Floor thermal break. What is a thermal break in front doors? Product Requirements

Entrance door is one of the most important elements of any housing. And does not matter, a private house this or the apartment. The entrance structure must be reliable, durable, visually attractive, and also perform the function of protecting the living space from the penetration of cold. A metal door with a thermal break is considered more reliable in this regard.

Do you need a thermal break door?

Very often, owners of private houses observe the following picture: there is a severe frost on the street, and the front metal door is frozen so much that it simply cannot be opened. This is related to the fact that metal carcass tends to freeze, which means that the internal filling is exposed to cold. Not every insulation is able to withstand low temperatures. That is why it is recommended to use entrance metal doors with a thermal break, the design of which provides for the presence of an insulating layer.

The door with a thermal break does not let the cold into the house

It does not conduct cold from the outside and does not release heat from the living space. The advantages of this design are obvious:

• high strength, since solid sheet metal is used for the manufacture of doors;
• low thermal conductivity - the insulating layer is not capable of transmitting heat, which means that thermal exchange between adjacent materials is excluded;
• soundproofing;
• efficiency - there is no need to install a second door or equip a vestibule, and also by reducing heat losses, you can reduce the cost of gas or electricity for heating.

The production of metal doors with a thermal break is carried out in accordance with GOST standards. According to this document, the maximum difference between the air temperature in the street and in the living room should not exceed 40 degrees.

Video: what is a thermal break door and why is it needed

The device of the warmed door with an insulating insert

Regardless of the insulation used and the outer coating, the design of a door with a thermal break is typical. It consists of:

Video: what's inside the door

Varieties of doors with a thermal break

When choosing a metal door with a thermal break, it is necessary to pay attention to the insulation used. Most often it is:

Metal doors with a thermal break also differ in the material of the exterior finish:

Powder coated front doors are the most popular. They differ high reliability and resistance to mechanical damage and weather conditions, including temperature extremes.

Table: comparative characteristics of doors by segments

Price segment	Economy class	Business Class	Premium class
Metal thickness, mm	1,2–2	3–4	4–5
thermal insulation door leaf(the type of insulation and other materials, as well as the order of their installation varies depending on the manufacturer)	3 layers: expanded polystyrene - foil isolon - expanded polystyrene	4 layers: isolon - expanded polystyrene - foil isolon - expanded polystyrene	6 layers: foil isolon - cork sheet - expanded polystyrene - expanded polystyrene - foil isolon - expanded polystyrene
Interior finishing	lining, MDF	wood effect laminate	natural wood
Finishing external	leatherette	leatherette (vinyl leather)	powder paint
Night valve	–	+	+
Additional lock	–	–	+
Additional finishing	–	- drawing on metal; - painting in two colors.	- drawing on metal; – painting in two colors; – forged finish; - steel plates.
Additional options	–	–	- box heating (in addition to the price of 7-8 thousand rubles); - Anti-removable fasteners.

Is it possible to make a door with a thermal break with your own hands

It is possible to make an entrance door with a thermal break only if special equipment is available. That is why it is almost impossible to make such a door on your own. That is why it is better to study the comparative characteristics of doors with a thermal break from different manufacturers and choose for yourself exactly the model that meets your requirements in terms of strength characteristics and cost.

Table: comparative characteristics of doors from different manufacturers

Trademark (Model)	"North"	"Argus"	"Guardian"	"North"
Location	Moscow	Yoshkar-Ola	Yoshkar-Ola	Novosibirsk
Sales	Through company stores and dealer network
Delivery	To any region of Russia
Range	+	+	+	+
Main lock	CISA	+	"Guardian"	"Guardian"
Price (range), rub.	21 300 – 31 200	18 400 – 38 100	14 600 – 34 800	18 700 – 27 650
Price segment	Economy, standard, business, premium
Installation (installation)	Installation team of the supplier company
Availability of information about the manufacturer, doors	+	+	+	+
Warranty for doors, installation	+	+	+	+

How to install a thermal break door with your own hands

You can install a door with a thermal break yourself, but remember that a violation of the installation technology can lead to loss of thermal insulation properties, as well as damage to the structure of the door itself, walls and floor.

