Thermal Bridging in Residential Design

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Price

A$99.00

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Course Content

I. Introduction (6 min)
II. Learning Objectives (6 min)
VII. Case Studies (6 min)
VIII. Summary & Key Takeaways (4 min)
Final Quiz – Thermal Bridging in Residential Design

★★★★★

This course provides a structured introduction to thermal bridging in Australian residential design and explains how it affects energy performance and condensation risk across common construction systems. It examines how the NCC 2022 Performance Requirements address thermal performance and highlights upcoming expectations indicated in the NCC 2025 preview. The course guides participants through identifying high risk junctions such as wall floor, wall ceiling, window wall and balcony connections, and applying practical design strategies to mitigate heat loss. It also focuses on improving documentation quality and coordination between designers and energy assessors to ensure modelling assumptions align with actual construction. Through real world case studies, it demonstrates how poor detailing and communication can lead to compliance issues, performance gaps and costly remediation.

This CPD provides general guidance on professional responsibilities and documentation practices. It does not constitute legal advice or replace project-specific contractual or statutory obligations.

  • CPD Points: 1 Formal CPD Point
  • Duration: 1 hour
  • Certificate Upon Completion
  • Difficulty Level: Intermediate
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This session is designed for

Architects
Building Designers
Energy Assessors
Building Surveyors
Residential Builders



By the end of the course, participants will be able to explain how thermal bridging occurs in different residential construction systems and assess its impact on building performance and condensation risk. They will understand how current NCC requirements apply to thermal performance and how future changes may influence design decisions. Participants will be able to identify high risk junctions and select appropriate mitigation strategies during the design stage. They will also be equipped to produce clear, buildable documentation that accurately reflects thermal performance assumptions. In addition, they will be able to coordinate effectively with energy assessors to ensure alignment between design intent, modelling inputs and compliance outcomes.

  • Explain the principles of thermal bridging and its impact on energy performance and condensation in residential buildings.
  • Evaluate junction details and select appropriate design strategies to minimise thermal bridging.
  • Interpret NCC 2022 thermal performance requirements and recognise key directions in the NCC 2025 preview.
  • Prepare clear and accurate documentation that supports compliance and reflects actual construction performance.
  • Identify common thermal bridging locations across different residential construction systems.
  • Coordinate effectively with energy assessors to ensure alignment between design decisions, modelling inputs and certification requirements.

This ensures that CPD efforts align with professional regulatory requirements.

Framework/Body

Relevant Sections

Focus Areas

National Construction Code (NCC 2022)

PC10, PC28, PC31, PC33, PC45

PC28 (building sciences and technology) is directly relevant as the course focuses on thermal bridging physics, heat transfer, and the performance gap between nominal and effective R-values in residential assemblies.
PC31 (environmental sustainability) applies due to the strong emphasis on energy efficiency, whole-of-fabric performance, and the role of thermal bridging in reducing operational energy demand and improving building performance outcomes.
PC33 (integration of environmental systems) is addressed through the evaluation of junctions, integration of insulation strategies, and coordination with NatHERS modelling and whole-of-home assessments.
PC45 (quality and performance standards) is relevant as the course requires preparation of detailed documentation for certifier review, ensuring compliance with NCC 2022 and anticipated NCC 2025 provisions.
PC10 (whole life carbon and material performance) is applicable as thermal bridging mitigation directly influences lifecycle energy performance and contributes to reducing long-term carbon impacts of residential buildings.

NatHERS Protocols

NatHERS Technical Note, software modelling conventions (AccuRate, FirstRate5, BERS Pro)

Correction factors for framing, limitations of system-level modelling, gap between modelled vs actual performance, Whole-of-Home energy pathways

ABSA CPD Competency Area

Thermal performance, energy efficiency, building fabric assessment

Accurate modelling assumptions, junction-level heat loss awareness, coordination between design and assessment, documentation transparency

Building Designers

NCC compliance, documentation practices, residential detailing standards

Junction detailing, thermal break integration, design-stage mitigation, aligning drawings with performance intent

NSCA 2021 (Architects)

PC28, PC31; PC36–47; PC46; PC33

Environmental performance integration, design resolution of junctions, documentation accuracy, coordination with consultants, sustainability outcomes

Engineers Australia (Stage 2)

PE2, PE3

Building physics, heat transfer analysis, junction performance, integration of structural and thermal systems

Licensed Builders (State CPD)

State-based energy efficiency provisions, NCC compliance obligations

Constructability of thermal breaks, installation quality, maintaining insulation continuity, site execution risks

Building Surveyors

NCC assessment framework, Performance Solution review processes

Verification of thermal performance assumptions, documentation review, compliance risk at junctions, certification evidence requirements

What’s Included

This course examines how thermal bridging occurs in Australian residential buildings and how it affects overall thermal performance and condensation risk. It explores the regulatory context under NCC 2022 and considers emerging expectations from the NCC 2025 preview. The course looks closely at common junctions where heat loss occurs and the design strategies used to reduce these impacts. It also examines the role of documentation, modelling and communication in achieving accurate energy assessments and compliance. Finally, it reviews real project scenarios to illustrate the consequences of both effective and inadequate thermal bridging design decisions.

  • A 1-hour video session covering NCC-aligned strategies and real-world case studies.
  • An interactive quiz to test and reinforce knowledge.
  • An audio summary version via NotebookLM for flexible, on-the-go learning.
  • A downloadable certificate of completion for CPD compliance reporting.
  • Centralised CPD tracking dashboard to support audits and personal recordkeeping.
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Why Take This CPD Session?

Improve your ability to design buildings that perform as intended by addressing hidden heat loss at junctions.

Reduce compliance risk by understanding how thermal bridging affects NCC requirements and energy assessments.

Strengthen your documentation and coordination practices to avoid costly errors and performance gaps during construction.

Professional development is an investment in career growth and regulatory compliance. Take the next step today.

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