PASSIVE HOUSE
Thermal Bridges
Thermal bridges at the connections. Every place the structure crosses the insulation is a spot where heat can escape and moisture can form. We detail those crossings on purpose, using structural thermal breaks at balconies, canopies, and slab edges, and at the joint between the foundation and the wall. Where a break is not possible, we keep the bridge as small as we can and measure it so the energy model stays honest.
Insulation Support
Support for thick insulation and cladding. High-performance walls are thick, and the cladding has to reach back through several inches of insulation to the structure. We design that support to carry wind and weight while keeping the wall stiff enough to stay airtight and free of cracks.
Foundations
Foundations for high-performance walls. The insulation has to wrap the building all the way to the ground, so the structure often carries load through insulation, not just soil. We detail insulation under slabs and footings using the right product for the load, and we break the thermal bridge at the slab edge, which is the coldest line in the building.
Airtightness
Keeping the building airtight. Airtightness is as much about coordination as detailing. We place the structural connections where the air barrier can stay continuous, so the structure is never the reason a building fails its airtightness test. We work closely with the architect, the envelope consultant, and the energy modeller.
Durability/Carbon
Durable and lower in carbon. A high-performance building should last for decades, so the structure has to resist moisture and corrosion everywhere it meets the outside. We detail for that, and we cut embodied carbon by using efficient concrete mixes, using less material where we safely can, and looking at mass timber where it fits.
Early Involvement
In early, not late. Most thermal bridges get built because the structural engineer arrives after the design is set. We would rather be in the room early, lining up the structure with the insulation and airtightness plan before the shape of the building is locked in.
