Re: [EnergyPlus_Support] Re: Insulating wooden floor raised 400mm from ground in temperate climates

On 20 November 2012 12:51, drajperry <drajperry@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Does anyone have a suggestion for the best way to model in EPlus the bare earth that forms the lower surface for the air space under the floor in this kind of construction?

There is a lot of old residential housing stock here in Canberra that has this construction. Wooden floor (usually not insulated) raised above the ground with the space under the floor vented to the outdoor.

thanks for the suggestions concerning insulation methods.
regards, Andrew.

--- In EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, YuanLu Li <yli006@...> wrote:
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> Sorry that my comment triggered so many responses. This is what usually happens, when only partial requirements were given in the post. We seldom walk bare footed at home. Dr. Ooi's house has been in use for a number of years. He is not going to simulate it with EPlus in detail. The vertical soil insulation I suggested was a standard application. We use it to minimum ground heating as well. This has been done using the EPlus slab program. In North America, hard wood floor is laid on top of plywood or concrete sub-floor. In my Singapore house , the woodien floor has dove-tail joints, but opened up due to shrinkage. They are laid on cross beams without a sub-floor. I assumed that Dr. Ooi's house has similar construction. The cold air from under the floor vented to outdoor can be quie cold in Winter. A rug would block the air as well. Yes, wood is warmer than ceramic, But the cold air on the bare feet is definitely not comfortable. I had no cold floor problem in Singapore, but we sill wear slippers in door and change to clogs when stepping outside. People like the cool concrete floor in Singapore. However, all the new high rise housing are all air conditioned for comfort. I still preferred my old house build with a 3ft air space below the whole building, 11 ft ceiling and with natural ventilation. . I am very sorry to see that practically no one in the forum is designing energy efficient residential units.
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> Dr. Li
> To: EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> From: linda@...

> Date: Sat, 17 Nov 2012 13:16:09 -0700
> Subject: Re: [EnergyPlus_Support] Insulating wooden floor raised 400mm from ground in temperate climates
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> At 01:12 PM 11/17/2012, Jean Marais wrote:
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> I thought the use of the wooden
> floor was exactly because it's not as cold as tiles.
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> I think the wood has less thermal mass than ceramic, etc tiles. So,
> tiles hold their temperature longer, so to speak. Or leach their
> cold to your bare feet more than the wood (which more quickly responds to
> the temperature of your feet).
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> Linda
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