QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENTOF THERMAL BRIDGES IN TERMS OFCONDENSATION RISK AND ENERGY USE :EUROKOBRA and IAKOB software tools

摘要

Even in rather well ventilated buildings, moisture and mould problems may occur if there are important thermalrnbridges. Too low surface temperatures can lead to severe moisture problems and even health complaints by thernoccupants. Thermal bridges lead also to a significant increase of the energy losses in well insulated buildings. Atrnpresent, thermal bridge problems still frequently occur in new buildings but especially in rehabilitation projects.rnThe KOBRA software and EUROKOBRA database offer a computerised thermal bridge atlas for 2-dimensionalrndetails. The main characteristics of the proposed atlas is its user friendliness, the large flexibility of modifying therndetail (layer thickness, materials, boundary conditions,…) and the way of presenting the results (e.g. colour picturesrnshowing the isothermal lines, the heat flux lines,…). It is a very useful tool for so-called global training actions (forrnschools, colleges, architects, building contractors,…) and for assessing the more typical thermal bridges.rnAnother tool is IAKOB, which can be considered as an awareness tool whereby the major aim is to help designersrnand other building professionals to better understand the importance of thermal bridges and means for avoidingrnthermal bridges.