2I6 I WOOD studs reduce thermal bridging

Thermal Bridging is a costly flaw in traditional framing practices. That’s because wood has a much lower R-value than insulation.

At 1R per inch, a 2X6 stud has a 5R-value, whereas 5 ¼″ of fiberglass batt is 13R! When you factor this reduced R-value over studs every 24″ in a structure, you end up with a sizable reduction in the overall R-value of your structure.

As we continued improving the design and variations of the I WOOD groove, and developing ways to improve traditional building practices by using I WOOD grooved wood, we found that by simply replacing the standard 2X6 stud with an I WOOD “2I6”, we could significantly reduce the thermal bridging.

An I WOOD 2I6 reduces the width of the stud, allowing more area to be filled with high R-value insulation The thermal break of 2I6 studs could be 60% less than that of standard 2X6s, increasing the overall R-value of your structure.

I WOOD Double-Stud Assemblies further increases insulation R-Values

The figure below illustrates the improvements in the R-value that can be achieved using I WOOD grooved lumber single studs and double-stud assemblies. The boards depicted betwen the three I WOOD double-stud assembies represent the spacers and bracket used to stregthen the stud assembly and join the studs to the rafters.

Below are three double stud assembly options that could be used instead of the standard 2X6 studs for increased R-value.

The spacers and brackets do not go through the length of the stud assembly. They have openings manufactured (drilled) in them to allow insulation to more fully permeate the gap between the studs in the double-stud assembly, further inhibiting the flow of thermal energy through the inner and outer walls, thus reducing heating and cooling costs.

The figure below illustrates how double-stud assemblies for single-story structures are manufactured. I WOOD 2C3s (a C shape that is milled with a male groove on the outside and a female groove on the inside) can be milled from 2X3s or from 2x6s that have two grooves milled simultaneously on the wide sides and then the board is sliced lengthwise to form two 2C3s.

I WOOD Double-Stud Assemblies, with 2C4 stud sets and 2×4 spacers break the flow of thermal energy through the studs.

I WOOD studs can be economically manufactured on site

When working on a small structure, readily available and inexpensive machinery can be used to mill the grooves to convert 2X6 lumber to 2I6 studs. For large volume construction, where the boards are directly milled with the I WOOD groove at the sawmill, the cost of the 2I6 lumber could actually be less expensive than standard dimensional lumber.

When environmental sustainability, strength, speed of construction, the ability of on-site modifications, and many other factors are taken into account, using I WOOD studs to frame houses should make the dream of home ownership more feasible. I WOOD frames are easy-to-produce, and with precut components, simple to assemble.  Once the framing is completed, the rest of the materials required to finish the building are readily available in local stores. Because I WOOD designs are significantly easier to install than current timber frame construction, unskilled labor can build these frames with minimal oversight. Even DIY enthusiasts can save time and money building their own structures.

With further testing and research, Treecycling anticipates the following claims will be proven:

• The product’s strength allows for more generous spacing between studs, to 24 inches.
• The thermal bridging is up to three times less than when using traditional studs, keeping the heat in during the winter, and out in the summer.
• Insulated studs minimize noise.
• The product can be treated to be fire, mold, termite, and rot-resistant.
• The components should be treated before assembly to ensure pre-drilled holes and end cuts are treated.
• When insulated I WOOD studs are produced in quantity, prices will be less than conventional lumber, especially when precut into component parts.

The I WOOD Double-Stud framing options discussed here require costly testing before building codes can be modified to allow using I WOOD Grooved Wood double-stud-assemblies for framing buildings over 100 sq. feet. Another innovative company, US Engineered Wood, Inc, has invested in the requisite testing for Tstud™, a similar double-stud design that uses dowels to space their insulated studs. Their design complies with building codes in the United States and Canada, and meets all ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standards. Their studs also meet hurricane and seismic criteria up to 24” on center framing in the US and Canada. Tstud achieved EPA compliance for 2020.  Full information about Tstud is available at tstud. com or search YouTube for informative videos. We would expect the R-values of I WOOD Double-Stud Assemblies for non-utility buildings to be very similar to those of Tstud.  Because Treecycling is not in the manufacturing business, and never will be, we are open source, we encourage anyone to use our designs and ideas in their own products. Treecycling welcomes collaboration with any group or organization that would advance their business by incorporating I WOOD Double-Stud Assemblies as a less expensive and more flexible framing alternative, that could achieve the same or better increases in R-value.