A Design Chart to Determine the Conductive Heat Transfer Across an Opaque Building Envelope Cross-Section

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Architectural Systems Engineering, October University for Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA), Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Conductive heat transfer occurs due to the temperature difference between the inside and the outside of a functional space. Previous research has focused on the different variables affecting that conductive heat transfer concentrating on the role of insulating materials in optimizing energy efficiency in buildings as well as assuring thermal comfort of its users. The research problem can be exemplified by the complex calculations required to determine the amount of heat transfer and energy savings that might result from using different cross-sections with varying insulation properties. The paper’s main objective is to create a design chart which could be used to determine the conductive heat transfer across any opaque building envelope cross-section. This conductive heat transfer will occur as heat gain in the overheated zone and as heat loss in the underheated zone. The design chart consists of three graphs, each representing one of the variables that affects the conductive heat transfer across an opaque building envelope cross-section: area, overall coefficient of heat transmission (reciprocal of overall thermal resistance), and temperature difference. That would result in expecting the amount of cooling or heating capacity, needed to confront that amount of conductive heat transfer that in turn would ensure thermal comfort of users, especially when applying the requirements of the building energy codes. There is an additional fourth graph that could be used to determine the energy savings achieved when upgrading the overall thermal resistance of the opaque building envelope cross-section.

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MSA Engineering Journal
Volume 4, Issue 2 - Serial Number 7
Special issue on "Sustainability and Beyond: Prospects in the Built Environment!" ASE Conference
July 2025
Pages 27-38

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