Heat losses from suspended timber floors: Laboratory experiments measuring heat losses through flooring utilizing a variety of insulation and ventilation rates to determine appropriate strategies for retrofitting insulation

Heat losses through suspended timber floors and principal heat flow paths are identified. The performance of common insulates placed within and beneath the timber floors is measured in a test rig and the results reported. Special emphasis is placed on the ability to retrofit existing floors. A simple insulated radiative barrier placed under the joists is found to be as effective as 30 mm of insulation but is easier to install in existing dwellings. The reduction in heat loss using this method is 60-80%. A simple resistance model is used to predict heat loss accurately for low ventilation rates in the void below the floor.