All buildings should provide a durable enclosure, thermally comfortable interior, good indoor air quality and energy-efficient operation. These measures can largely be met through an airtight building fabric with adequate controlled ventilation and continuous insulation to address thermal bridging. This fundamental approach represents a step-change in how most Australian buildings – of all types – are currently designed and constructed.
This note provides strategies to reduce thermal bridging within a building's structure and achieve a high-quality airtight envelope. The note also considers the critical synergies between airtightness and effective ventilation for optimal indoor environment quality.
Key words: airtightness, condensation, controlled ventilation, insulation, thermal bridging.