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Calculating heat loss from a room

Before we can consider selecting radiators or heat emitters for a particular area it is
necessary to be able to calculate the heat loss from that area. A radiator can then be
selected which provides an output, (under a set of predetermined conditions), to match
the heatloss from the area under the same conditions. This process can then be repeated
for other areas eventually leading to a heat loss calculation for the whole building. With the
addition of an allowance for domestic hot water and possibly intermittent usage a suitably
sized boiler can then be selected. In order to establish the radiator output and hence size
required we need to consider the following: -
G Fabric Heatloss
G Ventilation Heatloss
Fabric heatloss
Where a temperature difference occurs between the inside and outside of a property, heat
will flow through the structure towards the lower of the temperatures. This heat flow (loss)
will occur through walls, floors, roofs, and windows, and even between rooms of dissimilar
temperatures. It is important to know how much heat is lost through each structure so
that calculations can be made to heat a building to the desired temperature. The transfer
of heat is calculated using 'U Values' together with the surface areas of the various
structural components and the temperature difference between the two sides of the
structure concerned. For ease of calculation it is assumed that heat is lost at a uniform
rate through each surface.
The 'U Value' of a building element is the rate of loss of heat in watts per square meter of
that element per degree centigrade temperature difference across that element. Thus the
rate of loss of heat through a building element is give by: -

Fabric Heat
Loss
= U Value X Area X Temperature Difference
( Watts ) ( w/m2 0C ) ( m2 ) ( oC )

Complete tables of pre calculated "U" Values, are published by British Standards Institute.

Ventilation heatloss
The requirements for the provision of ventilation in dwellings detailed in the Building
Control Regulations are to restrict the build up of moisture and pollutants, which would
otherwise be a hazard to health. This ventilation air, flowing through the building, loses
heat. Ventilation rates are usually quoted as 'air changes per hour' defined as the
volume of ventilation air moving through the room per hour, divided by the volume of the
room itself. The air will be heated by the heating system and the heat needed is calculated
by multiplying the room volume, by the air change rate, by the temperature rise the air
needs, and by the ventilation factor. Thus the rate of loss of heat through ventilation loss
is given by: -

Ventilation
Heat Loss
= Room
Volume
X Air Change
Rate
X Temperature
Difference
X Ventilation
Factor
( Watts ) ( m3 ) ( Qty) ( oC ) ( w / m3 0C )


Calculating heat loss from a room
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Calculating heat loss from a room

The ventilation factor is taken as the specific heat of air at 200C which is 0.33 W / m3
0C and is used to calculate the heat loss to the air changing within the rooms due to
infiltration or mechanical ventilation.

Internal design temperatures and ventilation rates
The following internal design temperatures and air change rates are recommended for the
design of full and part central heating systems and are based on providing the customer
with acceptable comfort levels throughout. The minimum design temperature and air
change rates required by BS 5449: 1990 are set out in the table below.

Room Temp Air Change
Lounge sitting room 21 1.5
Living room 21 1.5
Dining room 21 1.5
Kitchen 18 2.0
Breakfast room 21 2.0
Kitchen/Breakfast 21 2.0
Hall 18 2.0
Cloakroom 18 2.0
Toilet 18 2.0
Utility Room 18 1.5
Study 21 1.5
Games Room 21 1.5
Bedroom 18 1.0
Bedroom/en suite 18 2.0
Bedsitting 21 1.5
Bedroom/Study 21 1.5
Landing 18 2.0
Bathroom 22 2.0
Dressingroom 21 1.5
Storeroom 16 1.0
The air change rates above are for modern buildings. When designing for older properties,
consideration should be given to increasing the air change rates to allow for ill fitting
doors, windows etc
Where mechanical extraction ventilation is installed in a room it is possible for the
minimum fan duty to exceed the minimum air change rate. In such cases it is advisable to
allow for the increased air change in the heat loss calculation for both the room and the
connecting rooms from which the air will be drawn.
Where a shower or bath is fitted into a bedroom or where an opening without doors exists
between the bedroom and the en-suite facility, then the air change rate of the bedroom
should be increased accordingly to allow for the movement of air caused by the extract fan.

Example : heatloss calculation
Consider a simple heatloss calculation for a typical bedroom shown in the drawing below.
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Calculating heat loss from a room
NOTES :
1. Temperature of room above - 1 oC (Roof)
2. Temperature of room below + 23 oC
The total room heat loss from the room / area is given by: -
Total Room Heat Loss = Fabric Heat Loss + Ventilation Heat Loss

Heatloss calculation for the bedroom example

Surface
Element
Area X Temp/
Diff
X U Value = Design
Heatloss
Totals
( m2 ) ( oC ) (W/m2 oC) Watts
External wall 5.5 x 19 x 0.92 = 96
Window 2.0 x 19 x 5 = 190
Party Wall 10.0 x 8 x 2.1 = 168
Internal wall 1 7.5 x Nil x N/A = N/A
Internal wall 2 10.0 x -2 x 1.7 = -34
Floor 12.0 x -5 x 1.36 = -82
Ceiling 12.0 x 19 x 0.34 = 78 416
Ventilation Heatloss
Air Changes X Room
Volume
X Temp/
Diff
X Vent Factor = Design
Heatloss
( m3 ) (O C ) ( W/m3
OC )
Watts
2 x 30 x 19 x 0.33 = 376 376
Total Design Heatloss 792 W

Notes :
1. All "U" values are take from British Standards
2. Heat Gains (#) from adjacent Warmer Spaces
3. Correction factors need to be added to the calculated
Note: Before a radiator can be selected the calculated heatloss figure needs to be adjusted
to compensate for the difference between the tested radiator outputs advertised in the
brochures and the actual output obtained from the radiator after considering the design
criteria of the system.




Find out how to apply correction factors
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Calculating heat loss from a room


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