First you need to prepare a certain set of tools:

• hammer;
• puncher or drill with a chipper;
• saw;
• grinder;
• building level;
• masking tape;
• drill;
• screwdriver;
• end key;
• anchors;
• wooden bars.

You will also need cement mortar and mounting foam.

The procedure for installing a thermal break door is as follows:

1. Opening preparation. At this stage, pieces of putty, bricks and other elements that may fall off are removed. You also need to remove all the protrusions with a hammer or grinder and close up the voids. The width of the opening should be 4-5 cm more door frame.

   The door opening must be without recesses and protrusions

2. Door leaf preparation. To do this, it must be removed from the hinges, and then check the operation of the locks and the complete set of the door. The handle is usually supplied separately, so before mounting the door, it must be screwed to the canvas.
3. Preparing the door frame. In the event that the wires are brought into the house through the entrance, you must first prepare for them plastic pipe or special sleeves. It is recommended to close the box with masking tape around the perimeter, which will prevent accidental damage or ingress of mounting foam on its surface.

   The gaps between the box and the wall must be filled with mounting foam

4. Door frame installation. The box must be inserted into the opening, placing 2 cm pads under it. Align horizontally and vertically using the building level and plumb line. Wedges must be inserted between the wall and the box: 3 pieces vertically and 2 on top. They need to be installed near the place where the box is attached to the canvas. After the door is aligned vertically and horizontally, you can proceed to fix the frame. For this, anchors or pieces of reinforcement are used. You need to start from the side of the loops from above. For anchors, it is necessary to drill holes 10–15 cm deep, and then fix the box with fasteners. Make sure that the door does not move either vertically or horizontally. If no displacement has occurred, the door leaf is hung. In the case of its free opening and closing, you can finally tighten the anchors. The gaps between the door frame and the wall must be filled with mounting foam.

   Anchors need to be pre-drilled.

5. Checking the operation of the door. It is necessary to check that the door leaf opens and closes freely, the lock snaps freely, and there are no backlashes when closed. You also need to check if the door moves spontaneously. To do this, the canvas opens first at 45 degrees, and then at 90.

Video: installation of a door with a thermal break

Door operation rules

Metal doors with a thermal break are characterized by a long service life, but the preservation of functionality is possible only if the rules of use are observed:

1. Holding the door while opening and closing. Do not allow the canvas to hit the wall.
2. Installing a door with a thermal break only in an apartment or a private house with a visor. Contact with direct sunbeams, rain and other atmospheric precipitation can reduce the strength of the top powder coating.
3. Protect the door from moisture, abrasive chemical substances which can cause rust.

Entrance door country house or the apartment should be as strong as possible, so most often it is made of steel. But metal transmits heat well, so in winter a simple door leaf made of this material is cooled and it blows cold from it in the room. Regular warming does not always help. For reliable thermal insulation of metal door structures, temperature separation technology is used. Understanding what it is will help you evaluate its benefits and make the right choice.

In cold weather, the outer part of the front door quickly cools down to outside temperature, and the cold is transmitted through the structural elements and the insulation layer. inner surface located in the room. The result is a decrease in the room temperature, the formation of condensation on the door surface. - a set of measures and design solutions designed to prevent heat transfer from the outer surface to the inner. As a result, the door leaves appear as if separated by temperature. Each surface maintains its own temperature. Outside cold, inside room temperature.

Doors with temperature separation are used to protect the entrance:

• country house;
• office with outside access to the street;
• ground floor apartments.

Thermal break technology

There is a misconception that thermal break in metal doors it's just an extra layer of insulation. In fact, the differences between these models and conventional insulated doors are much more serious. Temperature gap - a whole system of solutions aimed at maximizing the isolation of two sides door block from each other.

Thermal break technology includes:

• The use of several insulating layers of materials with low thermal conductivity inside the door leaf. The resulting " layered cake»almost does not let the cold through. In this case, the efficiency of insulation increases many times over.
• Reducing the metal parts of the structure connecting both door leaves to each other. The emphasis is on connecting with heat-insulating materials.
• The door frame is insulated. The frame of the box is made of profiled structural elements. The inside is necessarily filled with high-quality insulation.

