What is thermal bypass in building envelopes?
“For a given thickness of insulation, a 7.5 mm gap could result in a 203% increase in heat loss; a 15mm gap could be a 520% increase.” – L. Alter
Badly installed insulation can be close to worthless
SMARTci building enclosure system
SMARTci is an air- and water-tight building enclosure system comprised of GreenGirt CMH sub-framing, integrated insulation panels, and necessary accessories. The SMARTci system installs in a single-pass and is 92-99% thermally efficient, eliminates thermal bypass, and provides the highest R-value available – up to 50% higher than competitive systems.
GUARANTEED TO ELIMINATE THERMAL BYPASS – With its innovative design and meticulous manufacturing, SMARTci is a building enclosure system guaranteed to eliminate thermal bypass. SMARTci features thermally broken Z-girts made from a composite metal hybrid material that prevents thermal bridging and reduces energy loss through the building’s structural elements.
Additionally, SMARTci incorporates high-performance insulation panels and components that are precisely engineered to compression seal along every axis, effectively sealing off any gaps, cracks, and voids to ensure there is no thermal bypass. SMARTci is leading the industry toward more sustainable and environmentally responsible building enclosures with R-values that are 50% higher than competitive systems.
What is guaranteed in SMARTci?
Zero design flaws that allow thermal bypass
Zero design flaws that produce gaps or cracks resulting in thermal bypass
Zero material tolerance issues that cause thermal bypasses
Zero need for field remediation of insulation panels
Real-life thermal performance as per stated R-value
Hassle-free installation
Thermal bypass definition:
The unintended movement of energy through gaps, cracks, or voids in a building’s wall assembly. The phenomenon often stems from design flaws, material inconsistencies or tolerances, and/or improper installation. The presence of thermal bypasses leads to significant energy losses, reducing the overall efficiency of a building and increasing the costs associated with heating and cooling.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Thermal bypass is the unintended movement of energy through gaps, cracks, or voids in a building’s wall assembly, often caused by design flaws, material tolerances/inconsistencies, and/or improper installation. It can lead to significant energy losses, reducing overall efficiency and increasing heating/cooling costs.
SMARTci is an air- and water-tight building enclosure system made up of GreenGirt CMH sub-framing, integrated insulation panels, and accessories. It uses thermally broken composite metal hybrid Z-girts to reduce thermal bridging, and its insulation panels/components are engineered to compression-seal along every axis, closing off gaps, cracks, and voids so thermal bypass is eliminated. The system is described as 92–99% thermally efficient and is guaranteed to eliminate thermal bypass.
SMARTci is guaranteed to eliminate thermal bypass by preventing design flaws that create gaps, cracks, and voids, and by avoiding material tolerance issues that can lead to thermal bypass. The system is designed so insulation panels don’t require field remediation, the wall assembly delivers real-life thermal performance consistent with the stated R-value, and installation remains hassle-free.