Aluminum extrusions have high thermal conductivity and quickly allow heat to escape. Thus, they should be equipped with thermal breaks, especially in extremely cold climates. A thermal break consists of a non-conductive material and is placed inside the extrusion to block the heat from transferring to the outside and keep the interior surface at room temperature.
The thermal break is used as a solution against issues related to very low temperatures and frost, but NOT as a heat barrier. That’s because it may partially prevent heat transfer, but extrusion cavities are still heated, impacting the interior surfaces. In a similar manner, other types of hardware used in aluminum windows and doors might allow heat to reach the interior surfaces.
When their temperature rises rapidly, thermally broken aluminum extrusions experience temporary expansion. That might affect certain products in different ways, like:
- Bowed vertical components
- Rigid multipoint hardware
- Slightly resistant windows
EPAL designs all its products to adapt to environmental changes. However, we highly recommend consulting with our authorized dealers on potential issues to ensure you select the most fitting product for each purpose.
