Grant: College - University Idea to Innovation Grants

Considerable research is being conducted in the area of energy conservation for building design. A significantengineering problem requires the development of a cost-effective design for an effective thermal break inbalconies in the design of high-rise residential buildings. The heat loss through the balcony slabs can loweroccupant comfort and also increase the energy costs for the building. Preliminary estimates through modellingindicate that heat losses of approximately 271 kWh/year per meter of balcony width occur in Manitoba'sclimate.The traditional balcony design in a high-rise residential building typically involves the design and constructionof a one or two way conventionally reinforced concrete slab, which cantilevers beyond the exterior wall orplane of environmental separation. In the absence of a thermal break, conduction will significantly reduce thetemperature of the concrete floor slab, creating conditions conducive to condensation. The cooler temperaturesare particularly damaging to window-wall systems, which will cool the frame and glazing to below the dewpoint - under even moderate winter conditions. The now typical use of forced air systems tend to exacerbate theproblem as furnishings and other obstructions can restrict warm air flow to the exterior walls.Design solutions are therefore required to enable designers and constructors to implement an effective thermalbreak in the structural concrete slabs which not only provide for safe load transfer but substantially reduce thethermal conduction provided by the projecting structural elements. Thermal break solutions exist for concretebalconies, but they have been developed in Europe and have proven to be cost prohibitive in our local market.Alternatively, balconies can be broken from the building envelope through a separate structural support system- however this adds to the material requirements for the building and increases cost.