Abstract
The impact of framing components as thermal bridges on the heat loss in lightweight wood-frame construction is recognized in various codes and standards by specifying certain framing percentages to be used in effective thermal resistance calculations. However, the real framing proportions that occur on site often appear to be considerably higher than the recommended percentages used for calculation. To gauge how realistic are the recommended framing percentages (or factors) in codes and standards, the typical framing factors (FFs) that are achieved in Canadian residential construction sites were measured. Seventeen residential units under construction were selected at three different locations in the Greater Toronto Area. Detailed on-site measurements provided data for numerical calculation to evaluate the amount of framing within external walls, ceilings, and exposed floors. The average FF calculated for each dwelling was found to exceed the recommended percentage by the 2011 National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (NECB) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) guidelines. The impact of higher FFs on the effective R-value of wall assemblies was evaluated, and shown to lead to error in heat loss calculations of up to 14%.
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