Heat Losses

The heat loss from a building in winter is calculated so that heating equipment may be sized accurately.

The heat is lost from a building through external walls, windows, exposed floors, and roof and ventilation as
shown below.

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The heat loss by ventilation can happen in two ways, one is by cold outside air either infiltrating through the
façade or being brought into the building by a ventilation system.
The other is exfiltration, which is a term used to describe air that leaks out of a building.
This heated air leaking out will cause a heat loss.
This leakage can be caused through badly fitting windows and doors and via ventilation openings and chimneys.
Infiltration and exfiltration ventilation losses can add up to a significant percentage of the overall heat loss from
a building.
Once the total heat loss has been calculated, the heat emitter’s outputs may be determined together with pipe /
duct sizes, boiler plant size, etc.

Before calculating the total heat loss from a building the fabric ‘U’ values must be determined.

The ‘U’ value is a useful way to compare how good a fabric is, as an insulator, a definition is given below.

There are several ways to find the fabric ‘U’ values, these are:

1.     Consult a catalogue of the relevant material e.g. www.pilkington.co.uk for glazing.

2.     Consult reference data e.g. CIBSE guide or ASHRAE guide.

3.     Calculation as shown below.

CIBSE - Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers

ASHRAE - American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers.

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Coefficient of Thermal Transmittance (‘U ‘Value)
This is the heat energy transmitted through unit area of a composite structure e.g. a wall consisting of bricks,
plaster, air gap, insulation, etc., when unit temperature exists on both sides of the wall.
Units are: Watts per metre squared per degrees C temperature difference. (W/m2degC)
The coefficient of thermal transmittance is known as the ‘U’ value.

The current UK Building Regulations give maximum allowable ‘U’ values for building elements.

The Building Regulations for England and Wales 2002 Part L gives the following;

U value
Exposed Element
(W/m2oC)
Walls 0.35
Flat 0.25
Pitched with insulation between
Roof 0.16
joists.
Pitched with insulation between
0.20
rafters
Floor – Ground and other floors 0.25
Window 2.0
Rooflight 2.2

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 Vehicle access or similar large door 0.7

The Building Regulations for Northern Ireland 2012 Part F1 (Dwellings) and Part F2 (Buildings other than
Dwellings) give the following;

U value

(W/m2oC)
Exposed Element Part F2
Part F1
Dwellings Buildings other
than Dwellings

Walls 0.30 0.35

Roof 0.20 0.25

Floor 0.25 0.25

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Surface Resistances
There is a thin layer, which exists on the surface of walls and structures.
This thin layer retards the flow of heat because it is a stagnant layer of air.
This then adds more resistance to the flow of heat through the structure.
These layers of stagnant air are sometimes called boundary layers or surface resistances as shown below.

The inside and outside surfaces are typically; inside 0.123 m2 oC / W and outside 0.055 m2 oC / W.

The air gap resistance includes the surfaces inside the air gap and is typically 0.18 m2 oC / W.

Use the CIBSE guide A (2006) sections 3.3.8 to 3.3.10 for an accurate assessment.

‘U’ Value

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The formula for ‘U’ value is:

A cavity wall is shown below with the appropriate formula for the ‘U’ value.

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CIBSE Guide A (2006) - Environmental Design - gives data for ‘U’ value and heat loss calculations.

See the following sections.

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Section 3.3.9 - Surface Resistances

Section 3.4 - Roofs

Section 3.5 - Floors

Section 3.6 - Windows

Appendix 3.A8 - Thermal properties of typical constructions.

Table 3.49 thermal properties of typical wall constructions.

Table 3.50 thermal properties of typical roof constructions.

Table 3.51 thermal properties of typical internal partitions.

Table 3.52 thermal properties of typical internal floors / ceilings.

Table 3.53 thermal properties of typical floors in contact with the ground.

Table 3.54 thermal properties of typical floors exposed to outside air below.

Table 3.55 thermal properties of typical floors exposed to internal air below.

Section 4.6 - Natural Ventilation and Infiltration in buildings.