Author
J. MENDES DA SILVA and R. SILVA VICENTE
University of Coimbra – Portugal
University of Aveiro – Portugal

Abstract
The attempts to reduce heat transmission heterogeneity over the external surface of building envelopes include several recommendations about external covering of concrete frame structures with thin clay brick walls. This procedure has been extensively adopted in Portugal during the last ten years in consequence of the new national thermal code. This practice has generated several defects in consequence of the insufficient technological knowledge in this domain. This work analyses some of those defects adopting an experimental and a numerical approach, using the traditional Portuguese clay brick with a high percentage of horizontal voids.