Opens in new tabBy addressing cold bridging, thermal breaks help preserve the structural soundness of buildings. 
• Compliance with Building Codes: Opens in new tabThe use of thermal breaks helps designers meet or exceed energy codes, contributing to higher building performance standards. 

Applications

• Structural Steel Connections: Opens in new tabUsed in moment and shear connections, column bases, and other bolted junctions where steel passes through the building envelope. 
• Facade and Cladding Attachments: Opens in new tabIntegrated into cladding systems, sunshades, and curtain walls to prevent heat loss from exterior walls. 
• Balconies and Cantilevers: Opens in new tabProvide thermal isolation at structural elements like cantilevered balconies. 
• Window and Door Transitions: Opens in new tabHelp create a continuous thermal envelope to improve overall insulation. 

What does a thermal break look like?

And a little furry that is the thermal. Break this is a non-conductive. Or very low conductive material. Because we have conduction. Here very little conduction.

What is considered a thermal break?

A thermal break is a low-conductivity material placed within building components, such as window frames or concrete structures, to interrupt the flow of heat. It acts as a barrier, significantly reducing heat transfer between the conductive interior and exterior elements of a building. This interruption minimizes energy loss, prevents condensation, improves indoor comfort by maintaining stable temperatures, and extends the lifespan of building materials.
 
How Thermal Breaks Work

• Interrupting Conduction: Opens in new tabMaterials like aluminum are excellent conductors of heat. A thermal break uses a material with low thermal conductivity (like a polymer or rigid foam) to separate the conductive parts of a frame or structure. 
• Blocking Heat Flow: Opens in new tabThis physical barrier stops the direct transfer of thermal energy, preventing hot or cold temperatures from the outside from permeating the interior. 
• Example in Windows: Opens in new tabIn a window frame, the thermal break is a polymer strip inserted between the exterior and interior sections of the metal frame. This prevents the outside heat from conducting through the frame and heating the inside, and vice versa. 

Benefits of Thermal Breaks

• Improved Energy Efficiency: By reducing heat transfer, thermal breaks help to maintain consistent indoor temperatures, leading to lower energy consumption for heating and cooling. 
• Comfort: They create a more comfortable indoor environment by preventing large temperature differences across building components. 
• Condensation Prevention: They minimize the temperature difference between surfaces, reducing the risk of condensation, which can lead to moisture issues like mold growth. 
• Increased Durability: Reducing thermal stress on materials helps prevent excessive expansion and contraction, contributing to the longer lifespan of building components. 
• Structural Integrity: Structural thermal breaks, used in concrete applications like balconies, are designed to manage structural loads while still providing thermal isolation. 

What are three examples of thermal?

What are some examples of thermal energy?

• The warmth from the sun.
• A cup of hot chocolate*
• Baking in an oven.
• The heat from a heater.