Composite Global Solutions

Thermal Mass is a key element of passive design. Passive design uses natural energy to help reduce the requirement for heating and cooling, reducing the consumption of energy within the structure.  Thermal Mass acts to moderate temperature fluctuations naturally. Recent Australian research confirms the effectiveness of Thermal Mass and the considerable effects of Thermal Mass in different climate zones.

Energy efficiency has become important to us all. The State & Federal regulations put in place recently have led to an increased awareness of the need to reduce energy consumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficient design and construction. Energy use is a major contributor to greenhouse gases. Consider residential air-conditioning, a 1999 report issued by the Australian Greenhouse Office stated that the largest proportion of household energy is consumed in heating and cooling. (Refer to Your Home Technical Manual, section 4.0, published by the Australian Greenhouse Office, http://www.yourhome.gov.au/technical/fs41.html ) That consumption has almost certainly increased in recent years with the significant increase in installation of residential air-conditioning and central heating/cooling systems. This increase significantly impacts on energy consumption. Increased energy consumption has also been known to place burdens on electricity generation, especially during peak periods such as the summer heat-waves we seem to be experiencing more frequently.

Designing and constructing an energy-efficient building has the potential to substantially and permanently reduce the amount of energy consumed within that building.  Energy-efficient passive (Thermal Mass) design is the way of the future.
Using the environment to reduce energy consumption by designing to maintain a level of thermal comfort naturally, will reduce our reliance on artificial heating and cooling an therefore reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The following design features work together to passively heat and cool a building:

• Orientation to assist the natural heating and cooling of building. For example, glass areas and shading on the north face will capture the low winter sun access, but exclude the high summer sun.

•Ventilation by capturing cooling breezes and utilising natural air flows from cross-ventilation to cool a building.

• Insulation to act as an impediment to heat flow. In the summer months, from the outside walls to the inside and in the winter months, from the inside walls to the outside.

• Thermal Mass to naturally moderate temperature by incorporating dense wall materials.

Insulation and Thermal Mass are two of the most significant components of passive design.  Dense materials with high Thermal Mass such as concrete panels have the ability to absorb heat when subjected to a temperature differential, thereby slowing heat passage through the wall. BUT unless you insulate that wall, the heat, although slowed, will transfer to the inside of the building.  Insulate the concrete panel with THERMOMASS Building Insulation System and the combination of the two allow these materials to act as an extremely effective thermal barrier, moderating temperatures by hindering the passage of the outside heat through the THERMOMASS insulated concrete panel wall.  This thermal lag prevents the outdoor heat reaching the inside.

Cold temperate and cold climates Ballarat, Launceston, Hobart, Canberra, Orange, Goulburn, Alpine Regions: Concrete walls insulated with THERMOMASS Building Insulation are strongly recommended for cold and cold temperate climates. The outside temperature is not able to pass through the insulated walls and therefore the inside temperature remains at your desired comfort level without the assistance of artificial heating.

Temperate climates Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle, Perth, Adelaide, Esperance, Melbourne, Nowra, Mount Gambier, Albany, Bendigo, and parts of the east coast of Tasmania: THERMOMASS Building Insulation is recommended for temperate climates. The Thermomass insulated panel can be used in temperate climates to naturally heat in winter and cool in summer.

Hot dry summer with a cold winter Bourke, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Mildura, Wodonga, Whyalla: This climate has a high diurnal temperature swing, making Thermal Mass very important. THERMOMASS buildings allow the heat gained from the winter sun to be released at night when it is required. During summer Thermal Mass will allow shaded areas to act as a heat sink, thereby naturally moderating the internal temperature.

Warm humid Brisbane, Rockhampton, Coffs Harbour: THERMOMASS used in conjunction with good passive design principles in warm humid climates can be beneficial, particularly where there is a diurnal temperature swing. THERMOMASS will act to moderate temperature swings and reduce the need to artificially heat and cool.

No matter what area you live in, THERMOMASS is the simplest way of maintaining the inside temperature of your building year-round and of reducing building heating and cooling loads. Energy savings are achieved for the life of the building.  The durability, compressive strength, thermal performance, chemical makeup and fire resistance of the THERMOMASS Building Insulation System make it a more sustainable choice.