Thermal break
A thermal break is a low-conductivity layer that interrupts heat flow through a building frame. Required at all steel-to-cladding contact points under NCC 2022.
Ask Chalkline about this →A thermal break is a layer of low-conductivity material placed between two structural or cladding elements to interrupt the flow of heat between them. In residential construction, the most common application is between steel framing members and external cladding: a foam or fibre strip (typically 10 to 15 mm thick) is fixed to each stud face before the cladding or batten is applied, so the steel and the cladding never make direct contact.
Under NCC 2022, the minimum thermal break for steel-framed Class 1 buildings must have an R-value of R0.2 or greater and must be installed at every point of contact between the metal frame and the external cladding (NCC 2022 Volume Two, verified 2026-05-10). Omitting thermal breaks on a steel frame typically results in a 0.7 to 1.2 NatHERS star penalty against the design’s energy rating target. Once cladding is fixed, retrofitting thermal breaks is destructive: the breaks must be installed before cladding goes on.
Also known as: thermal break strip, insulating break
Category: Energy efficiency, framing
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Last updated: 2026-05-10. Verified: 2026-05-10. Quarterly review for currency.