Thermal Break For Concrete Floors

The sides of the concrete slab also referred to as the perimeter wall is often forgotten or not considered at all with respect to the thermal envelope.

Thermal break for concrete floors.

Rigid foam is a nice option because it provides an excellent thermal break between concrete and flooring. The thermal breaks consist of a graphite enhanced expanded polystyrene module with stainless steel rebar running through the insulation for tension and shear resistance. Notice that there is no welded wire mesh. A schöck isokorb structural thermal break is a fabricated assembly that is cast into the concrete floor slab at the location of the building insulation layer.

Any gab in this thermal envelope is an avenue for heat loss known as a thermal bridge. Stones gravel keep the plastic from blowing away. Remember that the thermal envelope is the boundary between the inside conditioned space and the outside. Concrete placement shows concrete being placed on the top of the sheet polyethylene and a layer of xps insulation.

The bars tie into the rebar. A thermal break worthy of great artisans. A thermal break to the perimeter of the floor slab between the slab edge and the foundation greatly increases r value.