Concept of Thermal Bridging in Wood Framed Construction

Shawn P. Kelley
Moment Engineering + Design

Mike Blanford
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not represent the official positions or policies of the Office of Policy Development and Research, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), or the U.S. Government.

Thermal bridging through wood framing accounts for significant energy loss in an insulated wood-framed wall assembly. The Model Energy Code has been silent on thermal bridging in wood-framed construction and instead has focused on the R-value of the insulation within the wall cavity. For the first time, the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) will now require continuous insulation as a part of the wood-framed wall requirements in colder climates. A common solution to this requirement is to place a layer of rigid foam insulation on the exterior of the wall assembly; however, the code allows for alternative methods, providing an opportunity for innovation.