Thermal Analysis of Multi-Layered Walls: Calculation and Compliance
A Complete Framework for U-Value and R-Total Calculation, Cavity Classification, and Regulatory Documentation
Course Description
This comprehensive technical CPD course provides architects and building design professionals with a practical, step-by-step framework for analysing the thermal performance of external wall assemblies — from first principles to regulatory submission.
The course builds the full calculation chain from scratch. You will learn what each layer in a modern wall actually does, why some layers are included in the thermal model and others are not, and how the choice of calculation method determines whether the result can be trusted. You will work through manual calculations, simple online tools, and advanced professional calculators — understanding the scope and limits of each.
The course addresses the constructions where standard methods break down: non-homogeneous layers with steel or timber framing, point thermal bridges from rainscreen brackets and anchors, and ventilated cavity systems where the thermal boundary sits at the face of the insulation — not at the outer face of the building.
Presented by Eugene Korch (façade engineer and IAST Programme Director), the course combines regulatory requirements with practical application, using real-world construction examples and international building codes to demonstrate how specification decisions affect compliance outcomes at every project stage.
Designed for professionals working across multiple markets, the course draws on ISO, EN, ASHRAE, and national standards — giving you a framework that applies regardless of which regulatory system your project sits under.
Included in Facade Intelligence Professional Membership (FI PRO)
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
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Identify every layer in a contemporary multi-layered wall and explain its thermal function and status in the calculation
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Distinguish between thermal conductivity (λ), thermal resistance (R), thermal transmittance (U), and total thermal resistance (R-total) — and apply each correctly at the right level of analysis
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Select the correct internal and external surface resistance values for walls, roofs, and floors based on direction of heat flow
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Classify an air cavity as unventilated, slightly ventilated, or well-ventilated — and understand how that single decision changes the entire thermal model
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Identify the thermal boundary position in a rainscreen facade system and explain why layers beyond it make no contribution to thermal performance
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Perform a manual U-value and R-total calculation for a homogeneous multi-layered wall assembly
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Use a simple online calculator accurately for early-stage estimates — and recognise the point at which it is no longer appropriate
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Use an advanced professional calculator for rainscreen facades, including bracket correction and cavity classification
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Recognise why a wall containing non-homogeneous layers or point thermal bridges cannot be calculated with a simple series formula
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Identify the four levers for improving a non-compliant wall and apply them in order of effectiveness
What's Covered
Part 1 — Multi-Layered Walls: Terminology and Construction
Single-layer vs multi-layered walls: what changes in the calculation.
The full layer sequence: internal finish, vapour control layer, structural layer, sheathing board, breather membrane, insulation, air cavity, outer cladding.
Homogeneous vs non-homogeneous layers: why steel stud frames and bracketed rainscreens need a different approach.
Thermal bridges in steel framing, timber framing, and rainscreen bracket systems.
Cavity classification: unventilated, slightly ventilated, and well-ventilated — rules, measurement, and consequences.
The thermal boundary: where it sits and why everything beyond it disappears from the model.
Part 2 — Terminology and Purpose of the Calculation
What thermal analysis actually measures and why it is a regulatory requirement.
Units explained: watts, kelvin, W/(m·K), m²K/W, W/(m²·K) — and the imperial equivalent.
Thermal conductivity (λ), thermal resistance (R), and thermal transmittance (U) / R-total: three levels, three different things.
Surface resistances Rsi and Rse: why they exist, where they come from, and how direction of heat flow changes their values.
The complete formula for a multi-layered wall — and why layers are added in series.
Typical performance ranges: uninsulated masonry, cavity walls, modern rainscreen facades — and how they compare against international regulatory thresholds.
Part 3 — Calculation Methods and Tools
Three levels of calculation: manual, simple online calculators, advanced professional tools — scope and limits of each.
Manual calculation: data requirements, step-by-step sequence, common unit errors, and when to stop.
