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With the advent of the Green Deal, Energy Company Obligation (ECO) and other financial incentives to improve the UK’s existing building stock, there has never been a more relevant time to push the construction industry towards better performance. Current practice during refurbishment does little or nothing to minimise the effects of thermal bridging or inconsistency in thermal envelope performance. This guide sets out clear principles and methods that should be considered and adopted during the design and installation of solid wall insulation in order to reduce thermal bridging effects, maximise carbon dioxide (CO2) emission reductions and minimise the risk of condensation. 

The effect of installing external and internal wall insulation in typical solid wall homes has been modelled for junctions with windows, eaves, floors and party walls. Potential problems are considered, taking examples from recent refurbishment projects in which BRE has been involved. This BRE Trust Report will be a useful resource for public and private clients looking to improve the performance of their properties and for architects/designers, specifiers and installers.

Contents
Executive summary
1 Introduction
2 Background-Risks associated with thermal bridging
-Solid wall constructions modelled
-Key junction details modelled
3 Detailing of external wall insulation
-Window jamb
-Window head
-Window sill
-Eaves
-External wall/ground floor junction
-Party wall/external wall junction
-Quality control on site
-Conclusions for external wall insulation
4 Detailing of internal wall insulation
-Interstitial condensation risk
-Window jamb
-Window head
-Window sill
-Intermediate floor/external wall junction (within the same dwelling)
-Intermediate floor/external wall junction (in apartments)
-Party wall/external wall junction
-Quality control on site
-Conclusions for internal wall insulation
5 Comparing the overall thermal performance of external and internal insulation
-Conclusions for external versus internal wall insulation of solid walls
6 References