The use of double sealing along the contour of the structural elements ensures that there are no gaps between the box and the closed door.

Materials used to create a thermal break

Different materials are commonly used to provide thermal break between the door leaf and the door frame.

For internal filling of the canvas:

1. Polyurethane foam. Designed to enhance structural strength. It is poured in liquid form, filling the cavities inside the door structure. The result is a rigid connection between the outer and inner steel sheets, which has excellent thermal insulation properties.
2. Styrofoam. Provides additional thermal insulation, while creating reliable sound insulation.
3. Cork. The various layers of the heat-insulating "pie" are often separated from each other by cork sheets.
4. Foil penofol or isolon.

In low-cost budget-level models, you can use:

1. Styrofoam.
2. Mineral wool. Choose options with this material with caution. Mineral wool is hygroscopic, and having absorbed moisture, it partially loses its heat-insulating properties. Over time, its volume may decrease.
3. Fiberglass. It is not recommended for use in hot climates. At elevated temperatures, the material may release harmful substances.

It is absolutely unacceptable to use cardboard or its derivatives.

To fill the profiles of door frames use:

1. Solid solid wood. An effective solution, but rather expensive.
2. Inserts made of polyvinyl chloride materials.
3. Styrofoam.

Features of thermal break doors

The whole technology of temperature separation is aimed at suppressing any possibility of cold penetration to the inner surface of the door.

Thermal break models have their own device features:

1. There is no massive iron frame inside the door leaf. The metal sheets of the door are connected by adhesion to heat-insulating materials.
2. Locks and locking mechanisms are used that do not create "jumpers" that allow cold to penetrate through them into the room.
3. As a rule, models using this technology are not equipped with eyes.
4. Metal sheets must be coated with an anti-corrosion compound.

Sometimes the inner and outer surfaces are additionally covered with any materials - wood, leatherette, MDF panels. They do not affect the quality of thermal insulation in any way, performing purely decorative functions.

Advantages and disadvantages

For a complete understanding of what a thermal break is in an entrance steel door, it is worth listing the pros and cons of this technology.

1. Effective thermal protection of the room, the doors of which face the street. A single opening with a thermal break prevents the penetration of cold better than vestibules with two doors.
2. Condensation does not form inside the entire structure, which increases the service life of the door.
3. In extreme cold - the absence of frost on the inner surface of the door.
4. Additional soundproofing from street noise.

1. When mounting the frame and canvas, an increased quality of all stages of work is required. Minor distortions and deformations of structural parts will cause the formation of gaps. As a result, efforts to create thermal insulation will be nullified.
2. Significant weight of thermal break type structures. Doorways must be able to withstand this weight.

Use for protection against external influences steel doors with thermal break technology provides not only security, but also prevents the penetration of cold into the room. The result is increased comfort in the rooms, reduced heating costs.

At right choice model and qualified installation, these advantages will be maintained for a long time.

Entrance doors perform not only a protective, but also a heat-insulating function, therefore, special requirements are imposed on such products. Today, there are several types of structures that can protect the house from the penetration of cold. One of the most best options are metal doors with a thermal break.

What it is?

Metal doors transmit heat very well, which does not allow maintaining the optimal temperature inside the room. Today this problem is solved with various heaters, which are located under the sheets of the frame.

Doors with a thermal break - one of the varieties insulated structures. A feature of these products is the use of several layers of insulation, between which a thermally insulating gasket is placed. Many materials with minimal thermal conductivity characteristics can act as this layer.

iron doors this type is often installed directly on the street. Their use indoors does not carry any aesthetic and rational efficiency.

To improve the quality, thick sheets of steel are used as the main material, which can withstand a large load.

