A justification for the design of external thin light steel walls from the perspective of thermal protection of buildings

Abstract

Introduction. The article describes features of the design of external steel walls that ensure thermal insulation of buildings. Facade finishing methods are studied. Energy consumption by households, that consumes up to 40 % of all national energy resources, has triggered the development of energy-saving technologies. Their use will solve several problems at once, including conservation of natural energy resources, changing the system of housing and utility services, reducing environmental pollution, increasing the profitability of enterprises and the implementation of energy-saving programmes. Materials and methods. Not only new materials have been developed, but also the whole systems of enclosure structures, which require the study of structural and technological characteristics of facade systems. National standards have not yet been developed for numerous modern, relatively new materials designated for the insulation of external walls. There are two principal methods of wall insulation. The first one is the so-called “wet” method, that entails the use of gypsum mortar. The second one is “dry”; it entails the use of structural hinges to make an air gap between the outer screen and insulation. Results. Russian houses feature very low energy efficiency, and since the cost of electricity and gas for a Russian consumer is lowest in Europe, heat consumption (heating, hot water) is much higher than in Europe. Modern facade systems not only allow to change and beautify the appearance of the city due to a variety of styles and colours of its urban structures, they also improve thermal insulation properties and reduce construction time. Conclusions. External walls, having ventilated facades, are applied in residential and public buildings. They have a supplementary layer of thermal insulation, which is normally used in the construction of these facades. A light steel thin construction is used to make external walls and partitions, in addition to strength they improve the sound insulation of premises.