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Australian Hydronic Supplies
10 Frankston Gardens Drive
Carrum Downs, Victoria,
Australia 3201
3.0 Heat loss calculations
All heat loss calculations should be made by a suitably qualified person, so that the building is not over or
under capitalised on the heating equipment. Over capitalised means too much money has been spent, but
the system will perform very well. Under capitalised means the system will never reach the expectation of
the owner and cannot be improved, even at many times the cost of the original savings made.
3.1.1 Floor coverings heat transfer
As part of the heat loss calculation, consideration has to be made for the floor coverings to be used. The
most efficient materials to use for floor coverings are those that have a high rate of conduction, (a low
thermal resistance) thus can conduct the heat from the floor and radiate its warmth to you. As a rule, a
maximum R-value of 0.15m
2
K/W is best for the floor covering. The following table illustrates more common
floor covering materials. Actual rates should be obtained from the supplier.
Floor Covering
Nominal Thickness
R-value
Ceramic tiles
12 mm including mortar base
0.01
Stone or marble
25 mm including mortar base
0.01
Wood
10 mm including adhesive
0.05
Vinyl
5 mm
0.02
Carpet
10mm including underfelt
0.15
1.
Ideal Heating Curve
2.
Radiant Floor Heating
3.
Radiators on Inside
Walls
4.
Radiators on Outside
Walls
5.
Forced Hot Air Heating
6.
Ceiling Heat