Advantages

Thermal break doors are gaining immense popularity. They are perfect for various climatic zones where the temperature drops below 0. This is due to several advantages of such doors. These include:

• High rates of thermal insulation. With the help of such products, you can create comfortable living conditions inside a private house or city apartment.
• Qualitative technical properties. Doors are not only durable and durable, but also resistant to fire (able to withstand burning for a certain time).

• Wear resistance. The use of a thermal break eliminates the formation of condensate on the surface of the canvas. This prevents the formation of frost, and also eliminates the spread of corrosion on the metal surface.
• Soundproofing. Cloths have good sound insulation characteristics. Similar products will optimal solution for apartments near which noise is constantly present.
• Ease of use. The use of high-quality fittings eliminates the large weight of the canvas. Its movement is quite easy, which allows even a child or a fragile girl to cope with the doors.
• Durability. During the production of doors, the surface of metal components is coated with special protective agents (zinc-based polymer primer, anti-corrosion mixtures, etc.). They prevent corrosion and extend the life of all elements. To increase the resistance of the metal to mechanical damage, it is also amenable to laser processing.

Flaws

Thermal doors are versatile designs that are perfect for installation as entrance elements. But such products still have several significant drawbacks:

• Significant weight. Many doorways cannot support such structures. The solution to this problem is the additional reinforcement of the wall with metal inserts.
• Incorrect installation. If the door is installed skewed, then this will nullify almost all of its advantages. This design may allow air to pass through, resulting in heat leakage or condensation. That's why everything installation work should be trusted only by experienced and proven professionals.
• Simple design. Doors of this type consist of straight sheets that are attached to the frame. Today, almost no manufacturer supplements them with decorative elements. This makes the doors monotonous and boring. But still, there are modifications that are equipped with small decorative overlays in the form forged products etc.

• Optimal Performance microclimate. It should be noted that thermal doors protect against ice formation if the amount of condensate is minimal. If there is high humidity in the room (especially from the street side), then the liquid itself will settle on the metal. With the advent of severe frosts, the outer side of the structure will begin to freeze over. Technically, this will not affect the interior in any way, but over time it can damage external heaters and lead to the formation of drafts.

Given all the disadvantages of such products, the choice of a door with a thermal break should be approached very responsibly. Be sure to take into account customer reviews of various manufacturers. Some models may have a dramatically high price (most often a three-circuit model), but the technical properties will be almost the same as those of cheaper products.

This will allow you to choose not only a warm, but also a durable design for a relatively small amount of money.

Used heaters

The quality of thermal doors depends on many factors, among which the type of internal filler is considered the main one. Today, in the production of three-circuit structures, several types of heaters are used:

• PVC. This material is one of the most affordable, but at the same time it is not able to withstand severe frosts. Therefore, PVC doors are suitable only for regions with a temperate climate.
• Mineral wool and foam. Often these substances are combined together, which allows you to keep warm in the house in frosts down to -25 degrees.

• Fiberglass. This material retains heat very well. But if the doors are operated at high temperatures, this can provoke the release of harmful substances from fiberglass.
• Tree. One of the highest quality thermal insulators. This material perfectly retains heat without releasing any harmful components into the external environment. The only drawback of wood is its high cost.

Qualitative characteristics

Thermal doors are not only products for keeping warm. Today, many manufacturers are paying attention to other structural parameters of metal sheets. Such products have several strong technical properties. These include:

• Reinforced frame. Almost all doors are made of solid sheets of steel, at least 2 mm thick. The frame itself is welded from a special profile that can withstand significant loads. This, in turn, leads to an increase in the weight of the canvas.

Sections of the article:

The front door is a product that plays an important role in living and working premises for various purposes. Despite the apparent simplicity of the design, a number of requirements are imposed on the entrance doors regarding their reliability, safety, strength, aesthetics and service life. Such products must be able to withstand regular exposure to atmospheric phenomena and precipitation. Entrance doors with a thermal break are able to meet all the above requirements.

Door blocks installed outdoors in country houses or dachas, under the influence of an aggressive external environment, they can lose a significant proportion of their useful functions or even fail. So, for example, ordinary street entrance doors in winter time years are covered with a significant layer of hoarfrost or ice. This can lead to a deterioration in the aesthetic appearance of the structure, as well as to the loss of a significant amount of heat in the premises of the house. To prevent such negative consequences of contact with the environment, you can use the entrance steel door blocks with a thermal break.

