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

["drajperry" <drajperry@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

thanks for the reply,

My problem is that I am still unsure of how to define the material/surface for the bare ground/dirt that forms the lower boundary of the zone below the bare floor.

The actual ground temperature there could also be slightly higher than the ground temperature defined in the weather file. Although it is vented I know from temperature logging that the air temperature is significantly higher than the outside air - the space above the bare floor is heated and the heating ducts pass through the sub-floor zone.

For concrete slabs I just use the slab/basement model but that doesn't seem to handle exposed ground as the zone surface.

thanks, Andrew.


--- In EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Jean Marais <jeannieboef@...> wrote:
>
> In my opinion modelling a seperate cavity zone for air cavities will always
> be more accurate and give you tighter control.
> 
> On 20 November 2012 12:51, drajperry <drajperry@...> 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:
> > >
> > >
> > > 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.
> > >
> > > 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
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > At 01:12 PM 11/17/2012, Jean Marais wrote:
> > >
> > > I thought the use of the wooden
> > > floor was exactly because it's not as cold as tiles.
> > >
> > > 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).
> > >
> > >
> > > Linda
> > >
> >
> >  
> >
>




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