Heat loss: A comparison of four European calculation methods

With the advent of 1992 European building services engineers will be looking at the possibilities of 'spreading their wings' and working in other countries. Calculation methods will come under close scrutiny. This paper shows how the heat losses for a reference room are calculated in four European countries. The basis of these calculations was the German DIN 4701 from 1959. This has been improved slowly over the years by Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. The CIBSE method was the fourth method to be compared. The results do not differ greatly but the approach is different for each method. The first conclusion is that it wil take a great deal of discussion before a uniform European code can be produced.