What are thermal break doors?

The entrance street door with a thermal break is a construction made using a special technology that ensures the resistance of the door unit to influence different types precipitation and low temperature conditions. The principle of operation of such a design is based on the elementary laws of physics, and specifically on the ability of various objects to transfer heat from one to another. During this process, heat is transferred from a warmer object to a colder one. It is these physical laws that determine the colossal heat losses of ordinary steel street doors in the winter season.

So, contacting external environment, the door block transfers the heat of the house to the street, which ultimately leads to significant energy costs and heat loss. To prevent such processes, the thermal break technology was introduced in the production of street steel doors. It consists in filling the inner space of the door leaf with insulating materials that make it impossible to transfer heat to the outer part of the structure.

This technology for manufacturing entrance street doors has been used in production relatively recently. Previously, the function of thermal protection was performed by an additional partition. This structural element the entrance was more like a second door, which provided an additional barrier and took on the incoming cold air.

In principle, this method is still in demand, but the option of entrance doors with a thermal break has come to replace bulky structures. Their use is advantageous against the background of the mentioned method. And this is logical, because now there is no need to build massive and expensive structures. Front doors with a thermal break look no less impressive, and many owners of country houses have appreciated their insulating abilities.

What should be the material of the thermal break door?

Particular attention when choosing an entrance door with a thermal break should be given to the material used in its production. The practice of using such structures has shown that the most reliable option is to install metal doors with a thermal break. Basically, high-quality steel is used in the production of such doors. The standard width of the entrance metal door is 860 mm. Steel door structures much more effective than products made of PVC or wood.

At the same time, when purchasing a metal front door, you should remember about the design of the door leaf. It includes two steel sheets, which are subject to special requirements. First of all, you need to make sure the integrity of the products. The thickness of each sheet should not be less than 1.8 mm. It is also worth paying attention to the strength of the product.

Entrance groups with a thermal break made of thin metal sheets are a kind of analogue tin can. Such structures are easily opened by intruders with an ordinary sharp knife. Specialists and experts in the door block production industry recommend choosing products with a thickness of one steel sheet of at least 3 mm. Such parameters, in combination with the reinforced design of the door leaf, will make it possible to protect the door block from breaking as much as possible, make it durable and reliable. A properly selected front door with a thermal break can protect interior spaces houses and property of residents.

At the same time, it must be emphasized that the entrance steel doors with a thermal break have a significant mass. For reliable fastening and long-term operation, such doors must be equipped with high-quality and durable canopies and fittings. A technically competent solution would be to give preference to special levers for fixing the door leaf on the frame and refuse to use traditional hinges. This type of fastening allows the door leaf to take a reliable and stable position, while maintaining its functionality and comfort of use.

Materials used in production

In addition to the basis of steel sheets, the structure of thermal break metal doors consists of a number of other elements. As thermal insulation in the production of such entrance groups are used various materials. The characteristics and efficiency of the entire door block, and often the cost of the product, depend on the type of filler. So, the most common materials for are:

Polyvinyl chloride. This material is the most economical and also, according to industry experts, has excellent insulating characteristics. PVC inserts create a kind of chambers in the interior of the door leaf, which prevent heat loss and retain cooled air. At the same time, it should be emphasized that the installation of steel entrance doors with such a filler is effective, first of all, in areas with mild winters and mild frosts. When exposed to lower temperatures, plastic significantly loses its effectiveness.

Other common materials for filling the door leaf are mineral wool and foam. They have excellent thermal insulation performance and allow for almost perfect tightness of the structure. Effective use of entrance steel doors with such filler is possible at temperatures down to -25 0C.

Another type of door leaf filling is fiberglass. At the same time, this material has one significant drawback. Doors filled with fiberglass are not recommended for installation in areas with high temperatures during the warm season. Under their influence, this material emits harmful fumes.