Simple online calculators: how to use them correctly, what they cannot see, and the 20–30% error that appears when they are used for framed walls.
Advanced professional calculators: rainscreen facade option, pre-populated layer templates, bracket correction database, cavity classification, report download.
What a regulatory calculation report must contain — and why a screenshot is not a report.
Part 4 — Analysis of Results and Documentation
Finding the right regulatory requirement for your jurisdiction and building type.
U-value vs R-total compliance: comparing in the right direction and converting where necessary.
Why meeting the regulatory value exactly is not enough — the case for a safety margin.
The four levers for improving a non-compliant wall: insulation thickness, insulant material, thermal bridge reduction, structural and finish layers — in order of effectiveness.
Fire classification and thermal performance: why they must be assessed together, not separately.
The three elements every calculation document must contain: layer schedule, boundary conditions, result chain.
The three sources of divergence between calculated and built performance: installation quality, moisture, junction thermal bridges.
Part 5 — Conclusion and Scope
The complete calculation chain from material to compliance: one diagram, every concept connected.
What changes at each stage: concept, tender, working drawing, construction, and post-occupancy.
What plane thermal analysis cannot see: linear thermal bridges (ψ-values), three-dimensional junctions, whole-building energy modelling.
How this lecture connects to ventilated façade systems and the next level of analysis.
Course Schedule
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Course Overview
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Course Objectives
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How to Navigate the Learning Materials
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Introduction
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3D Model
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Lecture
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Technical Seminar with Q&A
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Post-Lecture Reading List
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Knowledge Check
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Certificate: Download & Share
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About this course
- £120.00
- Practice test questions
- CPD Certificate: 2 hrs
- Interactive 3D models
Your Instructors
Programme Director, IAST Eugene Korch
Eugene is a façade engineer and educator with extensive experience in building envelope design and technical specification. Through the Institute for Architectural Science and Technology (IAST) and Facade Intelligence, he delivers CPD training to architects and construction professionals across the UK. His teaching approach emphasizes practical application and accessibility, making complex technical subjects understandable for design professionals.
Who Should Enrol
This course is designed for:
Architects needing a reliable framework for thermal calculations at any project stage.
Architectural Technologists working with façade specifications and energy statements.
Envelope Designers specifying insulation systems and rainscreen façade assemblies.
Façade Specialist Contractors requiring technical knowledge of calculation methods and compliance.
Junior Façade Engineers building foundational understanding of thermal analysis.
Building Envelope Consultants reviewing or producing calculations for regulatory submission.
Project Managers overseeing projects where thermal compliance is a deliverable.
Cost Consultants understanding the thermal and cost implications of insulation specification decisions.
Design Managers coordinating façade packages across multiple disciplines.
Course Details
Format: Self-paced online course with video lectures
Duration: Approximately 1.5 hours
CPD Points: 1.5 hours structured CPD / 1 Learning Unit
Access: 12 months from enrollment
Certificate: CPD certificate issued upon completion
Prerequisites: None – introductory level
Materials: Downloadable resources and reference guides included
What Makes This Course Different
Complete chain in one course: From material properties to regulatory documentation — every step covered, nothing assumed.
International scope: Examples and standards drawn from the UK, Europe, North America, and Australia — applicable across markets.
Honest about limits: Clear guidance on where each calculation method works and where it breaks down — including the errors that produce wrong numbers without error messages.
Construction-type specific: Separate treatment for homogeneous masonry, non-homogeneous framed walls, and rainscreen façades with bracket correction.
Practical takeaways at every stage: What this means at sketch stage, at tender, on site, and at submission.
Expert presenter: Practising façade engineer with hands-on experience across multiple construction types and regulatory systems.
Join the Facade Intelligence Professional Membership (FI PRO)
Membership fees start from £320 per year
Gain access to all upcoming seminars and a wide range of the most sought-after short courses.
Corporate discounts are available for teams of 10 or more.
For a bespoke quote, please contact our team at [email protected].
