TEBEA® – FAQs

What is TEBEA®?

TEBEA® is a load-bearing thermal break element designed to prevent thermal bridges.

 

Where is TEBEA® used?

E.g., in reinforced concrete balconies or attics to reduce structural thermal bridges.

 

What is "new" about TEBEA®?

The „T“. It stands for “Thermally Enhanced EBEA®.” The load-bearing thermal break element EBEA® has been used successfully in various markets within the Peikko Group for many years. With TEBEA®, we meet the requirements of advanced markets, particularly in the areas of thermal insulation, fire protection, and sound insulation.

 

What sets TEBEA® apart from its competitors?

The fact that Peikko offers this solution on the market creates numerous synergies with existing Peikko products, which can be ideally combined with TEBEA®. Peikko also stands out thanks to its high level of expertise in the areas of service, flexibility, and customized standard solutions.

 

Why is rock wool used instead of EPS for TEBEA®?

Rock wool offers excellent thermal and fire protection properties. It fulfills a hybrid function by integrating fire protection, eliminating the need for separate fire protection plates. In addition, rock wool is fire-resistant and therefore also suitable for facades that require fire-resistant insulation.

 

Isn't rock wool sensitive to moisture?

Moisture has no effect on application or installation.

Rock wool is used in many building components such as fire barriers, facades, roofs, and walls. It is a mineral, breathable insulation material and is hydrophobic. External studies confirm that moisture has no particular influence. Two expert reports are available: Prof. Dr. Kümmel (Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen) and Prof. Dr. Ayoubi (Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences).

 

What fire protection does TEBEA® offer?

Currently (as of January 2025), TEBEA® has a fire resistance rating of between 60 and 90 minutes, depending on requirements. In the event of a fire, TEBEA® can act as a fire barrier. Further fire tests are planned, but the lead time for these tests is around 100 days.

 

Does Peikko have approval for TEBEA®?

Yes, a European Technical Approval (ETA) is available.

 

Which balconies is TEBEA® suitable for?

  • For reinforced concrete balconies, regardless of whether they are cast-in-situ or precast solutions.

  • For almost all types of reinforced concrete balconies, including cantilevered balconies, loggias, pergolas, attics, and supported balconies.

 

What are the maximum balcony lengths possible with TEBEA®?

This often depends on the thickness of the balcony slabs, as the balcony's flexural slenderness criteria must be met. As a rule, cantilevers of up to 2.5–2.7 m are feasible, and even more with thicker slabs.

 

Can TEBEA® be used for balcony renovation?

No, TEBEA® was developed specifically for new buildings. However, solutions for renovation are currently in development.

 

How much does TEBEA® cost?

There is no general answer to this question, as the price depends on factors such as the type of balcony and its dimensions. We would be happy to create a cost-optimized solution and provide you with a customized offer.

 

How much energy can be saved with TEBEA®?

Reducing thermal bridges can save up to 20% in heating energy. However, this depends on the number of thermal bridges, such as those caused by balconies.

 

What does TEBEA® weigh?

No more than a bag of cement, so that it can be easily moved around on the construction site. That is why Peikko also offers heavy types with steel buffers in half-meter lengths.

 

What are TEBEA®'s delivery times?

Delivery time depends on the project. Standard types can be produced more quickly.

 

What type of rock wool is used in TEBEA®?

Peikko uses ROCKWOOL insulation in various variations with a thermal conductivity of 0.035-0.038 W/mK. TEBEA® was developed in close collaboration with ROCKWOOL.

 

Is there any technical documentation available for TEBEA®?

Yes, technical information, a TEBEA® brochure, ETA approval, expert reports on rock wool, and a passive house certificate are available.

 

Is there any design software available for TEBEA®?

Yes, there is. The BALCONY CONNECTION software is available for free at www.peikkodesigner.com. BALCONY CONNECTION allows to create layout of thermal break elements for wide range of balcony slab geometry and support types. The interface includes an interactive 3D model, enabling clear visualization of balcony geometry, connection details and loads.

 

Is TEBEA® also available with double-head anchors or rebar couplers (MODIX®)?

Not as a standard solution, but this can be implemented on request, as the technical expertise and ETA are available for all products.

 

Can steel balconies also be thermally separated with TEBEA®?

No, unfortunately that is not possible at present, but it is on the agenda for product development.

 

Does TEBEA® have an EPD?

No, because production has just restarted and production figures required for life cycle assessment must be reliable, i.e., at least one year old. Peikko can only apply for an EPD this year.

 

What kind of impact sound insulation does TEBEA® offer for balconies?

According to DIN 4109, balconies must meet a minimum sound insulation requirement of 58 dB. TEBEA® CM types meet these criteria, as the impact sound reduction of CM types is approx. 12-15 dB! This means that all balcony slabs with a thickness of 180 mm and above are covered.
In the case of increased impact sound insulation requirements, such as for pergolas (46 dB), the impact sound insulation must be covered by additional balcony structures (insulation mat, floating screed, etc.)! In this case, the structure always determines the respective impact sound insulation.

 

Does TEBEA® meet the new requirements of the GEG, i.e. DIN 4108, Supplement 2?

Yes, it was developed specifically for this purpose. The standard insulation thickness is 120 mm.

 

Why is there stainless steel in the joint in TEBEA®?

On the one hand, for corrosion protection reasons, as open joint areas must be made of stainless steel, and on the other hand, because of thermal conductivity (WLG). Stainless steel has a WLG of 13-17 W/mK and reinforcing steel 60 W/mK (i.e., 4 times greater thermal conductivity). We use ribbed stainless steel 1.4482 (DUPLEX stainless steel) in our products, which even has a WLC of 13 W/mK. Friction welding is used to connect the ribbed stainless steel to the reinforcing steel (B500B).

 

Which concrete is used for the buffers?

High-performance concrete developed specifically for Peikko by PAGEL with a compressive strength of more than 130 N/mm². The use of high-performance concrete reduces the cross-section to a minimum.
Together with PAGEL, Peikko can guarantee consistently high quality.

 

What are the benefits of TEBEA®?

  • Verified system with ETA and CE marking

  • Optimal thermal insulation in accordance with GEG and DIN 4108, Supplement 2

  • Non-combustible insulation as integrated fire protection (e.g., fire barrier) on a mineral-based, hydrophobic basis

  • Contributes to energy-efficient and more sustainable construction

  • Easy handling (weight) and simple installation on the construction site and in the precast plant, where it can be inserted into pre-reinforced components

  • Thanks to the modular design of TEBEA® (25 cm grid), any number of variants can be generated and combined with each other. This allows for enormous flexibility and adaptability to customer requirements.

  • The modular design enables individualized standardization.

  • Synergies with other Peikko products such as DELTABEAM®, MODIX®, PSB®, or ATLANT®—everything from a single source and a single point of contact

  • Adapted support level concept for more economical designs

  • Peikko Service: We act as a partner for our customers, always focusing on ensuring that our customers are highly satisfied and always receive added value when they choose our products and work with us.