One of the big problems with building bulky goods stores like supermarkets and general household is the need to keep the store cool. The other is fixing shelves to the wall. If a store has a up to 5-6 layers of precast concrete, plasterboard, insulation, structural ply, just for the sake of being able to attached shelves, there is much cost and compromise inolvolved.

 Imagine if it we possible to have concrete on the interior and exterior, and have it insulated at the same time? A three layer wall instead of six. THERMOMASS has been the system providing the most sensible and cost effective way to build energy efficient bulky goods stores for over 30 years.

 A THERMOMASS wall is cost neutral compared to other wall assemblies that need to be put together to facilitate large goods stores, warehouses and supermarkets. A THERMOMASS wall contributes to greater energy efficiency, a shorter build time and a greater value building in the long term. THERMOMASS makes concrete make sense.

If you have recently attended a Continuing Professional Development seminar run by CGS regarding thermal mass and its use in Architecture, answers to the questionnaire can be found here.

For the buildings of the future, it is imperative that all stakeholders in the building process better and further understand the implications of proper insulation on comfort, energy efficiency and long term costs and value of a well insulated building. THERMOMASS concrete sandwich panels are a cost-effective way to not just satisfy the BCA but to create a high value building.

From the presentation and discussion, complete the following.

Ware the three options for dealing with radiant heat entering a building envelope?

 1. Do nothing

 2. Attempt to mechanically change the temperature by air conditioning, refridgerative or heating.

 3. Use the mass in the building to store the energy. This means in winter rooms stay warmer for longer. In summer, the air temperature is “protected” from radiant heat load by the mass. When the ambient temperature drops, ventilation can remove stored heat.  

 List some of the benefits of working with concrete sandwich panels.

Accelerated building time

Less time and trades on site

Versatility of design

Durability of structure, low maintenance structure.

Ability to use thermal mass if used correctly.

 Briefly explain the movement of heat energy when the interior and ambient temperatures are not the same:

Energy and heat are like most natural systems – they tend toward equilibrium. Energy as heat will cross a barrier between two spaces from an area of higher energy concentration to lower energy until the two temperatures are the same.

In some systems, eg cars – the heat radiation changes frequency and cannot radiate back out through the glass.

How can an interior with significant mass contribute to a more comfortable environment?

In a room with no mass, radiant heat enters a room and heats the air. As the heat has nowhere to go and as such the temperature in the room increases as long as there is a radiant load on the room and the entry point.

With an amount of mass, as there are more molecules packed in a dense substance, there is a large amount of “storage space” for the heat entering the room. The difference in density and mass between concrete and air is so significant that the temperature in the room is moderated and kept more constant over the diurnal swings.

What is the most efficient way to cool a room in the evening following a hot day?

If the ambient temperature is lower – ventilation is by far the quickest and most efficient way to cool a room. Well designed buildings with automatic or convenient ventilation, access to outside air to flow through and carry heat radiating out of any mass in the interior.

 What are the three main benefits of concrete sandwich panels and some of the crucial factors in deciding on a CSP system?

1.    Thermal mass effect – far superior thermal performance

2.    Accelerated building program – built and insulated at the same time.

3.    Cost neutrality

The single most important factor when choosing a concrete sandwich panel system is the connectors. Are they compatible with concrete chemically and thermally? Will they cause thermal bridging? Will they have the same expansion-contraction profile as concrete? Do they have a number of studies and years of observation, testing and third party evaluations for quality control? A well made concrete sandwich panel will serve for over 100 years.

At THERMOMASS head office in Melbourne, constant outside ambient temperatures are rare.

In the summer months, the unbearable heat is nullified by the effectiveness of the thermal mass provided by the design of the precast or tilt-up concrete in an insulated THERMOMASS concrete sandwich wall.

 The concrete mass on the inside of the insulation envelope absorbs the heat as it comes inside through the windows, meaning the temperature in the room is kept more constant during the day. Even after 4 days of 35 degree days outside, the office temperature is kept around 24 degrees with a minimum of air conditioning.

 THERMOMASS is the best way to minimise CO2 emissions from unnecessary air condition and heating. THERMOMASS is the only concrete sandwich wall system that has been in use for over 30 years and comes with the reassurance of reinforced connectors and third party evaluations.

 THERMOMASS makes concrete make sense. Talk to a precaster or tilt-up concrete contractor about how to design with concrete.

With the year drawing to a close, we have to say thank you to the forward looking architects, engineers, builders and owners that have made 2011 another success for THERMOMASS, and making 2012 look very promising.

In this industry, if sales are going up while economic indicators are going down, then you must be doing something right. Insulating with THERMOMASS is the best way to not just meet Section J but provide long term value to a building. Thermal mass is the cornerstone of good passive design principles along with proper window placement, shading and ventilation.

More and more savvy buidling owners and occupiers are asking “how well is it insulated”. THERMOMASS is a cost-neutral, far superior alternative to conventional stud and plasterboard wall assemblies. Why compromise the performance and value of your new building?

Feel free to take a look at the rest of our website, especially the Projects section where you can see the range of uses for THERMOMASS, used to create comfortable environments for living, working and learning.

Concrete is the most abundant man made substance on earth. It’s almost anywhere you can think of.

