Adding value and meaning to coheating tests

Stafford, A; Johnston, D; Miles-Shenton, D; Farmer, DJ; Brook-Peat, M; Gorse, C

Abstract

Purpose: The coheating test is the standard method of measuring the heat loss coefficient of a
building, but to be useful the test requires careful and thoughtful execution. Testing should take
place in the context of additional investigations in order to achieve a good understanding of the
building and a qualitative and (if possible) quantitative understanding of the reasons for any
performance shortfall.
Design/Methodology/Approach: The authors have access to more than twenty years of experience
in coheating testing. This experience is drawn upon to discuss practical factors which can affect the
outcome, together with supporting tests and investigations which are often necessary in order to
fully understand the results.
Findings: If testing is approached using co‐heating as part of a suite of investigations, a much deeper
understanding of the test building results. In some cases it is possible to identify and quantify the
contributions of different factors which result in an overall performance shortfall.
Practical implications: Although it is not practicable use a fully investigative approach for large‐scale
routine quality assurance, it is extremely useful for purposes such as validating other testing
procedures, in‐depth study of prototypes or detailed investigations where problems are known to
exist.
Social implications: Successful building performance testing is a vital tool to achieve energy saving
targets.
Originality/Value: The approach discussed clarifies some of the technical pitfalls which may be
encountered in the execution of coheating tests and points to ways in which the maximum value can
be extracted from the test period, leading to a meaningful analysis of the building’s overall thermal
performance.

Citation

Stafford, A., Johnston, D., Miles-Shenton, D., Farmer, D., Brook-Peat, M., & Gorse, C. (2014). Adding value and meaning to coheating tests. Structural survey, 32(4), 331-342. https://doi.org/10.1108/SS-01-2014-0007

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Aug 5, 2014
• Deposit Date: Feb 24, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 24, 2020
• Journal: Structural Survey
• Print ISSN: 0263-080X
• Volume: 32
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 331-342
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/SS-01-2014-0007
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1108/SS-01-2014-0007
• Related Public URLs: https://www.emerald.com/insight/publication/issn/0263-080X