Entrance street structures filled with solid wood are considered the best in the world. modern market similar structures. Such doors with a thermal break receive positive feedback from experts and consumers. And this is not surprising, because wood is a natural and environmentally friendly material. However, it has high density, which positively affects the insulating properties. In fact, door groups of this type have only one obvious drawback - the high cost relative to structures with a different filler.

The main advantages of this type of doors

Entrance doors made using thermal break technology have a number of undeniable advantages. Among them, one can single out saving with the help of design features door block heat in the room. This, in turn, means lower heating costs for your home. This is especially important if the home is heated by electricity. Sealed door leaf will make it possible to significantly reduce electricity costs.

It is also worth emphasizing that condensation, frost or ice does not accumulate on the surface of such entrance doors. This allows you to extend the service life of products and a decent aesthetic appearance of the door. At the same time, the surface of the front door is treated with a special protective coating that prevents corrosion of the structure. It should be noted that even the most reliable door with a thermal break must meet a number of requirements that apply to products of this type.

So, the door leaf must have an absolutely flat surface, the presence of bevels or distortions, tilt or other deformation of the surface is not allowed. In addition, it is recommended to complete such a door with an additional rubber seal. This material is attached around the entire perimeter of the structure and increases the insulating characteristics.

Special attention should be paid to the installation of the door block. In case of poor-quality installation of the structure, all its advantages and positive characteristics will be leveled. It is also worth examining the door for chips, scratches, cracks and other defects. The aesthetic appeal of the door leaf should not raise questions, since the door is installed for many years.

Varieties

The modern entrance door market offers consumers a wide range of products for people with different income levels. Economy class is represented by structures made of metal profile small thickness. As a rule, it is from 3 to 4 mm. Leatherette is used as an external finish, and inside the surface is finished with PVC or MDF panels.

The following price category is represented by models using as finishing material laminate. This material imitates natural wood well and compares favorably with polyvinyl chloride or MDF. The production of the most expensive entrance doors with a thermal break occurs using natural wood of different varieties. At the same time, their high price is often unaffordable for the average consumer.

The most popular are models of entrance doors with a thermal break, the surface of which is finished with powder coating. This finish looks quite attractive and, in addition, protects the structure from fire. This quality is perfectly combined with the characteristics of thermal insulation and increases the attractiveness of this type of entrance door.

When installing doors leading to the street, it is important to pay attention not only to their burglary resistance and finish. Designed for private houses and public buildings, they must have good insulation. You need to understand that the usual filler in the form of foam rubber or mineral wool may not be enough to provide the room required level thermal insulation.

In winter, street doors with ordinary thermal insulation will freeze through, condensation will appear on them. However, there is a solution to this problem. Manufacturers offer to install thermal break metal doors in houses.

What does thermal break door mean?

What is a thermal break in metal doors? This is an element that consists of a heater separated by a wooden, metal or plastic insert. The transition between materials is called a thermal break. That part of the insulation, which is closer to the outside, takes on a "cold blow". Due to this, there is an equalization of temperatures between different "layers" of the structure. One side is colder, the other is warmer.

However, such doors may not have two layers, but several. The more thermal breaks, the better thermal insulation. In production, mineral wool, foam rubber, foil, cork sheet, foam plastic are used as a heater. It is imperative that the doors have several seals that will prevent drafts.

Advantages of thermal break doors

The thermal break perfectly keeps the heat in the room. On such doors, even in severe frosts, condensation does not appear. This allows the steel block not to freeze, which prolongs its service life. Doors with a thermal break can be installed in buildings where there are no vestibules. They also eliminate the need to install a second door. Steel blocks with a thermal break are mounted most often in cottages, however, at the request of customers, they can also be installed as entrance doors to an apartment.

Thermal break provides:

• preservation of heat in the room;
• savings on building heating;
• lack of condensate;
• extended product life.

How to make a choice?

When choosing doors with a thermal break, check with the manufacturer what materials it is made of. It is also worth knowing the weight of the product, as too massive a product can cause too much stress on load-bearing structure, that is, not every wall, especially a wooden one, can withstand it.

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