Steel supports at corner windows

Hello everyone,

we have some corner windows in our new building. The structural steel columns were placed directly on the masonry by the shell builder, and the window installer then mounted the windows. The window profile was insulated and shuttered on the outside at this point. We generally have a 16cm ETICS. Inside, the steel column is still exposed because we weren't sure yet whether we wanted to clad or paint it.

Now I have noticed that the steel column is relatively cold at the top and bottom. At an outside temperature of 3°C, the wall is about 20.3°C, the window frame 17.4°C, and the column in the middle 14.5°C. But at the bottom, the steel columns show temperatures from 12.4°C to 13.2°C. In the cavity (between the exterior cladding and concrete) it is even 10.7°C. One steel column goes down to the floor and, due to the floor structure, there is a small cavity there, so to speak. For the others, it is, for example, the windowsill.

I have now heard that such steel columns are generally difficult, but is this normal? I have been told now that I should fill the cavity with insulating foam and (insulate and) clad the steel columns.

What do you say? Is this nothing unusual and the suggestion the best thing to do, or was something "forgotten" here and the suggestion is only so that at least something is done? It would be annoying if the column now rusts due to condensation. Especially if I clad it, I won't notice it.

What do you say?

Did I understand correctly that the windows are each connected directly to the steel supports? It is the same with us. We also had huge problems with 3 steel supports between floor-to-ceiling elements. Here today, neither the architect nor the window installer nor the structural engineer nor the thermal insulation consultant had any convincing explanation on how to clad it now; but we had a fundamental problem with the structural engineering, the ring beam, and the windows, because the architect drew something incorrectly and it was not buildable as it was. That was also an additional issue. But that doesn’t matter now. On the outside, we insulated the steel supports and window frame with the [WDVS]. We also drilled the supports at three points each and filled them with tons of foam cans. From the inside, we will now glue Styrodur boards and then plaster them.
Best regards

Hello everyone,

we are also getting corner windows. However, I don't understand the fas problem. Can you post a picture of the steel support?

Did I understand correctly that the windows connect directly to the steel supports? That’s how it is with us too. We also had huge problems with 3 steel supports between floor-to-ceiling elements. Even today, neither the architect, the window installer, the structural engineer, nor the thermal insulation consultant have any convincing explanation of how to cover it up; But we had a fundamental problem with the statics, the ring beam, and the windows, the architect drew something incorrectly, and so it was not buildable. That was also an additional issue. But that doesn’t matter now. On the outside, we insulated the steel supports and the window frame with the ETICS [External Thermal Insulation Composite System]. We also drilled the supports at three points each and filled them with tons of foam cans. From the inside, we will now glue Styrodur panels and then plaster them.
Regards

So, can you still see the steel support from your side? How are the temperatures? Did it help?

Hello everyone,

we are also getting corner windows. But I don’t understand the problem. Can you post a picture of the steel support?

I have now found a few pictures...

In the pictures you see one and the same steel support. Unfortunately, I don’t have a picture where the windows are not yet installed, but I think it can be recognized well. In the second picture, you can see how the support was covered from the outside. Afterwards, additional insulation was added and then it was covered.
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Inside there are now two options: one with window sills (don’t worry, nothing was plastered there) and one all the way to the floor. You can see that under the window sills, as well as under the parquet, there is a cavity. I would now spray insulation material in there, insulate the support with some Styrofoam, and cover it.

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P.S. I recall that it whistled a lot when it was quite windy. The window installer then sealed one support a bit more, but I think that is simply the general problem.

Yes, the same with us, just floor-to-ceiling... we are still building, whether it was worthwhile or right/wrong: no idea. I would definitely still foam it. It only costs a few euros, requires no work, and it can’t hurt.
Regards

that is really badly done. That way you always have an edge in the room! With us, the beam was installed with a 45° edge, so that the side and not the edge of the beam faces into the room. Then an insulated plastic profile was attached, which visually connects the two windows.