 With so many new buildings going up all over Australia, many of them utilising precast concrete, its staggering to realise how much time and money is wasted on insulating them separately.

 Insulated precast concrete sandwich panels using THERMOMASS are insulated in the precast factory and arrive on site ready for install. No extra insulation or studwall and plasterboard are required. Not only is this time consuming step eradicated – the resulting sandwich panel is more energy efficient by exposing the interior to a large amount of thermal mass. Thermal mass is key in passively regulating temperature by evening out diurnal swings.

 THERMOMASS insulated precast concrete sandwich panels cost no more than conventional methods, and have a longer term value due to their superior performance. THERMOMASS is the only intelligent way to build and insulate with precast concrete

CGS range of XPS and PIR rigid foam insulation boards are perfect for under soffit insulation needs. They can also be used in any cavity including roofs and walls.

Both the XPS and PIR rigid foam boards require only 4 charge-fired pins for maximum efficiency of installation and long term durability.

Some of our competitor’s products recommend eleven pins per board of roughly the same size, and recommend that the holes for these pins be pre-drilled, and the pin then hammered in.
We cannot fathom the extra time and effort it must take to install these boards, and what the justification for so much extra labour could possibly be.

CGS is a small, family owned and run company with a lean profile. We do not spend money on fancy video presentations, and we only recommend the product that best fits the specification and the BCA Section J. We don’t recommend products and practices that will waste time, money and resources. 

Our size is our strength. This means we can comfortably supply any amount of product, anywhere in Australia with minimal lead times. It means we can offer a better price on superior products.  Our technical knowledge of the chemistry, physics, practicality, engineering and economy of all kinds of insulation applications is unparalleled, meaning you get the best product for the right price every time.

Installation guides for our XPS and PIR products can be found under Downloads.

With the weather now starting to heat up, air conditioners around Australia will be working harder to keep temperatures artificially low. Many staff members take cardigans to work in summer months to avoid the chilly conditions they experience with the thermostat turned as low as it will go.  

The difference between a cool building and a comfortable one is very important. The right temperature improves productivity and mood.  If the building has a large, well insulated amount of thermal mass, the temperature on the inside is more consistent throughout the day, without the need for extra cooling. The thermal mass means that the temperature is passively regulated, absorbing and releasing heat energy throughout the day. Everyone inside can leave the cardigan at home and get on with their work. 

  The importance of interior environments is a growing concern among savvy buyers and tenants in residential and commercial markets. If the building is of high value to the occupant, then it must be of high value to the developer. It pays to think about the long term comfort and sustainability of a new structure to maximise return on investment.  

THERMOMASS concrete sandwich panels are the original and best way to create a cost effective, highly energy efficient building with high levels of thermal mass. THERMOMASS is no more expensive than a conventional precast slab and plasterboard wall assembly and the thermal performance is far superior. THERMOMASS is the best way to make a comfortable, high value space for occupants well into the future. 

 The way the world is going these days, it’s important to look to the long term in any decision, regardless of the stake held.

GenY, like it or not, are soon to become major holders of income and wealth in Australia. These people, now aged from twenty into their early thirties, are more and more conscious about the way they spend their money. Although stereotyped as temporary and short term focussed, all this means in the property market is that Gen Y is focused on two things: Comfort and resale value.

A more comfortable home or office means less energy wasted on heating and cooling, and a more pleasant place to be. Places with more constant temperatures are more productive, and mood is as stable as the temperature. All in all – a well insulated home or office with high level of thermal mass make a great sales and tenancy proposition.

THERMOMASS insulated concrete sandwich panels are the original and still the best sandwich panel system. The placement of the insulation on the outside of the envelope leaves a large amount of thermal mass on the inside of the building. The thermal mass passively regulates temperature by absorbing and releasing heat energy around the equilibrium temperature, evening out the peaks and troughs of conditions inside.

THERMOMASS is affordable, safe, reliable and makes scientific and financial sense. Give your new building the edge in comfort and resale value. THERMOMASS Makes Concrete Make Sense.

Recently at CGS, some of Australia’s top developers have been telling us how the THERMOMASS insulation system for concrete sandwich panels really is the easiest way to add value to their new buildings.

The first question asked by more and more real estate buyers is “How is it insulated?” So pervasive is this question is that older homes are much harder to sell than their more modern insulated counterparts.

This increased market awareness cannot be ignored when planning a project of any scale. Aside from ever-rising energy bills, occupiers of buildings want to be free of the artificial heating and cooling which add other discomforts like dry skin, respiratory problems, noise and “too hot or cold syndrome”. Most of all, building owners know that poor concrete insulation is a permanent shackle to high energy costs, and is a hallmark of overall poor thermal design.

Seemingly minor at this stage – in 5-10 years insulation will be a major “tick-box” item for buyers. The real estate game is a long-term one, and if the building is not worth more in 10 years, it’s not worth buying now. Resale value is of primary concern to buyers who know their family or business’s home will not be a permanent one.

All these factors point to the obvious answer. A properly thermally designed building, with THERMOMASS concrete sandwich panels as the cornerstone of great passive design, will be the one that generates most value for all parties concerned.

If Australia’s biggest developers are using concrete sandwich panels, the numbers must add up.  Those left behind using conventional plasterboard methods will forgo return on investment for a system that is no cheaper than a concrete sandwich panel.