Design Energy-Efficient Buildings

Build Better: Master Thermal Performance for Energy-Efficient Design

Designing buildings that are energy-efficient and comfortable to be in? It starts with understanding thermal performance.

More than just a regulatory requirement, thermal performance is what sets high-quality projects apart. Whether you're an architect, consultant, installer, or building owner, getting to grips with the fundamentals of thermal performance is key to long-term success.

Why Thermal Performance Matters

A building's ability to manage heat flow between indoors and out - this is what defines thermal performance. The goal is to minimise energy loss and maximise comfort.

To evaluate this, we look at key indicators:

• Lambda (λ): A material’s ability to conduct heat. The lower the λ, the better the insulation.

• Thermal resistance (R): This combines material thickness and λ to show how well it resists heat transfer. The higher the R, the better.

These figures matter most where it counts - walls, roofs, floors, and especially windows and doors.

Smart Choices for Smarter Building Envelopes

Choosing the right insulation materials is essential. Whether it's glass wool, rock wool, or wood fibre, every product plays a role in how the whole building performs.

Projects with complex needs, like glass facades or retrofitting commercial spaces, require even more precision. Think heritage conservation projects, building conversions, and awkward angles. That's where products need to be cohesive: orientation, thermal inertia, airtightness, solar gain, and managing thermal bridges all need to be factored in.

Why Aluminium? Why TECHNAL?

Windows and doors are some of the most vulnerable points in the building envelope. TECHNAL aluminium fenestration systems tackle this head-on.

Aluminium is naturally conductive. But our profiles include thermal break technology - insulating polyamide bars made from recycled material. These significantly reduce conductivity.

For example:

• A 20 mm thermal break bar reaches a resistance of R = 0.1 m².K/W

• Our best-performing profiles combined with high-spec glazing can achieve Uw values below 0.79 W/m².K

This results in high-efficiency products that improve your building's thermal performance.

Think System-Wide, Not Just Material Deep

Thermal performance is never just about one material, it's about how every component works together. Orientation, solar exposure, airtightness, continuity of insulation - it all matters.

This is why we don't just provide profiles, we help you at the start of your project to enable you to meet your goals.

Co-Design Smarter with TECHNAL Tools

From the first sketch to the final installation, our thermal performance tools let you test and refine your concepts. Our certified data sets (EPD, LCA) make decision-making easier. And our software supports everything from BIM modelling to acoustic analysis and costing.

Need extra support? Our training sessions are designed to help you integrate TECHNAL software into your bids and projects with confidence.