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Types of thermal bridge

Several different types of thermal bridge can be distinguished:

1. The so-called geometrical thermal bridge is due to a discrepancy between the inside and outside area of an external wall (e.g. at the corner of the building), whereas the rest of the building element is implemented uniformly.

Geometrical thermal bridge: section through the corner of an externally insulated external wall showing the isotherms at an outside temperature of -10 °C and an inside temperature of 20 °C. The 18 °C isotherm is located on the wall surface when it is close to the corner, but lies within the wall when it is further away from the corner (source: Bauigel; https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/W%C3%A4rmebr%C3%BCcke#/media/File:Waermebruecke_geometrisch.jpg)

2. A material thermal bridge occurs where more than one type of material is used in a structure. A simple example is a horizontal fire barrier with a different thermal conductivity incorporated in a composite thermal insulation system.
3. Structural thermal bridges occur for example because of structural requirements applying to a building element, e.g. a reinforced-concrete pillar in single-shell insulating masonry.

It should also be noted that linear thermal bridges generally occur at edges, connections and junctions, but spot weaknesses can also occur, e.g. at anchor points for curtain walls, canopy roofs, balconies, etc.