Know How Your Envelope Performs — Before and After
Thermal simulation reveals what visual inspection and hand calculations miss — condensation risk inside your walls, heat loss through structural connections, and the true effective performance of an assembly in Alberta’s climate.
Your insulation spec says one thing. Your building does another.
Nominal R-values are calculated for the insulation material alone. But every stud, joist, window frame, and slab edge conducts heat around the insulation — a phenomenon called thermal bridging. In a typical wood-frame wall, framing can reduce the effective R-value by 20–35% below what the spec sheet shows.
Thermal simulation quantifies exactly how large that gap is for your specific assembly and climate — so design decisions, compliance submissions, and retrofit comparisons are based on real performance, not optimistic estimates.
Example — 2×6 wood-frame wall, R-22 batt + R-12 ci
Nominal R-value
R-48
Per spec sheet
Effective R-value
R-35
After framing correction — 27% lower
Simulation also confirms interior surface temperatures stay above dew point at design conditions — condensation risk: Low
What We Simulate
Three complementary analysis types that together give a complete picture of envelope thermal behaviour.
🔲
Thermal Bridging
2D steady-state heat flow analysis of the junctions and connections where geometry or materials create paths of least resistance around the insulation.
- Wall-to-floor and wall-to-roof junctions
- Window and door frames
- Parapets and balcony connections
- Structural penetrations and spandrels
💧
Hygrothermal Analysis
Transient simulation of heat and moisture movement through an assembly over a full annual cycle — critical for assessing long-term durability in Alberta’s cold, dry winters and warm summers.
- Interstitial condensation risk
- Drying potential assessment
- Vapour barrier placement validation
- Moisture accumulation over multi-year cycles
📐
Assembly Performance
Whole-assembly R-value and U-value calculations that account for every layer and material — producing the accurate thermal properties needed for energy modelling and code submissions.
- Framing-corrected effective R/U-values
- Linear thermal transmittance (Ψ-values)
- Point thermal transmittance (χ-values)
- Inputs for HOT2000 and EnergyPlus models
Where the Heat Goes
A wall assembly cross-section — simulation maps the temperature at every point, revealing where the thermal weak spots are.
Wall cross-section — temperature gradient at -30°C outdoor / +21°C indoor
−30°C
Exterior air
Cladding
−4°C
Continuous insulation R-12
Air barrier
+10°C
Stud cavity R-22 batt
−2°C ⚠
Wood stud — thermal bridge
VB
+21°C
Interior
⚠ The stud registers −2°C — just above the dew point. Simulation identifies this risk before it becomes rot.
Illustrative — actual simulation outputs include full 2D isothermal plots and heat flux maps
When You Need a Simulation
Simulation is useful at every stage — design, construction, retrofit, and diagnosis.
Design Review
Evaluate proposed assemblies before construction — catch condensation risk and thermal bridging while changes are still cheap.
Code Compliance
Support NBC and Alberta Building Code performance path submissions with accurate effective U-values and verified condensation control.
Retrofit Assessment
Compare the thermal and moisture performance of insulation upgrade options — interior, exterior, or both — before committing to a retrofit strategy.
Problem Diagnosis
Pair with an infrared inspection to go beyond identifying anomalies — simulate the thermal mechanism to understand why damage is occurring and where it will spread.
Energy Modelling Inputs
Provide assembly-level effective thermal properties for whole-building energy models — replacing default assumptions with data calibrated to your actual envelope.
What You Receive
Every simulation project delivers a complete written report with all the documentation needed for design decisions, permit submissions, and contractor scoping.
- 2D isothermal plots and heat flux maps
- Temperature profiles through the assembly
- Relative humidity profiles and condensation risk assessment
- Effective R-value and U-value summary
- Linear thermal transmittance (Ψ-values) for junctions
- Written findings and recommendations
- Referenced to applicable NBC / ABC clauses and climate data
Sample report summary — 2×6 framed wall, Edmonton
Effective R-value
RSI-6.2
vs RSI-8.5 nominal
U-value
0.161
W/(m²·K)
Interior surface temp at −34°C
+14.2°C
✓ Above dew point
Condensation risk
Low
Stud bridge: monitor
Illustrative example — actual report includes full isothermal plots, heat flux maps, and written findings
Have an Assembly You Need Modelled?
Send us your drawings or assembly specification and we’ll scope the right simulation for your project — new design, retrofit, or problem investigation.