Thermal Mass Floor Concrete

Multiply the mass by the specific heat capacity of concrete 0 2 btu lb degree f.

Thermal mass floor concrete. With increasing energy costs and concern over co2 emissions concrete s ability to provide passive cooling is being widely applied in both new and refurbished buildings. Be exposed or be covered with a high density material such as tile or slate. Be 100 200 mm thick. Concrete has a relatively high thermal mass meaning that it takes a long time to respond to changes in ambient temperature.

For maximum heat absorption the surface should. The picture above shows a concrete floor we re about to pour with radiant heating tubes installed. Building thermal mass into your new home or renovation doesn t have to increase costs. Flooring choices for use over concrete slabs using thermal mass what finish flooring materials are best to use over a concrete floor slab to retain the thermal mass properties of the slab.

Floor requirements to provide thermal mass for heating a concrete slab floor provides excellent thermal mass. It is therefore most commonly associated with solid concrete floor slabs in naturally ventilated or low energy mechanically ventilated buildings where the concrete soffit is left exposed to the occupied space. A large concrete slab floor can moderate temperatures in the rest of the building. This yields 0 2 times 13 300 equals 2 660 btus to raise the temperature of the entire wall just 1 degree fahrenheit.

The money used for a carpet could for example instead be spent on polishing an exposed concrete floor. When the thermal mass of the concrete is heated the warm slab acts as a radiator distributing even heat throughout the structure. Have a dark colour or a textured or matt finish. Thermal mass is a concept in building design that describes how the mass of the building provides inertia against internal temperature fluctuations.

This is typically achieved through its ability to absorb unwanted heat during the day and then release it at night with the help of ventilation from cool night air. Probably the simplest form of thermal mass is a concrete slab floor. Flooring materials for passive solar floor slab designs where direct solar gain and passive solar heat storage are desired. Thermal mass is ideally placed within a building where it is shielded from direct solar gain but exposed to the building occupants.

The second consideration is the high thermal mass of concrete slabs which applies similarly to walls and floors or wherever concrete is used within the thermal envelope.