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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: -
Fabric Heatloss
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
( Watts )
U Value
( w/m2 0C )
Area
Temperature Difference
( 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 X
Rate
Temperature
Difference
( Watts )
( m3 )
( Qty)
( oC )
Ventilation
Factor
( w / m3 0C )
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.
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
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.
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
Area
X Temp/Diff X
U Value
( m2 )
( oC )
(W/m2 oC)
External wall
5.5
19
0.92
96
Window
2.0
19
190
10.0
2.1
168
Internal wall 1
7.5
Nil
N/A
N/A
Internal wall 2
10.0
-2
1.7
-34
Floor
12.0
-5
1.36
-82
Ceiling
12.0
19
0.34
78
Party Wall
416
Ventilation Heatloss
Air Changes
30
(O C )
x
19
= Design Heatloss
( W/m3 OC )
x
0.33
Watts
=
376
376
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.
At a 75 C flow water temperature, and a 65 C return water temperature the average or 'Mean Water
Temperature' (MWT) is 70C. If we minus the room temperature of 200 C we are left with a temperature
differential of 50 C or a Delta T of 50.
At a 750 C flow water temperature, and a 650 C return water temperature the average or 'Mean Water
Temperature' (MWT) is 700C. If we minus the room temperature of 200 C we are left with a temperature
differential of 500 C or a Delta T of 50.
At the present time to prevent confusion during the transition from the old BS 3528 standard to the new
BS EN442, manufacturers have adjusted the radiator output figures so that catalogues will show outputs
derived from BS EN442 test data yet adjusted up to resemble the previously recognised BS 3528
outputs. That is a flow of 90 C and a return of 70 C respectively, which together with a test room
temperature of 20 C used to provide the more familiar Delta T of 60.
Either way clearly this is not how heating engineers design and install radiator systems in the UK. Most
domestic systems are designed with flow, return and air temperatures which are different from that
tested, therefore irrespective of which outputs are shown in the catalogue an appropriate correction
factor is usually necessary.
For example, if a system were designed with a flow of 81 C and a return of 71 C, then the MWT would be
76 C. If the required room design temperature were 21 C, then the Delta T would be 55 C, and an
appropriate correction factor would need to be obtained from the table listed in the manufacturers
brochure.
By checking the table it can be seen that the correction factor to be used is 0.898. Where the calculated
Delta T falls between the given correction factor listed on the table, you will need to work out the
fractional correction factor, for example: Delta T
Factor
55.0
55.5
56.0
56.5
57.0
57.5
58.0
58.5
59.0
59.5
0.898 0.908 0.918 0.929 0.939 0.949 0.959 0.969 0.979 0.989
Other factors may have to be considered such as whether the radiator is to be recessed, has a shelf
above or is to be painted. Correction factor figures are available for such situations.
The most common occurrence however is for domestic heating system radiators to be connected Bottom
Bottom Opposite End (BBOE). Previous estimates and practice under the BS 3528 standard estimated
that between 4 & 10% of the radiators output was lost when connecting BBOE, and a further correction
factor of 0.91 was recommended. Recent tests however have proved that with increased flow rates and
low water content in modern systems the effect has been reduced to approximately 2%. A correction
factor of 0.98 should now be applied for BBOE connections.
Correction factor application example
Heat loss for a lounge has been calculated at 2000 watts, the radiator will be connected BBOE. The
system has been designed with a MWT of 76.5 C. (i.e. 82 C flow + 71 C return = 153 / 2 = 76.5 C MWT)
and a room temperature of 21 C
Therefore MWT = 76.5 C minus room temperature 21 C = 55.5 C Correction factor required = 0.908
BBOE correction factor required = 0.98
Calculation
2000 watts heat loss divided by 0.908 divided by 0.98 = 2247 watt Radiator output required from the
brochure.
Actual radiator output calculation
To check what output a radiator would give; multiply the correction factors. For example if a 2000 watts
radiator output was chosen from the brochure, then to give the actual output of the radiator.
2000 watts x 0.908 x 0.98 = 1779 watts actual radiator output (clearly too small)